The Yale expositor., 1907-06-07
Na0amAma M@ sneme GA Mn0
THE PART WILLIAM PLAYED
BY MELLA OVERTON RUSSELL

porter's voice.
Right heah-numbah three"
"All right" The response was un-
mistakably masculine.
Leisurely, the new passenger ar
ranged his belongings. He was very
tall-that much Elizabeth could tell.
without looking from her magazine.
With a sigh of relief, she heard the
rustic OF paper, her companion sank
comfortably into his seat, and applied
himself to the news.
Elizabeth was eighteen. She gave
two distinct impressions-that she
was from tip to toe perfect LADY,
and that she was most particular
about her conduct in public. Inciden-
tally, she was little, with black hair,
clear blue eyes and extreme pallor,
which was accumulated by a dark blue
gown, cut almost too severely for so
small a person.
All this John Demorest had noticed
in one brief glance. Behind his news
paper he smiled little grimly.
What an ogre she thinks me for
daring to occupy her section" he
thought. 81 know by the stiff way she
holds her back, she's nice little
thing Here we have a whole evening
together, and no chance to shorten It
by a little harmless talking. That's
the nice girl over and over-introduc-
tions, formality, rot!"
An hour of steady reading ensued.
Demorest was the sort that can be
fol h,tfIt
with easy, unconscious movements.
But Elizabeth grew very tired; her
eyes ached; her head began to
threaten; she was glad when dinner
was announced.
John Demorests keen eyes followed
her quick movements. He looked at
her trim little back as she hurried
down the car Putting down his paper,
he studied the little blue hat and coat
which lay on the seat opposite. They
were so instinctively proper, so truly
eastern. For some reason there was
big hungriness in his heart.
He was a civil engineer, en- route
TO New York, his home. His diligence
in western bridge construction had
won him fiattering offer in the main
Office of the railroad which he served.
He was not a man who could be I'M
happy anywhere, but, as he looked
back at the four years just ended, so
different from what his life before had
been, he felt great relief in his heart
and realized that he had been lonely
for the hustle and roar of the city, for
the old indescribable east; for people
like the girl in blue.
At the next stop the porter led a
small boy to the section opposite. He
was evidently travelling alone, and the
very self-reliant air of the youngster
was noticeable.
"Suah youh not afraid to sit heah
all alone?" inquired the porter, kindly.
"Oh, no, thank you" answered the
boy.
He sat on the extreme edge of the
seat and looked about
Here, at least, is an eastern prod
uct, which | dare address," said John
Demorest, to himself. l won't yet,
though" he added. I'll see if Miss
Primness can find it proper to look at
a baby whom she has never met"
When Elizabeth came back, she did
look at the child; he was so tiny, and
all alone! She smiled. When she
smiled the little look of reserve ran
away, and she was altogether charm.
ing. The boy smiled back, and slid
farther into the big seat, as if satisfied
that there was a friend on the train,
in case of need.
Soon the child slid down, crossed
the aisle and addressed Elizabeth
May sit with you awhile?"
Yes, indeed" cried the girl.
What is your name, dear?"
William Morrison Davis, and mo-
Their says | may talk to kind looking
people on train
A slight flush came to Elizabeth's
face. Demorest hurviedly picked mp
his paper.
Are you going to New York;" con.
tinued the boy.
Yes"
do you live in New York;
"Yes"
Mother says that sometimes I am
rude in my questions, but don't
mean to be-"
The baby gravity was too much for
Elizabeth. She took possession of the
little hand. and asked: Where do you
liver"
"Oh, live in New York too"
You are-let me see-six years old,
aren't your"
How did you know? Can you tell
peoples ages? Tell me how old the
nice man, across from us, is"
Elizabeth colored again Perhaps
William Morrison Davis mother was
right She FASTENED to inform him
that she could only tell little boys
ages.
do you know that manT'
mo"
NO"
why, don't you talk to him? I'm
sure he is nice, by the way his eyes
look Let's talk tn him /"