The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-09-04
m AN OMNIBUS.
By Alice and Claude .Asken.

ance? No, can't say believe much
in that sort of thing; you wouldn't ex-
pect il from matter-of-fact old city
man like me, would you? I've had 70
look on the practical side Of things
ever since was boy.
All the same, did have a rather
curious experience the other evening
1t was only trifiing affair, and !
dare say there is nothing in 1t, really,
but I've tried to apply the ordinary
rules Of experience to it-tried 70
work it out by the rule Of three, as 1t
were; but somehow there's always
hitch that | can't quite level up
Here's the story for what It's
worth: / had had busy day at the
ONCE, and was tired out wien took
my usual bus home-Hammersmith
you know; and had walked as far
as Charing Cross by way of exercise
and to clear my brain Of stuffy fg-
ures. 1t had just begun to drizzle,
and was lucky to get place in the
'bus--just about the centre OF the left
side 1t was, up against the metal bar
that divides the long seat into halves.
|. There was only just room for me,
for my two fellow passengers on the
right were bulky individuals, so was
wedged up pretty tight against the
bar. It's lucky that I'm not big
man myself or | don't know what we
should have done. AS it was, In set
Ting down, my arm came rather
sharply into contact with the shoulder
OF girl who was placed to my left
just the other side Of the bar, you
understand. She gave little cry and
started, just as IL she had been
aroused from a nap, and didn't quite
know where she was.
OF course, I apologized, and then
forgot all about the matter. / didn't
even look at the girl, didn't realize II
she were smart or shabby, fair or
dark. It's very rare for me to take
interest in folk I meet in omnibuses.
tried to read an evening paper, but
the light was so bad 1t couldn't be
done. Long experience has taught
me the futility OF such an attempt, yet
I'm always doing tout of sheer per.
versity, | suppose.
Well had to shut UP my paper
and amuse myself as best could
with my own thoughts, 1t was then
that | cast casual glance RI my
youthful neighbor, and-I can't tell
you why, for. as have said, it is
quite at variance with my usual hab
its--I began to speculate as to her
position and occupation; silly thing
to do, for she was just like thousands
of others with no special points about
her
She was quite young -ninteen OF
twenty perhaps-nueither pretty moi
ugly, and Of nondescript coloring. Her
hair was fluffed out on either side Of
her ears, and she wore a round car
of some cheap fur. 1t was quite un
pretentious, but somehow it suited
her Her features were rather thin
and she had no complexion to speak
of; ono could easily guess that she
was out in all sorts of weather, OF
subjected to an unwholesome atmos
phere of some kind. Her under lir
Snapped a little--you know how cold
it was about fortnight ago?-and
there was little drop of blood just
about the centre, where her teeth
may have closed on the lip IL she
had been out Of temper; or, of course
it may merely have been the result
of the weather. Anyway, that dror
OF blood fascinated me, and think Il
was because of it that took such
special notice Of an everyday sort Of
girl. There we're couple of curious
black spots on her cheek and chin as
well. / couldn't make out If they
were moles or If she had been spat
tered by the mud of the street. the
state Of her dress--a frayed serge
rather indicated the latter, poor child
/ think her eyes were gray, but sh,
kept them half closed leaning back il
her seat, inclined a little to my side
as IL she were tired out and wanted
TO sleep. She had nice long lashes,
remember.
Oh, no; wasn't in the least bi
fascinated, or any rot OF that sort
I'M not the kind of man who is al
ways on the lookout for chance ac
quaiutances-that game is played
out, as far as am concerned. But
had to think Of something, and tn,
girl BY my side was more interesting
than any Of the other stodgy folk wis
had got into the busa Job LOT. /