Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-01-02

demanded that one through car each
way be run on the old main line, and
becausezthe other =sleepers were crowd
/ ed Val Clifton had taken berth in the
other car. Is Most of the traffic was
short hauls in the. day coaches, and he
missed having company on the first
day out
r. 1t was nearly noon when~at last a
Ecommotion behind the hanging curtains
suggested that the unknown was get
ting up, and at last there was a flash
orered Wrapper CLINT of golden hair
ana just a suggestion Of white as she
vanished around the corner to the
dressing room
The porter came in and made up the
berth and presently she returned to her
Isection. Now she wore a trim gray
dress. There were dimples in her
cheeks, and Clifton rose and strolled
forward
~ want to apologize in person for
my awkward blunder," he said as he
leaned over the arm Of her seat 1T
was silly mistake, but somehow the
CHAP In this section last night gave
me the Impression that he was going
through, and was so horribly lonesome
that l wanted him to play cards with
me-"
| "A sleeper is place Of surprises"
she laughed, "but l guess that you
were more badly scared than l was,
SO We'll call it square. l know how
lonesome it is traveling."
MAY venture to hope that you will
share my solitude?' he pleaded you
want some breakfast, and want some
lunch. May call the porter?"
The girl nodded, and Clifton pressed
the button. Presently they were chat
ting across the white tablecloth as
merrily as though they had been old
friends.
Then when the things had been
cleared away he got out his cards, and
they were soon deep in euchre She
chatted away on impersonal topics,
and Clifton was charmed. In contrast
with the loneliness of the morning in
the deserted car with only the dreary
landscape to watch, the girl seemed
ed when the porter came around to
light the lights. a number of per-
sons had boarded the car through the
afternoon, but he had scarcely noticed
Them
He was sorry now that he had ar
ranged to stop over Oh some business.
He was sorry that he was not going
straight through, for she had told him
that she was to he on the train until
we'll into the next day.
He swore softly to himself when the
porter came to brush him down.
BE in your station in ten minutes"
ne said briskly as he picked up the
suit case beside Clifton's seat and took
1t to the forward door. Clifton fol-
lowed him more leisurely and stopped
at the girls seat
II am grateful to you for a most de-
1ightful afternoon he said earnestly.
II am sorry that our ways part so
quickly, but somehow l feel certain
that l shall see you again.
Pm sure of it," said the girl with
laughing eyes. But next time l hope
that the introduction will not be so
abrupt"
IN follow the adage and let Sleep
Ing dogs-and sleeping car passengers
sleep on" he laughed. "Goodby-and
thanks"
i Their hands met for q moment in a
warm clasp, and then he made his
Fway to the door.
The train pulled out before he rurneu
away from the platform, and with the
last flash of the car lights on the CLINT
Ing gold of her hair terrible sense of
loneliness came over him. He had not
asked for her address. 1t would have
been worse than rude, and he wanted
her to think we'll of him, but now he
was sorry that he had not risked Civ
Ing offense. 1t was too late now;
though. She had probably passed out
Of his life forever, and he turned away
toward the hotel stages with heavy
heart. Now that the train had gone
on he knew that he had fallen in love,
and with an unknown girl at that
There were letters waiting for him
at the hotel, including one from his Sis
ter urging him to close up his business
and get home quickly, as she wanted
him to reach there before her school
chum went back home.
Clifton caught up sheet of note pa
per and wrote line to Nell. He SOL
EMMY warned her to cherish no hopes
that he would fall in love- II met a
girl on the train," he wrote. UNLESS
can find her you will never have a
sister-in-law. think I shall stay here
until your visitor goes"
He sent the letter downstairs and
turned into bed, bit SLEEP. was laggard.
He could see in the darkness of the
room that golden head, and he re-
preached himself for his foolishness in
not finding out who she was.
He rose unrefreshed in the morning
and went duly about his business.
The girl of the train was before his
eyes all the time. 1t was silly, he told
himself, to feel SO about woman he
would probably never see again, yet
at the same time he realized that she
had made an impression upon him that
time could not efface.
He tried to read that evening, but he
could not keep his mind on the maya
zine, and at last he threw it down and
gave himself up to meditation. He
knew that If he brooded on the sub
ject he would be unfit for business or
Inv FIT 11~ r. ~~+ a~,I k1,o ~