The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-08

TX
where and we now have to wait for
the nine o'clock, and it's late. If I'd
known how much behind it was I
should have run out to see you How
are things going?"
"As smooth as a whistle! It really
isn't SO bad when you face It And the
fact Is I'm actually at work"
That's splendid. The year will go
fast enough, never fear. I suppose
you pine for a little human society
now and then. A man can never strike
the right medium in such things. In
New York we are all rushed to death.
1 sometimes feel that I'd like a little
rustication myself. I get nervous. and
working for corporations is wearing.
The old gentleman there is Taylor
president of the Mid-Western and
Southern. The ladies are his wife and
a friend of hers. I'd like to introduce
you" He ran his eyes over my cordu-
roys and leggings in amiable accept
ance of my rusticity. He had not in
years addressed me 50 pleasantly.
Stoddard had left me to go to the
other end Of the platform to speak to
some of the students. l followed Pick
ering rather reluctantly to where the
companions of his travels were pacing
to and fro IN the crisp morning air.
AS soon as Pickering had got me
we'll under way in conversation with
Taylor, he excused himself hurriedly
and went of, as l assumed, to be sure
the station agent had received orders
for attaching the private car to the
Chicago express. Taylor proved to be
supercilous person. believe they
call him Chilly Billy at the Metropoli-
tan club,-and our efforts to converse
were pathetically unfruitful. The two
ladies stood by, making no conceal
ment Of their Impotence. Their eyes
were upon the girls from St Agathas
on the other platform, whom they
could see beyond me. l had jumped
the conversation from Indiana farm
values to the recent disorders in Bull
garia, which interested me more, when
Mrs. Taylor, ignoring me. spoke abb
ruptly to her sister.
That's she-the one in the gray
coat. talking to the clergyman. She
came moment ago in the carriage"
THE one with the umbrella? I
thought you said"
Mrs. Taylor glanced at her sister
warningly, and they both looked at
me. Then they detached themselves
and moved away. There was some one
on the farther platform whom they
wished to see, and Taylor, not under
standing their maneuver-he was real
ly anxious, think, not to be left alone
with me-started down the platform
after them, I following. Mrs. Taylor
and her sister walked to the end Of
the platform and looked across, a bis
cult toss away, to where Stoddard
stood talking to the girl I had already
heard described as wearing a gray
coat and carrying an umbrella.
The girl in gray crossed the track
quickly and addressed the two women
cordially. Taylor's back was to her
and he was growing eloquent in a mild
well-bred way over the dullness of our
statesmen in not seeing the advan,
tages that would accrue to the United
States in fostering our shipping indus
try. His wife, her sister and the girl
! IN gray were so near that l could hear
| plainly what they were saying. They
were referring apparently to the girls
| refusal of an invitation to accompany
them to California.
So you can't Colts too bad! We
had hoped that when you really saw
us on the way you would relent," said
Mrs. Taylor
But there are many reasons; and
above all Sister Theresa needs me-"
It was the voice Of Olivia, a little
lower. a little more restrained than
had known it; but undeniably 1t wa:
she.
But think of the rose gardens thai
are waiting for US out there!" said the
other lady. They We're showing he
the Difference that elderly women al
ways have for pretty girls.
Alas, and again alas!" exclaimed
Olivia. please don't make it harde,
TOT me tha&a necessary. But gave m!
promise a year ago to spend these
holidays in Cincinnati"
She ignored me wholly and afte
shaking hands with the ladies returned
to the other platform. 1 wondered
whether she was overlooking Taylo
on purpose to cut me.
Taylor was still at his lecture on tn,
needs of our American merchant ma
rine when Pickering passed hurriedly
crossed the track and began speakin!
earnestly to the girl in gray.
THE American flag should commanC
the seas. What we need is not NOR,
battleshIps but more freight car
riers-" Taylor was saying.
But I was watching Olivia Gladly
Armstrong. In long skirt, with he
hair caught up under a gray toQue tina
matched her coat perfectly, she wa