The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-02-02

our home is unloosed directly we
start upon our travels.
Sir John Hay had, by reprehensible
means, secured unto himself q first
class carriage. He had tipped porters
handsomely and was watching the
guard puff his cheeks preparatory to
blowing them empty through the
whistle that was to give the engine
driver the signal to start, when the
handle of his carriage door was
wrenched violently open.
The girl who stepped up and in
turned to aid the ingress of her COM
panion, who, however, remained on
the platform and, uplifting her hands,
cried: Gracious. l have left your
hand bag!"
Then, turning brusquely from the
door of the compartment. she sped
rapidly up the platform and dived into
the interior of the station.
The longdelayed whistle sounded
and the guard locked the door of the
carriage.
Sir John had been annoyed out of
all reason at the invasion; yet here
he was, gesticulating, imploring, COM
handing delay, and offering back
sheesh on the intruder's behalf.
The laws of the Modes and Persians
were as nothing compared to the in
exorable rules of Company's Time.
Sir John ground his teeth while the
engine groaned. gasped, spluttered.
shrieked, then slid into the comfort
able level of long-journey time.
Sir John experienced a feeling Of
lively annoyance.
Companionship that has not been
sought, although it may be will prove
. boon, man invariably resents. But
when the case Is one of enforced com
partnership with the particular woman
whom for five years the particular man
has carefully sought to avoid, then
the case but goes to prove the futility
Of fighting Fate.
He turned to his companion.
There you see how little ones aid is
worth when one can't even delay
train for you"
She laughed-'twas on a major note,
and the moment of tension passed.
And to think that / have tipped
those men for years and years!" he
deplored, then added:
Fate having made us fellow-trav-
elers as far as Swindon-I presume
that you will await your maid at
Swindon-we can surely behave like
ordinary, courteous beings of the
world and discuss such subjects as
are not tabooed to the use of stran-
gers"
Il have most fragmentary ideas,
but perhaps the weather." she sug.
gested.
'The weather! The subject always
to hand. l think that, even before we
reach Swindon, it would be only polite
to offer you the hospitality of my rug.
Is that permitted"
Certainly, for since your name and
condition are advertised by the brass
plate on your gun-case, may be sup
posed to have seen them, and, take
them as species of introduction"
THE name has, since you remem-
Der it, an addition"
You forget that we are strangers,
and that the Sir John Hay of the gun
case is net necessarily my John Hay"
There was perhaps the tiniest point
of raillery in her eyes.
True, that's true. And Sir John
Hay"
Would at this stage of our en-
forced acquaintance be anxious to in
form himself of the news of the day."
Sir John took up the Times. May
panion-?"
THE Field. Thank you" She &C.
cepted it with smile.
Il regret, for your sake, that it is
not the Queen" He became i'm
mersed in his journal, thus giving to
the woman opposite leisure to inspect
his face.
He was decidedly good-looking, aris-
tocratic, istinguished-looking, with
the distinction promised at 20, trace
able at 80, and now, at five-and-thirty,
which she knew to be his age, very
decidedly marked.
There was a long, noisy silence
She broke it with pretty pretense of
hesitation: Il beg your pardon"
The Times was determinedly put
aside. and Sir John, in his turn, looked
at his companion. and in an instant
things slid into their right proper
lions.
After all. how absurd had been his
idea that on the small income to
which five years ago he could lay
claim, he could have supposed he
might support this exotic flower of
womanhood. How had he ever ven-
tured to suggest to her transportation
to the bleak air of his barren poverty!
He had to admit to himself that he
had no grievance even against her
woridly-wise parents.