The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-29
TIE EVENING STORY
When the star shone.
by Philip Kean.1

The northbound train was waiting
for the Palm Beach express.
Don't you get me into New York
late" Markham admonished the porter,
Il don't want to miss my Christmas
. dinner"
well make up time" was the ne
gro's consolation, as he hurried down
in his berth and prepared to go to
sleep.
But he sat up as he heard a crisp
feminine voice.
skirts as the new arrival settled herself
! in her section Porter, I'm starved
1 had planned to have dinner at Jack
sonyille, and We were so late simply
had to race to make this connection
Markham peeped between the cur
tains. and saw the back of charming
head surmounted by hat with smoke
colored plumes.
"A cup of coffee and some bread and
butter" pleaded the crisp voice, land
an egg, if you can get it,"
There was the Jingle of silver as she
opened her purse. and the eagerness
| Of the porter's Eyes, miss" proclaimed
the liberality of her tip.
Wish 1 could see her face was
Markham's thought, and, as he sank
into slumber, he was conscious of di-
the passing of the porter on breath
| less commissions, of the tinkle of glass
and silver, and of a light, low laugh
that echoed in his dreams.
In the morning he awoke to find the
train further delayed on account of a
lsnowstorm and still losing time.
| After breakfast he went back to his
car and found the girl in the opposite
section, sitting by the window, looking
| out.
| 1t had stopped showing, but as far as
she could see the white drifts were piled
high against the background of pointed
pines
AS Markham took his seat. she Lean
ed across the aisle. who ever heard
of blizzard in this part of the coun-
try?" she demanded: DO you think
we will get to New York on time?"
| He was SO occupied by the vision or
delight presented to him in the high
bred face, framed by the braided. bur
nished hair, that he almost forgot to
II hope So" he got out finally.
You don't know"
| mo"
THANK you" And so definite was
| her air as she turned away that Mark
| ham did not have the hardwood to con-
tinue the topic.
Presently she went into breakfast,
and after that the day dragged out It's
! tedious length, as the train made It's
| way slowly northward.
| The passengers. coming together on
| the ground of mutual boredom. formed
themselves into social circles. but the
GODDESS with the FURNISHED hair kept
| to herself, and Markham, studying
ways of approach, found none, for she
was supplied with books and maya
zines, and her eyes gave no encourage
| ment for conversation.
| But as the shadows deepened and
! darkened he saw her lean back and
! look wistfuIly out of the window.
| The pines of Georgia and of South
| Carolina had been succeeded by the
| live oaks of North Carolina, and high
up in the branches was the mistletoe,
great punches showing dark against
| the orange sky.
"Oh. it's Christmas eve,'' she said;
think of it. it's Christmas ever
She was like an unhappy child, and
Markham answered her as he would
child.
You want to be at homer he asked.
Her eyes filled. Daddy and mother
will be all alone"
Its a beast1y shame" Markham as
sured her. IT don't mind awfully, ex-
cept that Pm down for speech at the
Hungry club. hate to have the fell
lows think I've gone back on them"
Then you know Reggie Dining
ham?" she said. eagerly. He's char
| ter member of the club
Hes nay cousin. I'm Peleg Mark
ham,
"Oh," she laughed a little. He has
told me how you hate your name
who wouldn't? It's a family night
mare. and every generation has to have
Peleg in it, worse luck.
well 1 like it, the girl decided;
there are so many Toms and Dicks
and Harrys."
She hesitated. and then she said with
a swift blush Reggie and are very
good friends-I am Dulcie Foulke.'
For a moment Markham was silent,
then he said slowly, Reggie is a lucky
fellow
Again the swift blush, isn't he fine?
I've known him since I was a little
girl
Markham, remembering Reggie's
little boyhood, WINGED. Reggie on
dress parade had been model but
his cousin Peleg had known him be-
that the gossipy little Florida sheet
had erred when 1t had announced the
engagement of Dulcie Foulke and
Reggie Dillingham;.
when I go home" he said. slowly,
st shall congratulate Reggie. Now
that I nave seen you I know how for
tunate he Is"
ed. ''But 1t isn't true"
Markham's heart leaped. ,''Then
you aren't engaged?"
I'm not sure of myself
After that she talked eagerly of
Reggie. and through it all Markham
caught a note of wiStful appeal
''She feels the truth about him.
which held her back"
must you think of me?'' she said, dis
tressfully. ST have talked SO frankly,
and have just met you"
"There are some friendships"
Markham told her gravely, that are
not measured by time. I hope this is
to be one of them I feel as if had
known you all my life-from the be-
ginning of the world
why" her eyes were startled, ct
believe feel that way-too!"
That night Markham lay awake in
his berth, thinking of her, and when
toward morning there was an awful
crash, the. rending of timbers. the