The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-12-16

4
paper. and the couple ut the other side
Of the compartment never stopped
flirting.
sat straight up and tried TO frown
'em down. They didn't seem to care
much for me. but once the young
hussy, when her lover put his hand on
hers, drew hers away, cast glance at
me and whispered something to the
young man. After that they both lean
ed back for awhile and stopped their
foolin'. But It wasn't long before they
was at It again. both leanln' forward,
one OF his knees covered by her skirts,
and she didn't know that | knew that
they was holdin' hands under 1t too.
/ couldn't stand It any longer. The
husband was a benevolent looking
man, and / sympathized with him
from the bottom Of my heart. BY and
by he put down his paper and looked
out the winder. | began by maxim
some remarks about the weather aud
the beauty OF the country. He seemed
inclined to talk with me because be
hadn't any one else to talk with.
purposely directed his gaze to the view
to be seen from the other window so
that he'd see what was goin' on. but
the miserable things heard me and
leaned back against the cushions.
There was nothin' for me to do but
tell him. BY this I'd be dom him a
service and her. too, for | guessed
there hadn't been anything real crimi.
nal between 'em, and IL the affair was
nipped In the bud there wouldn't be.
Jest as was makin' up my mind how
to put him on to the thing without Of
Tense the train whizzed into a tunnel.
The compartment was black as Ink for
awhile; then we shot out into bright
daylight The old fool of q husband
was settin' with bis head thrown back
and his eyes shet. The lovers was set
tin back from each other. and a flush
was on the young woman's cheeks.
But what was that on the black whisIZ-
ers of the young man? Powder
powder from OFF her face. / saw it
and knew that the whippersnappe
had been takin' a kiss.
At that moment the husband opened
his eyes. Would you believe it7 He
looked at the couple unconcernedly and
then resumed his paper.
whats that" whispered to him,
ION that young mans beard?"
He looked at me kind o. surprised,
then at the young man, then back at
me. Il don't see anything" he said.
Don't you see the powder on his
beardg'
Powder No"
swell, declared Where's your eyes?
That young mans got powder on his
beard and his coat collar, and It could
have only come from your wife's face
The old man looked again at the pow
der, then at me, then back at the cou.
pie. Then, looking at the young man,
he said fiercely:
''You kissed her, sirr'
"Whst business is that of 2"
retorted the other in a harsh voice.
"she is no longer yours. She is mine"
yours, STRIP
"Yes, mine"
'Since whenY
EAT high noon today"
"By what authority"
"A certificate OF marriage"
thought they were going to kill each
other, when the young woman, blush
ing red all the time, burst into laugh.
"0h, father" she said, you are always
so drollI What are you up to now?"
oh, my goodness graciousl He was
her fatherl What q blunderl
This lady" continued the old man,
"has pointed out the evidence of your
guilt. Look at your coat collar.
There's face powder on It."
The young woman laughed and dust
ed the powder of with the tips of her
gloved fingers.
Madam" said the old man to me. 81
am very grateful to you. That young
man married my daughter at noon to-
day, robbing me Of my pet He has
had the insolence to show me that
have lost her by kissing her IN the frst
tunnel on the road"
There was a burst OF laughter from
the young couple, In which the old man
joined.
Anyway done my duty.