The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-08-13
An Unobtrusive Protector
IorrinaLl

the same car with other persons, e.
Decially men. She had always been g
model Of purity. At sixteen on at
tempting to ride the pony Of a young
friend and admIrer she had fallen and
displayed considerable lingerie. Those
who saw her arise from the ground,
her cheeks flaming. her eyes glittering,
and stalk into the house have never for
gotten the sight.
II became necessary for Mrs. Seguine
10 make a night journey on a train.
She was not due to arrive till morning,
and, disdaining q sleeper, took a chair
IN the drawing room car. There were
but few persons in the car, most Of the
passengers preferring berths. In the
chair next to Mrs. Seguine sat young
man of perhaps twenty, meek look
ing fellow, with a timid manner. OPP
poaite sat q gentleman who was pass
ing the middle point in his threescore
and ten years-a well dressed looking
person, evidently Of the highest type
Of American gentleman. he occupied
himself reading a magazine OF the dry
as dust and good English kind and was
quite well bred enough not to lock at
pretty Mrs. Segulne when she was
stealing glances at him from under her
long lashes.
As the hours waxed every one Of the
half dozen persons In the car either
slept or appeared to sleep except Mrs.
Seguine, who made frequent use Of her
| vinaigrette and kept constantly wiping
/ the dust from her face with her cam
brio handkerchief and heaving signs OF
discomfort. The porter came along, and
/ the lady asked him to turn the lights
little lower, since she never could sleep
| except IN a dark room. The porter
| complied with her request, but as he
did not turn them low enough the gen.
tieman opposite Mrs. seguine. who had
/ heard her request, gave him coin to
turn them lower. The widow witness
ed the transfer Of the coin and was
| grateful. This time the porter left very
little light in the car, and those who
| had remained awake slumbered.
Suddenly all were aroused by q
| shrek. The lamp nearest the widow
| had been turned so low that 1t had
/ gone out. The shrek seemed to come
from her direction. and to her all eyes
were turned, though imperfectly pene-
/ trating the gloom. The widow arose
and. turning to the young man beside
4 her, said Indignantly:
"How dare your
'W-h-a-tT
what? You know very Welt You
kissed meE'
"No. l didn't"
"Do you mean to question my word
IN addition to taking such a libertyT
81 certainly didn't kiss you. was
asleep"
/ Meanwhile the gentleman opposite
awoke, looked about him In a semicon-
scious condition. arose and. seeing the
lady in trouble. stepped forward.
"May I ask the cause Of your annoy
anceT' he said to the widow.
'This man has been brutal enough
to- Either her wrath or her modesy
prevented her speaking the word.
'She says kissed her" said the boy.
''She Is certainly mistaken"
ibid any one dare really pTofane
those lipsT' asked the gentleman, q
cold horror at such an act In his voice
! and manner.
"some one certainly did. and who
could have done it except this man
who was sitting beside msF'
'STrue. he Ia IN the position TO be
nrst suspected. But Just before being
awakened dreamed that a man was
standing holding the car door open.
admitting a cold draft OF air. When
no shut It distinctly heard him do 90
a. one half awake. May not some one
have committed the outrage while pass
Ing through the carp
/ A passenger who was very sleepy
and anxious to be permitted to re-
sumo his slumbers declared that he
also had heard the door shut, and the
I widow gave reluctant assent that
this might possibly DO the explanation,
though she did not apologize to the
/ young man for having accused him.
On the invitation Of the gentleman op-
/ posite abe took vacant seat beside
him, he turned up the lamp. and she
finished the night under his protection.
/ There was something so delicately
deferential In the gentleman's manner
that the widow. herself the perfection
Of unobtrusiyeness. knew surely that
be was one to whom she might trust
herself In every particular. She per
mitted him on arrival to call car
riage, to hand her In and to give her
number to the cOachman.
The gentleman made a note Of the
address, found out all about the lady,
secured an Introduction. and all with
20 unassumlng demeanor that she was
delighted with him. Thus sprang love.
Several years after the marriage the
wife's dream OF her husbands delIcacy
/ was shattered. He came home one
I evening to 1nd her in no affable mood.
my dear she said. emphasizing the
dear Jelly, John has told Mary, and
Mary told me-"
"whaty'
That Il was you who kissed me that