The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-09
TIE EVENING STORY
section sixteen.
(By Carrie Newman.l


might find diversion and revenge il the
Sleepyl7ead Would only tumble out and
recognize t h fact that it was broad
daylight.
The night before the car had been
we'll filled. All through the night they
had dropped off at the way stations,
and Clifton thought yiciously of the
man in his section who had stepped on
his a c in climbing down from the
upper berth about three O'Clock So
far this morning he had the sleeper
to himself. save for the occupant of
section 16-
He finished the breakfast that had
been served from h buffet and stroll
ed down the car. Reaching through
the curtains he "a the shoulder a
shake Wake up, old man" he
shouted Your alarm clocks broken,
L guess"
There was a mufhed feminine shrek
and the porter came dashing around
the corner from MS tiny kitchen.
"Wafor you wake dat LADY," he de-
manded. You all amt got no right
to wake a lady dat-a-way."
There was a man went to bed in
there" exclaimed Clifton. How was
L to Know tina he wasn't here YETI"
Dat gemTnan yo' done play cards
VIII las night2" demanded the porter.
He done get off at Falls Crossin' bout
leben. Dis hyer lady done come on
bode bout two hours ago. She shuah
am sleepy
TEL her I'm sorry" commanded
Clifton. backing away. Il was lone
some and I thought I'd rout that chap
out. I'm awfully sorry"
He went back to his own section,
and the porter, Modified by the bill
slipped into his hand, made full ex-
PLANTATION to the unseen occupant.
Clifton settled himself ~savagely in
his seat and fixed his eyes on the berth.
He wondered what the woman might
look Ike Her voice suggested that
she was young. More than that, he
could not guess, so he occupied him
self in speculation as to her personal
ity.
1t at least served to occupy his
thoughts. and this was something.
Since h cutoff had been built, most
long distance travellers took the short
route. But the state authorities had
demanded that one through car each
way be run IN the old main line. and
because the other sleepers were crowd
ed. Val Clifton a taken a berth in
the other cal. Most of the traffic was
short hauls in the day coaches and he
missed having company on the first
day out.
1t was nearly noon when at last a
commotion behind the hanging cur
tains suggested that the unknown was
getting up, and at last there was a flash
of red a CLINT of golden hair
and just a suggestion of white as she
vanished around the corner to the
dressing room.
The porter came in and made up this
berth, and presently she returned to
her section. Now she wore a trim
gray dress. There wer dimples in her
cheeks and Clifton rose and strolled
forward.
- want to apologize in person for
my awkward ~blunder," he said as he
leaned over the arm of her seat. 1T
was a silly mistake, but somehow the
chap in this section last night gave me
+Tn ,-D-nrrf~v- fTaf Ia va cnfnr
through and i was so horribly lone
some that L wanted him to play cards
with me-
"A sleeper IS a place of surprises,
were more badly scared than 1 was.
so weJI call it square L know how
lonesome it is travelling"
May 1 venture to hope that you
will share my solitude ?" he pleaded.
You want some breakfast and 1 want
some lunch. May I call the porter"
The girl nodded and Clifton pressed
the button Presently they were chat
ting across the white tablecioth as
merrily as though they had been old
friends.
Their when the things had been
cleared away he got out his cards and
they were soon deep in euchre. She
chatted away on impersonal topics and
Clifton was charmed. In contrast with
the loneliness Of the morning in the
deserted car with only the dreary
landscape to watch, the girl seemed
doubly attractive, and he was sur
prised when the porter came around
to light the lights. A number of per-
sons had boarded the car through the
afternoon, but he had scarcely noticed
them.
He was sorry now that he had ar
ranged to stop over on some business.
was sorry that he was not going
straight through. for she had told him
that she was to be on the train until
we'll into the next day.
He swore softly to himself when the
porter came to brush him down.
BE in vol station in ten minutes"
he said briskly as he picked up the
suit case beside Clifton's seat and took
it to the forward door. Clifton fol-
lowed him more ~leisurely n stopped
at the girls seat
Il am grateful to you for a most de-
lightful afternoon he said earnestly.
4 am sorry that our ways part so
quickly, but somehow I feel certain
that L shall see you again"
I'm sure of it." said the girl with
laughing eyes. But next time I hope
that the introduction viii not be so
abrupt"
I'll follow the adage an let sleep
ing dogs-and sleeping a passengers
sleep on" he laughed. Goodbye
and thanks
Their hands met for a moment in a
warm clasp and then he made his way
to the door.
The train pulled out before he turn
ed away from the platform and with
the last fash of the car lights on the
glinting gold OF her hair a terrible
sense of loneliness came over him. He
had not asked for her address. Ie
would have been worse han rude and
ne wanted her to think we'll of him.
but now he was sorry that he had not
risked giving offense It was too late
now, though. She had probably pass
ed out of his life forever and he turned
away toward the hotel stages with a
heavy heart. Now that the train had
gone on he knew tina he had fallen in
love, and with an unknown girl at that.
There were letters waiting for him
at the hotel, including one from his
sister, urging him to close up his bust
ness Il get home quickly, as she
Mantad him to reach there bafore her