Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-01-03
TICKETED TO
MATRIMONY

/
that again"
"You will not have the opportunity.
Jimmy Garrison she scolded. take
back your ring, and I'm never going
to speak to you again"
Il say" he cried. don't take it like
that. You'll have to speak to me
again.
Never she retorted firmly. IF /
do mp
take back the ring" urged Jimmy
before she could finish.
"Yes," Grace Burton assented, IF I
ever speak to you again I'll take back
the ring"
Jimmy looked at her ruefully as she
turned away.
But the next day there seemed small
chance of an early reconciliation, for It
was announced that Grace was to
spend the winter with an aunt In Los
Angeles and was to start In few
days. 1t was rather short notice, but
Mr.. Burton had been suddenly called
to Europe, and he could not take both
Mrs. Burton and Grace.
Secretly Grace was sorry that she
had permitted herself to become so
angry over Jimmy's jokes about her
little poem which the local paper had
printed, but she was stubborn, and
after final appeal Jimmy yielded to
fate and announced that he would
leave that night for Chicago.
Apparently he went further afield
than that, for few mornings later the
Overland rolled into Omaha, and there
was Jimmy on the station platform
waiting to take passage. Grace gasp
ed as the porter ushered him into a
section a few numbers ahead of her
own, but to outward appearances she
was absolutely ignorant of his pres
ence.
She fidgeted about uneasily through
the twenty minute wait in the station,
while he regarded her with the uncon-
Germ of stranger. and she was glad
when the train got under way again
and he had gone forward to the smOk-
err
I1C was OdCh piCSChtly, thOuSh, anu
was in his section when the new con-
ductor came through. Jimmy prompt
ly handed up his ticket, but there was
some delay when Grace surrendered
the check for her transportation, given
to the conductor overnight.
you had pass, didn't you?" asked
the conductor as he glanced at the
number on her check and selected an
envelope from the package he carried.
'Can you identify yourself?"
She glanced through her pocketbook,
but there was nothing which could
serve to identify her, and through some
mischance she had not signed the tick
ct, as she should have done, when 1t
had been given to her.
UNLESS you can show some identifi-
cation / shall have to collect cash
fare" the conductor said sharply, no
ticing her helplessness.
81 can't" she stammered. 81 have
not that much money with me-"
ANY one on board who can Identify
your" Clearly he was growing suspi-
cious. Grace was desperate.
"That gentleman up front knows me-"
she said slowly, indicating Jimmy. The
conductor went forward, and she
watched him curiously. 1t was odd
that Jimmy, who had evidently taken
this train to tease her, was to be OF
some real service to her instead.
But somehow the conductors face
did not express satisfaction as he came
back down the aisle.
II suppose you are convinced nowT
| said Grace, with confidence she did
not feel, as he stopped at her seat.
HE says he knows the real Miss Bur-
ton" said the conductor, eying her
sharply.
There was an odd little gasp Of anger
as Miss Burton sprang to her feet and
unsteadily made her way down the
aisle, the conductor following. Jimmy
Garrison" she demanded. do you
mean to tell this conductor that you
don't know me?"
"Never said It," said Jimmy calmly.
''He asked me IL could identify Miss
Burton, and I said I knew Miss Bur
tom"
"Well?' she said in puzzled tone.
Possibly" explained Jimmy blandly.
''he might have gathered from my tone
that did not see Miss Burton on the
car"
"You mean," she corrected, "that you
wanted to make me ask you to Identify
| me-"
| "Yes." said Jimmy solemnly, offering
| a ring. II thought you might speak to
me-"
For the first time 1t flashed upon
her what business" had drawn Jim
my west, and while he was assuring
the conductor that she was Miss Bur
ton she few back to her seat and sat
there with flaming cheeks. Jimmy
followed her as soon as he had dis
posed Of the conductor.
| Sweetheart" he said tenderly, ut
was mean trick to play. but knew
l simply had to make you speak be-
fore you got out to Los Angeles. and
as my cousin Is superintendent of this
division / got him to order the pass
watched for"
But how did get pass?" she de-
manded.
II gave II to your father. and no
gave us his blessing" Jimmy explain
ed. "He helped me out by telegraph
ing when you left home"
Everybody is scheming against me"
she cried as she buried her face in her
hands In an agony of wounded pride.
II release you from your promise"