Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20
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SE& 49, 2Y FRANCIS IYNDE 1@zs6eSsS

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completed by nightfall. but there was
picking up enough to keep the wreckinS
crow on the ground for two or three days.
and Orman wired in to the division sta
ton for his travelling bag. which came
down OH No. Z. Because OF the travelling
bag and its Transforming contents. Althea
hardly knew him when he walked into
the dining room. but she gave him .
friendly little nod when the waiter. at q
sign from Mrs Lockhart, seated him In
the chair which would have been occupied
By Alicia II she had not pleaded q head
ache and gone to her room.
It was a moment OF surprises for Althea
on more counts than one. That the vice
president, who had returned on No. Z.
should remember the young man whom he
had reprimanded was not beyond belief:
but that he should welcome him cordially
to q seat at his own table was by way Of
being inexplicable. And when Mrs Lock.
hart made much OF him. calling him
Jack" and putting him at once upon
the footing of family friend. Althess
wonder was complete.
After dinner 1t was Orman. and not
Brockton, who went with Althea to her
accustomed corner on tho electric-lightsd
piazza; and their talk in that first tete-a-
tete was all Of industry battles. But three
evenings later, when the wrecking crew
was finally piecing the string OF ''cripples''
together for the run to the shops, the
mile posts Of commonplace were we'll 10
the rear. and she ventured to repeat the
question she had once asked Of Mr. Balm
bridge Brockton.
Mr.. Orman. who are you? BY all the
family traditions ought to have known
you long ago, but I didn't"
His smile was slow wrinkling Of the
plain long face.
You haven't missed much. I've known
your cousins and Mrs. Lockhart for
number OF years; but the major knows
me only as a wheel In the railway ma
chine"
She marked the plural. cousins" and
remembered that Alicia had been all but
invisible since the day Of the wreck: had
avoided Orman at every turn. But she
was not to be turned aside by the intru-
sion Of the small mystery.
4
Still, you are not accounted for" she
persisted, half jestingly.
Were you in character that day when
Uncle Jabez scolded you?''
Yes, and no. No. because he didn't
recognize me in the wiper's resimentals;
and yes. because I am truly a working
man. as truly as seemed to be that day;
a lean unwashed artihcer.' as your cousin
cambridge once dubbed me. But twice
in my life I have played the part Of
Bottom. the weaver. / think
rs 1t permitted one to ask how"
1T is permitted to you. The first time
was when I was fool enough to believe
that woman loved me for myself; and
the other
He broke OF abruptly at this point. and
she led him on, whether from idle curl
osity or real interest. he could not tell.
THE other?" she said.
WAS time when was tempted to
forget the lesson so hardly learned"
She was silent for a full minute. and he
rose, buttoning his coat.
II must go now. MCCARTHY is about
ready to pull out Shall I hunt I'D Mr..
Lockhart or Brockton for your"
She shook her head and went with him
to the steps. where they stood for a mo-
ment looking down upon the string Of
''cripples'' pricked out by the moving
lanterns of the trainmen. Then she gave
him her hand. and her parting word was
no less than friendly.
Il am sorry to have you 60. You have
done much for me in these three days"
He smiled down upon her quizzically.
lis 1t permitted one to ask the nature
Of the service?''
Yes; 1t is in the way Of striking or
shackles, and in the widening Of horizons.
1 can't particularize; at least. not while
Mr.. MacCarthy waits
Then I shall come back: may To-
Whenever you please. But you mustn.
neglect your work"
He laughed like a pleased boy. How
good that sounds" he said. My ideal
woman is one who would say to q man.
to the man she cared for. Your work Is
the thing; go and do it. and do 1t better
than you have ever done it before-for
my sake"
She smiled back at him. THAT sounds
very unselfsh on tho part Of your ideal.
But really. don't you know. 1t is the most
sublimated type Of feminine seldshness.
1t would be true Svoman's triumph-to
know that a mans work in the world
owed something to her. Goodbye"
He ran down the steps and crossed
quickly to the waiting train. throwing up
his hand to her. railroadwise. as he passed
out of the hotel grounds. Fifteen minutes
later they were bringing him back on an
tmprovised stretcher. and the house ply
stefan was wiring the company's surgeon
to come to Undercliffe by special train.
When the string of ''cripples" was started,
q broken drawhead had pulled out. drop.
ping a brakeman fairly beneath the
wheels. Orman had saved the mans life
at the cost of his own; at least. so ran
the report which passed from lip to ear
on the hotel piazzas.
It was a fortnight before they would
let her go to him. and Mrs. Lockhart had
talked herself to standstill in expostula-
ton.
1T is simply Dreadful she declared.
firing her next to the last shot. Every
hodv here suppoSes YOU are Bainbridg0'1