The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-01-24
Cant We Try Each Other Once More. !"

It was almost time for the Phila-
delphia express to be called, and in
the waiting room the usual quota Of
travellers had gathered. 1t was COM
mon enough scene, but full of absorb
ing interest to serious mite of a
child sitting like an obedient little
statue on the seat where her compan-
ions had placed her, hands sedately
folded in her lap and her plump little
legs barely long enough to dangle
over the edge.
Her wide eyes questioned each face
about her with wistful intentness, and
there were occasional evidences of a
mighty struggle of cogitation in her
little mind. The man with her was
kind enough, after his own lights but
he was not used to children, and this
child was not used to him, and she
was lonely.
The Desbrosses street ferry had
5ust come in, and among the string of
Passengers who hurried into the wait
ing room were a man and woman,
upon whom the child's eyes fixed
themselves In speculative admiration.
This was a stately and beautiful lady.
The man was large, and perhaps
would some day be larger, but now he
carried his bigness of height and
breadth with an enviably easy swing.
He went to the window and bought
one single ticket, and then the two
came and and sat diagonally opposite
the child and her companion. The
woman was speaking In constrain-
edly polite tone
"There are but few moments to
wait. beg that you will not consider
It necessary to stay. There was no
occasion for your coming at ALL"
"You forget that there are still
some appearances to maintain" he
answered stiffly. There is no occa-
sion to create any more gossip than
IS necessary, and this is an absurd
hour for you to start"
isn't 1t little late to consider ap-
pearances?" she asked, with a touch
of scorn in her voice, chatting at his
cold supervision of her actions, which
he did not attempt to explain by any
warmer motive than conventionalty
She knew what he meant-that 1t put
him in the light of brute that she
should be fleeing from his home unat-
tended at particularly inconvenient
hour. She knew that it was an alb
surd journey, bringing her at her des-
tination at midnight, but she could
not endure that silent house for anoth-
er minute. The fever to be among her
own people-the few, the very few,
who would sympathize and ask no
cruel questions-had rushed irresisti-
bly, upon her few hours before, and
she had recklessly made her prepara-
tions and started. What matter? They
had agreed that the hollow sham of
their married life had better end at
once, and that later they would be
legally separated. 1t soon would be
known to the world, and New York
had become a cell of torment to her.
And he-when he was coolest he
was always punctillously polite, and
he had insisted on seeing her off If she
was determined to take this foolish
Journey. His face had been hard and
indifferent as the door-their door
had closed upon them as man and
wife, and the ride to the ferry had
been made in rigid silence.
Her eyes caught the child's unwaver-
ing gaze, and her face softened from
its flinty composure. She had no
children Of her own, and tnis was such
an unconsciously pathetic figure, with
its primly folded hands and solemn
eyes. The little traveller smiled faint
ly and looked shyly away. Then the
eyes crept back again, and friendly
communication was established. For
q few moments she sat in sober con-
sideration, Weighing some mighty prob
lem in her mind, and ever and anon
slipping tentative glance toward the
stately lady; then there was a eau
tious peep at the caretaker's face,
and with the anxious haste of one who
gathers all his courage for desperate
leap, she slid swiftly down and
was across the way before her COM
panion could realize what had hap
pened.
won't you, please" she began,
eagerly, her eyes searching the wom-
ans face, won't you please tell me
what q divorce ISL"
There' IL was Out-that awfpl nm
answered question which had been
tormenting her small soul for days
upon days-and her bolstered-up cour-
age suddenly subsidized into fiatness
as she realized the magnitude Of her
temerity in asking this strange and