Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-04

with start. Something was creaking and jolting;
the very air breathed sounds strange and unusual Then
she lay back contcntedly. She hadn't walked up to a
rushing day OF toll where the very minutes sometimes
represented so many precious nckels and Dimes but
there were hours and hours Of rest, responsibility
and a sense of luxury that she could indulge herself
in to her hearts content She loved luxury, and she
had had little of il She smiled to herself at the
idea OF considering the box Of berth luxurious but it
the lack OF responsibility, the rest and change that
her the illusion. She had to face problem later
on but that was months ahead. This day was to be
all her own.
At breakfast she found herself seated opposite
striking looking woman, with little girl, who stared
at her moment, and then said formally:
"lIow do you do?'
Her first thought was newspaper woman then she
recalled something familiar in her. She couldn't
member when and where she had met her, she merely
smiled and bowed
Il don't think you remember me- the lady said. 81
come from New Orleans too. You taught Mrs Har-
rison's little girl met you there one day
Her heart humping i'll panic for fear her
name would out She did want to be left alone
for this day! She glanced tip and looked out the
window across the car Her eyes rested for second
the mcrcst fraction of a sccondon ccan-cut, manly
face, pair OF smiling gray eyes, quzzical mouth,
and magnificent head covered with shock of brown
hair. Perhaps she would not have known she
the man il at that psychological moment he hadn't been
saying:
come from Mexico"
II wonder il by any shadow OF chance" she thought,
"hc knows John H. Morton
whats your name?' the little girl asking.
She drew in her breath, ard plunged out with
"Smitil-Mary SmitI' 1t vas the only name she
could think OF suddenly, Ike that.
Tie smiling gray eyes were attracted in her direc.
ton and tie sounded horribly distinct in the
accountable silence that seemed to fall upon the
Tie ladys brows showed just tiny puzzled wrinkle,
then they cleared
Pardon sic said. 81 didn't recall. Somehow
didn't quite remember it was Smith. am Mrs. Carrie
ton
She ran the conversation into socabc little remarks
about the country through which they passing,
the weather the trip and all the time Eleanor
turning thing in her mind
THAT there from Mexico
When she returned to her section she settled down,
with mild interest in the flying lanscapc and her iel
low-passongcrs. Later she fshcd from her grip a
couple OF books, but she in iunor for
reading, because you see, there the gentleman from
Mexico opposite hidden behind newspaper. It
awfuy distracting.
He might know John r. Morton" she found her
self thinking
Then she laughed at the idca-of course it was ab-
surd? She didn't know that he came from
Mexico. 1t was only the end OF sentence she had
caught.
But she couldn't keep from noticing him oft of the
tail OF her eye. lie really was different, lie fairly
exudcd vitality sort OF jack-inhc-box with the lid
down Occasionally he ran his fingers around inside
his collar as ii lie unused to it, ard yet he
his clothes well,
She bit cxaspcratcd at herself but she Just
couldn't help ovcrhcaring remark lie made to 4 man
that he'd been fou. days the train and he guessed
they were getting pretty close to New Yorl; now.
Pretty close Heavens,
The little Carleton girl came in from another car to
sec her. Eleanor answered innumerabc questions.
They discussed dancing school-and cats-and dogs
and fairies. The gentleman across the way seemed
amused His newspaper saggcd, leaving attractive
picture sticking ont from the undcrsidc OF it The little
girl went over.
"Lc me see that picture, if you please" she said
socially.
Tie gentleman was very nice and polite about it.
His little visitor stayed there time discussing
blue skies-and watcr-and trccs-and fairies.
Eleanor was amused, too, and very formally, very
casually ono or two remarks passed between the gen.
tlcman and herself When the little girl went back
to her mother the gentleman went with her and when
he returned Eleanor thanked him as il lie had con-
ierrcd personal favor. They almost acquainted
At atlanta, Eleanor asked tiny formal question
concerning the time, and il they were late She
had made up Acr mind dozen times about that Morton
question She would lead up to it, OF course, with 4
little conversation about the country. 1t seemed per-
fcctly easy but her lips always closed tightly at TIE
last instant.
She restless, so was the stranger, for as the
train switched back and forth, she noticed him out on
the side OF the track letting off energy in swinging
stride Once he looked up and caught her eye She
Withdrew her glance calmly and gracefully, but whcr
the car passed she dove hcad-frst into her bool
with startled expression and later found something
amusing there.
When she went into luncheon. awful shock!-thc on.
vacant scat opposite him! She was shown TO tina
as a matter OF course She tool. it. What else cout
she do?
Now takes a great deal Of grace to sit opposite
clean cut, manly face smiling gray eyes and Quzzi
cal mouth, and look as If you don't notice them; anc
not look too much that way, either because he ha
spoken 10 her twice with the little girl a
chaperon, and had answered polite question.