Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-05-09
:66eFLIRTATION
OF ANNE.
By RITA KELLEY.
ropwfont, 1901, BIZ @. Il. sutc1tes.

+
Tho delayed invitation of Janet Fairs
horse party almost caused rupture In
+be Halliwell family, so intense was
tho scramble to get frocks that match
~ +he shoes, girdles to match the
.rocl,s with sufficient everything into
.ho travelling bags and Anne off to the
station for the 4:50 train. At the last
,n,nnte she snatched from her writing
aesk few pages torn from a maga-
n,ra and stuffed them into her hand bag
nc she hurried down to the cab. Janet
had sent her the story fortnight ago,
and the success or failure of the week
end for her depended upon whether or
not she waded through it before she
reached Brentwood. Janet had set
opinions about some things, among
them her love for conventional Anne
and an overweening desire to provide
literature much diversified by COM
mentaries for her best beloved.
ried down the platform and climbed
into the car feeling of wild good hu-
NOR possessed her. The old cramping
occurrences that. savored of self con-
sciousness in her personality had been
lost In the excitement of the last hour.
she found herself within the car with
the exhilarating desire to do something
rash
She didn't know what exactly. Then
II flashed over her No more old ladies,
or women with children, or nice elder
ly men. She shuddered at thought of
the innumerable times she had asked
to share their seats-no. This time she
was free from tradition. She would
pick winner With brave deter,
mination she gripped her bags and set
out down the aisle in quest of him.
He was at the extreme end of the
car. Big and brown, and he looked the
part. The little query was said, the
alacrious moving of bags ended, and
Anne sank into the mans place by the
window, facing him, with tiny feel
ing of exultation.
He was winner sure enough, hand
some and with the most charming
manner imaginable. Anne dubbed him
Harvard man when he lifted his hat.
They were all so delightfully."- gallant.
She was not in the least embarrassed
by his Intermittent gaze, which was
timed, as only winner knows how, to
meet her vagrant glances. She knew
her hat was immeasurably becoming,
with the pink rose and soft plume
against her brownish hair; also that
her blue fox set was the latest cry in
furs and her gloves and boots correct.
1t occurred to her presently, however,
that she ought to convince the man
Of her complete disinterestedness in
choosing him for travelling compan-
ion.
Accordingly she drew the portion of
magazine from her hand bag and set
tied herself comfortably. There were
six pages of it, and she knew that, pro-
vided she read leisurely it would last
until she reached Brentwood. Janet
had third virtue. She considered,
speculating subconsciously, with eyes
fixed on the flowing landscape, over
long look which she had just inter-
rupted, were his eyes brown or gray
or green? Oh, Janet's virtue! Well, 1t
was providing literature for travelling
young ladies who were in danger of
reverting without warning to embar
RAISING original self consciousness.
Janet had scribbled In her bold CHI
rography wherever an fnterlfneation
was possible fond, foolish things
which Anne soon forgot to read in her
absorption In the story. She loved a
horse, and this was hero handled
with the sympathetic touch of lover
OF horses. Tears sprang to her eyes,
TO be succeeded by a smile a low
laugh or strained intentness and pain.
She finished the story as the train
whistled for Brentwood, with an over
Whelming desire to lean over and tell
tne man facing her that it was the
greatest story ever written; that she
wanted to tell him about 1t; that she
knew he would understand.
carried outside herself, she leaned
forward impulsively, her lips parted,
eyes glowing, about to speak. Presto!
der mind sprang like trap, and she
Dent over her bags instead, embar-
rassedly preparing to flee. She gave
nlm the feetest of glances as she rose,
ana ne looked steadily at her while a
suspicion of smile, appreciative and
friendly, came into his eyes. She had
Tue story with her; but, suddenly fol-
iowing an impulse, she dropped it as
tnlng OF no value upon the seat
Janet Fair was in a state of woe.
Inc lion of the house party had not
naterlalized. Frantic telephoning and
wires disclosed the fact that he had
lert town for Silox, next station be-
yond brentwood, on the 4:5O train and
nad been seen no more. The Fair
country place stood midway between
tne two stations used impartially by
tne Fair guests, and a coupe had met
uoth stations, one bringing Anne Hal
uWell from RroDtxrooJ Tho 10 or