The Columbus journal., 1908-12-09

was furtively wiping a pair OF grimy
hands on his handkerchief. But it was
not the man nor the suppressed tit
ters of laughter that he recollected
best: it was the girl who escorted
him.
arm, the daintinesS of her costume
enhanced by the marks of the work
shop on his coat. She walked smiling
ly forward, completely Self-possessed.
with head thrown back, and making
10 apologies Had it not been for the
conversation at the door, overheard
within the room, none would have
supposed that she wished a more cere
monious appearance. She challenged
with her eyes as she passed her
guests. and to Killers surprise. bound
in conyentionality as he always had
been. it suddenly seemed that in all
of it there was nothing inappropriate
nor incongruous.
Then came that later hour when he
was introduced to the savant. and the
latter had locked him sQuarely in the
eyes and given him a handshake that
was surprisingly strong. And the
girl, At the first word spoken by her
his heart gave great leap, insistently
demanding that he should know her
better. 1t had been easy to yield to
its call. and he made occasion to be
as near her side throughout the even
ing as was possible. He was to learn
later that she always was with her ia
Their. nearly always inaccessible. and
sometimes wrapped in such thought
that he could scarcely probe her mind.
| The evening of their meeting had
ended as do all evenings; but thence
forth he had sought her. Their ac-
Guaintance grew to more friendly
, basis. and went steadily forward until
on his part at least it eliminated in
love- Sometimes he had the courage
to believe it returned. At other times
he grew Respondent in his assault on
the portals of her heart. but now that
war and separation threatened, he
was resolved to bring his siege to the
A longdrawn whistle of increasing
volume vibrated through the dusk;
one headlight stared more steadily
than the others which cleaned across
the network of steel rails beyond and
came swiftly. picking trail to the
great arched shed. With final clang-
ing of its bell. the big locomotive
perspired past MIN. the whistling
brakes gave a harsh grind and the
train came to a matt ...... g..
Guy hurried back with quick, i'm
patient steps to the Pullman, where
negroes dropped carpeted steps. in
time to see the orc for whom he
waited emerge. calm and immaculate
as usual. but with such q gladness of
welcome in her eyes that he could
barely resist taking her into his arms.
Time might drag, but it always found
her unchanged. In sudden awkward
ness he took her lighter luggage and
wrap and walked with her to the exit
of the noisy station. finding all his
carefully formulated sentences for
gotten. and listening to her rather
than saying an-thing himself.
Almost the first question she asked
him was of the war; and at this he felt
tinge CT disappointment. 1t was too
impersonal topic for a man who had
waited a month for an opportunity to
speak of affection. He would ratio"
she gave first thought to what :" IA
been doing. what he was &c ~ do
and what he wisfed to C. zen when
they reached :: "a. ere quiet place Away
from the din of railway traffic and
aside from the r Of outgoing pas
sengerS, SIZE turr = ,Cward him with a
grave face and asked for the real
latest news"