The San Francisco call., 1908-10-04

less than man. or in any sense that
anomalous and impossible thing called
d woman hater. on the contrary. his
attitude toward women in the mass
was distinctly and AT times boyishly
sentimental But when a young man
is honestly in love with his calling, and
Is fully convinced Of its Importance TO
himself and a restlessly progressive
-Vsorld. single heartedness becomes his
vgatchword. and what sentiment there
IS i'm him viii be apt TO lie comfort
ably dormant.
For six fun working days Ford had
.becn- immersed 10 the eyes in the
4ntrlcacies. Of his railway problem,
acuuiring in Chicago Z Valiseful of doc
.EWhntary data that demanded to be
CLASSIFIED and thoroughly digested be-
fore he reached New York and the bat
tTefeld actual This was why he was
able 10 ride all day in studious abstrsc-
tiou i'm his section of the Chicago-New
York Pullman. without so much as
glance for the young woman in the
modest gray travelling coat directly
across the aisle.
she was well worth the glance as he
admitted willingly enough afterward.
SIZE was the dainty type. with fluffy
bright brown hair. eyes the color Of
wood violets, nose tilted TO the pre-
csse angle OF bewitching piquancy. and
rlle adorable mouth and chin familiar
zed by TWO continents by the artistic
pen Of the Apostle Of the American
Girl. How he could have ridden within
arms reach Of her through all the day
light hours Of a long summer day re-
msined as one OF FOrds unanswered
enigmas; but ii required an accident
and most embarrassing contretemps
70 make him aware Of her existence.
The accident was one Of the absurd
sort. The call for dinner in the din
ing car had been given. and Ford was
just behind the young woman in the
rear Of the procession which filed for
ward out Of the Pullman. The train
had Al that moment left way station.
and the right hand vestibule door was
stiH open and swinging disjointedly
across the narrow passage. Ford
reached an arm past the young woman
10 fold the two leaved door out of her
way. AS he did it, the door knob
hooked itself mischievously in the loop
Of her belt chatelaine, snatched it loose
snd flung it out into the backward
rushing night.
WhereupOn: Oh,-my purse" with
z little gasp Of sudden bereavement and
quick turning to face the wouldbe
helper.
Ford was honestly aghast when the
situation fully enveloped him.
Heavens and earth. Did you ever
see such idiotic clumsiness"' he ejac-
ulsted. And then. in deepest contrition:
! won't attempt TO apollo gize-it's be
yond all that. But you must let me
make your loss good
in all the pin pricking embarrass-
meut Of the moment he did not fail TO
remark that she quickly recovered the
serenity which belongs to the well bred.
She was even smiling. rather ruefully,
when she said.
Fortunately. the conductor has my
passes. But reslly'-and now the girl
laughed outright am afraid I shall
have 10 90 hungry il l can't borrow
enough to pay for my dinner"
Another man. "A man less purposeful
lost in the purely practical labyrinth
Of professional work, would have found
something fitting 10 say. But Ford.
having discovered a thing TO do did it
painstakingly and in solemn silence.
There was an unoccupied table Tor two
IN the dining car: he seated her. gave
her his purse. called a waiter and
would have betaken himself forthwith
70 another table il she had not de-
tanned him
No she said decisively with
charming little uptilt Of the adorable
chin. Il don't forget that you were
trying TO do me kindness. Please
sit down here and take your purse. I'm
sure ] don't want it,"
lie obeyed. still in somber silence.
gave his dinner order after she had
given hers. and was wondering if he
might venture to bury himself in a
bundle of the data papers, when she
spoke again.
Are YOU provoked with yourself, or
with me-" she asked - rather mock
ingly. he thought.
''Neither." he said promptly Il was
wretched swkwardness didn't give me
an excuse for boring you"
1T was an 2ccident-nothing more
or less she rejOined, with an air of
dismissing finally the purse snatching
episode. Then she added, Il am the
one who ought TO be embarrassed
But you are not" he returned
quickly. You are quite the mistress
Or which is more than most
women would be, under the circum-
stances"
rs that a compliment" she asked.
with latent mockery in the violet
eyes Because If it is, I think you
must be out Of the west; the-the un-
fettered west; isn't that what it is
called?"
II am" Ford acknowledged. But
why do you say that? Was I rude?
beg you TO believe that I didn't mean
10 be-
.'Oh. no; not rude-mereIy sincere.
We are not sincere any more. 1 think;
except on the frontier edges Of US.
Are we2"
Ford took exceptions to the charge
for the sheer pleasure OF hearing her
talk
I'D be sorry to believe that" he
protested. The conventions account
for something, Of course; and I sup
pose the polite lie which deceives no
one has 10 have standing room. But
every now and then one is surprised
into telling the truth, don't you think?"
IF I can't fully agree with you I
can at least admire your point of
view" she said amiably. is ii western
or merely human"
He laughed
Shall we assume that the one i'm
plies the other2 That would be in
accordance with your point of view,
wouldn't it2"
Yes: but It would be a distinct re-
versaI OF yours. Truth belongs to an
other and simpler time than ours. We
are. conventional first and everything
else afterward"
Are we9" he queried some
fe,r, hundreds ar thousands of nc