The Somerset reporter., 1907-12-12
AmOref'S
OrouSSedu.
By Martha Cobb Sanford.
Copyright. 1907. by Homer Sprague
By Martha Cobb Sanford
Copyright. 1907. by Homer Sprague

the delights of California she knew
she should lind even her dreams tran
! scended.
She took off her stylish little hat and
handed 1t to the FORTRESS, as she
mentally dubbed her Then, with u
cushion at her head and another at her
feet. she settled back with a sense of
replete comfort.
But when the sun. with a last wink
of his bright cyclopean eye, at length
disappeared behind the distant trees
Amoret turned her attention aimlessly
to the people about her. An uninterest-
ing and prosaic collection was her I'M
spoken verdict save for very evil
IDENTITY newly married couple who We're
too silly to be even amusing. What
was there Amoret unused, about hon
eymoon that so invariably transformed
even the most sensible people into such
insufferably sentimental idiots?
Las call to dinnah!' announced the
dining car porter, swinging pompously
through the train.
Amoret opened her purse, In which
she was carrying her miniature watch
She glanced at the time and then, fem
mime fashion, began to investigate the
varied contents of her pocketbook
Suddenly she started, then, growing
very white. leaned back and closed
her eyes.
The serious and dignified" young
man across the aisle had been watch
ing her. He guessed what had hap
pened.
How could he help her? Could he
ask her to go into dinner with him?
OF course not Shed starve before
she'd accept Well. he might as we'll
dine himself and think over the situa-
tion while he did so.
AS he rose and walked ahead into
the dining car Amoret opened her eyes.
She stitied the impulse to jump up and
follow him. He was the only person in
the car that she liked the looks of. He
was a thoroughbred from tip to toe.
But there must be some other way out
of this awful predicament. She closed
her eyes again. All that she could
think of was the roll OF bills which she
had been so long saving for this very
trip and which she knew she had that
very morning placed In her pocket
book
When Richard Mason returned from
the dining car he found Amoret alone.
The rest of the passengers were EVIL
IDENTITY at dinner Now was his chance.
He had thought up no brilliant lead, to
be sure, but the proper words must
come If he could get up sufficient nerve
to speak. He cleared his throat once,
twice, but the silence remained other
wise unbroken.
The train whizzed on. Richard pre-
tended to be reading his paper, but the
print might have been Egyptian hero
glyphics. Suddenly he crushed the
sheet behind him and turned toward
Amoret
Great heavensr' he exclaimed and.
jumping up, caught her in his arms
just as she fell forward fainting. He
rang the porter's bell furiously.
Get some water, quick" he COM
manded, land send for the maid! Don't
lose a minuter'
"Yas'r; no, sah," responded the por
ter and vanished with something akin
to the speed and grace of a hurry call
ambulance.
Meanwhile Richard laid the girl gen
thy down on the seat and got flask of
brandy from his valise. When the por
ter returned with the water and with
the excited maid bringing up the rear
Amoret had begun to show signs OF
consciousness.
Here, Sarah" ordered Richard (why
Sarah he couldn't have told for the
life of HIM, you take care of her
while | go and get some soup. She
but-but she didn't"
Amoret did not refuse the soup. In
deed, she didn't think to question
where 1t came from. She even allowed
Sarah to coax her into eating q little
chicken and afterward to superlntend
the making up of her berth.
"I'll make it all right with you In the
morning" Amoret assured her you
shan't LOSE She stopped short, the
whole miserable predicament suddenly
flashing over her again But Sarah had
not noticed the interruption.
"Yo' husbands already done dat.
honey"
The curtains were shut tight. and
Sarah had gone before Amoret could
get up courage to attempt an explana-
ton.
How is she now?' inquired Richard
anxiously.
"Oh, she's jes' good as new, sab!
You'll TAX desc III spells mo- calmly
when you've been mailed mo- continu-
Gus LAX" And, with a friendly smile,
Sarah left the young man staring
bIankly after her.
Here was a situation
In the morning the porter's FIRST call
to breakfast" rang cheeringly through
the car Amoret heard and tried to
forget as she went on with her spirit
less process of dressing.
Richard heard and realized that he
must take the bull by the horns. In
other words, he must brace himself to
speak to the young lady in distress
and offer her assistance.
In the course of half an hour Amo-
ret appeared She glanced up and
down the car evidently looking for
some one. Suddenly seeing Richard, to
his utter establishment she came
straight toward him.
al am Miss Blanchard" she said