The Democratic advocate., 1907-12-06


-''memory riding about eyclin'.
Deuced awkward, eh p
The girl glanced at him curiously, and
resumed her reading.
"Deuced awkward, eh?' repeated the
Bounder, rather loudly.
Il am not in the habit of talking when
travelingr' said the girl, freezingly.
| "You re beastly disagreeable r said the
Bounder.
| The girl took no notice.
"Beastly disagreeable r repeated the
Bounder. "When fellow speaks to you,
you might have the common politeness to
answer"
Sir Thomas, quivering with astonish-
ment, felt compelled to intervene.
''This is really monstrous-most mon,
strous !" he declared with agitation. II
must insist, sir-I must really insist on
your ceasing to annoy this lady r.
The Bounder uttered low whistle of
amazement "Well, I'm jiggered p he
said, thoughtfully.
She girl smiled
cit is extraordinary p continued Sir
Thomas, gaining courage, "And [ OBJ
ject-I distinctly object to being annoyed
by such exhibitions Of ungentlemanly OBJ
trusion.
The Bounder gazed through the window,
and Sir Thomas noticed, with indignation,
that he was grinning. He turned to re-
ceive the approval of the girl, and to as
sure her by an eloquent glance of his con-
tinued protection.
~ am afraid you are under misappre-
hension, she said, gently. ''That gentle
man is my cousin. We are travelling to-
gether-at least, as far as Rugby
Sir Thomas shrivelled up. $50 sorry
wasn't aware apologize
- he murmured, and plunged pro-
foundly into his paper. For the remainder
of the run to Rugby he was assuring him
self Indignantly that it was an iniquitous
thing for two people who knew each other
intimately to meet as if they were perfect
strangers.
At Rugby the Bounder alighted and
beckoned to porter. Then he nodded in
casual way to his cousin and disappeared.
''He is bounder - said Sir Thomas,
mentally. He was surprised to hear the
girl speaking to him.
s'It is only his manner" she said, con-
fdentially. "He doesn't mean any
thing"
''Quite so,' said Sir Thomas. He did
not desire to talk.
Cousins said the girl, ''are generally
rather stupid, when they are not engaged.
Don't you think so?''
"I am afraid I have not studied the
question:" said Sir Thomas, curtly.
~ WONDER" said the girl, eff you
would mind getting me sandwich !? | am
really ridiculously hungry
Sir Thomas groaned inwardly, but he
rose and departed on his mission.
''You had better buy two sandwiches"
said the girl, putting her head through
the window, "and glass of milk, please"
Sir Thomas nodded. He could not trust
himself to speak.
When he reached the refreshment buffet
he felt that his nerves needed strengthen
ing. Then he returned with the milk and
sandwiches, for which he was thanked
prettily.
'sDo you know" said the girl, when the
train had restarted, ''I rather like you
She attacked the second sandwich.
Sir Thomas felt alarmed. Why should
he submit to being liked by pretty and
unknown girls in smoking compartments
"But I'm afraid you have bad tenn
per-" she added, examining his face care
fully. s'You have, haven't you?
Sir Thomas said nothing; he was read
ing.
"Do put away that horrid paper p she
said persqasively. 81 an, sure you have
read 1t from end to end at least three times.
Put it away, and be nice, and talk to
me -
"My dear madam r he began.
II know what you want" she said,
suddenly Chow very stupid of me of
course, you are dying for cigar | assure
you don mind it bit, really In fact,
I sometimes smoke myself Should | |
shock you very much if I had a cigarette
now p
"This-ah-is a smoking oompart-
ment," Sir Thomas observed. ''There is
no reason, | believe, why travellers in
smoking compartment should -ah-refrain
from smoking"
The girl produced a dainty case, took
out cigarette, and lit it. Sir Thomas lit
cigar.
Then she began to talk 1t was easy
for him to make mental reservations, but
she didn't mind. She went on talking.
She told him, progressing by gentle stages,
astounding and incredible things, until he
gasped with amazement. She revealed to
him (from the depth of her imagination)
how the modern girl lives or desires to
live, She related, without apparent effort,
her strange histories of several of her
friends. Then she explained to him light
ly and brightly many important points in
literature, and music, art, politics and sport
especially in horseracing. She finished
with brief but comprehensive reference
to society gossip.
GA remarkably clever GIRL" thought
Sir Thomas. "Really, I haven't been so
much amused for long time But of
course, she is extremely forward"
The train slowed down and stopped.
"Why, really" he exclaimed, twe
are at Lich6eld How quickly the time
has gone r
He beckoued to a porter; then turned to
the girl.
81 have to thank you -ah-for most
enjoyable journey he said affably. 81
wish you good day.
The girl had risen. 81 also stop here, y
she said. 81 am staying in the neighbor-
hood
They got out. The porter had already
taken Sir Thomas bag, and was conveying