The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-01-10
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] An Enforced 8
] Companionship z
q BY FRAMES RIVERS r.
By FRAMES RIVERS
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Copyright. By Joseph q. Bowles1

! We keep more or less under control IL
our home is unlo0ed directly we
| start upon our travels.
| Sir John Hay had, by reprehensiblt
means. secured unto himself a first
class carriage. He had tipped porters
handsomely and was watching the
guard pun his cheeks preparatory tc
| 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 ingrcss OF her com.
| panion. who, however, remained on
the platform and. uplifting her hands.
cried: Gracious. ! have left your
hand bag!"
Then, turning trusquely from the
door OF the compartment. she sped
rapidly up the platform and dived into
the interior of the station.
The long-delayed 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, sesticulating. imploring, com.
manding delay, and Offering back.
sheesh on the tntruder's behalf
The laws OF the Modes and Perslans
were as nothing compared TO the In.
exorable rules OF Compauy's Time
Sir John ground his teeth while the
engine groaned, gasped. spluttered
shrieked, then slid into the comfort.
able level Of long-journcy time
Sir John experienced feeling OF
lively annoyance
Companionship that has not been
sought, although It may be Will prove
a 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 utility
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 iaughed-'twas on h 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-tray.
eiers 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 rraementary ideas.
but perhaps the weather" she sue.
gested.
The weather! The subject always
TO hand. / think that, even before we
reach Swindon. II would be only polite
70 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
thern as species of Introduction"
The name has, since You reuen.
Der II, an addition"
You forget that we are strangers
and that the Sir John Hay OF the sun.
case is not necessarily my John HAY"
There was perhaps the tipiesr point
Of raillery IN her eyes
True. that's true And Sir John
fay"
Would al This stage II our en-.
forced acquaintance nc anxious to in
form himself of tho n-,s OF the day."
Sir John took up the rues. Nav
he be permitted TO oGer 20 his com.
panton-?"
The Field. Thank you" She &C.
cepted IL with smile.
i regret. for your sake, that It IS
nor the Queen" He became i'm
Tersed IN his journal. thus giving TO
the woman opposite leisure 10 inspect
his face.
He was decidedly goodloolling, a-is-
tocratic, distin gu: shed looking, with
the distinction promised ut 20, trace
able at 90. and now, at 1ve-and-thirty.
which she knew 10 be his age very
decidedly marked.
There was long, noisy silence.
She broke 1t with pretty pretense of
hesitation: Il beg your pardon"
The Times was deterninediv put
aside. and Sir John, in his turn, looked
at his companion, and in an instant
things slid into their right proper
tons.
After all. how absurd lad been his
dea that on the small income to
which five years ago he could Law
claim. he could have supposed he
might support this exotic flower Of
wonanhood. How had he ever ven
tured TO suggest to her transp!antatton
TO the bleak air of his barren poverty!
He had to admit 70 himself thai he
had no grievance even against her
wor!dly-wise parents
iou were going to say"
Ihat l fear the weather &c ee,-,,-