Oxford Democrat., 1909-03-02

L
| Oh the docks, In bare, curious car,
which really belonged to the milk, and
sometimes when we bumped l should
have fallen on the floor If 1t hadn't
been for him. He told me all about
himself, and wanted to be told all
about me. but l thought. nice us he
was, it would be safer not. He asked
leading questions which 1t was hard
| to keep from answering unless l hurt
his feelings, but think he somehow
got the impression that was going to
see a sick relative. though I never ex-
actiy said so
| don't know what time | should
have got to New York if had had to
! travel all the way with the milk. for
milk, 1t seems, objects to speed. bul
after we had logged along for couple
/ OF hours, we crawled into a station
where n real train was ready to start
! There were Just five minutes to say
| farewell to my friend and buy ticke:
when, all flushed and painting. found
myself and Vivace and the bag in II
car different from any had seen yet
1t had 10 nice easy chairs and plate
glass mirrors and wire nettings In the
| windows. like the ore in which ia
| travelled 10 Newport but there We're
| two rows of seats, and when the train
moved cloud of coal smoke poured
| in through the door ut the front end
Babies squalled, children whined and
their faces grew black and damp with
mingled dirt and heat while grownup
people scolded, but dear old lady got
into my seat before long, and just be-
cause | helped her with bandboH.
she made me a present Of huge peach.
| I was thankful to have 1t, for by this
time was co!lapsing with hunger,
having been up all night without any
thing to eat
The peach made me think Of Mr..
Brett and the little basket he had sent
me on the docks. Then this thought
suggested another. He had said ne
would do anything for me that was In
his power, and II he were still In New
York it was in his power to help me a
good deal. He could tell me how much
it would cost to 80 to Chicago, and he
could show me how to get there.
really believe that at first l hadn't
had thought Of seeing him, but once
| it had got into my head welcomed II,
begged 1t to sit down and make itself
ut home.
could have clapped my hands with
10Y when saw the Grand Central sta
ton and the delightful cafe au lait
por.crs with their red caps. 1t looked
rs familiar and comforting as II I'd
passed through hundred times In
stead of once. and had the nice feel
Ing that now something pleasant was
sure to happen, which one has when
one first arrives in Paris.
vivace frightened up, too, and he
took me out. rather than him. ] was
In such hurry to get away, for fear
Potter might have come after me by
quick train and be looking somewhere,
that flew along with my bag and
Vivace without waiting for porter.
| followed other people out OF the sta
ton, with the intention Of finding
cab and driving to the club where Mr.
Brett was employed; but though there
were dozens of hansoms drawn up by
the pavement, they had the air Of being
private ones. 1t did seem queer that so
many people should have private han
SONS waiting for them at this particu-
lar hour ut was half past 12). but the
drivers, with their tall shiny hats,
smart coats and bright, clever faces
the glitter Of the harness, the newness
Of the cab Innings and appointments all
forbade any other thought. wan
dered wistfully along the line, wonder
ing IL there were no public cOnveyances
| OF any kind ut the Grand Central be-
sides the trans, which were as appall-
ing as q procession Of African lions.
When l came to the end | caught the
eye Of q well groomed young man In q
pale gray topcoat, looking down from
his high seat ut the back Of dark
green hanson with great round port
holes knocked In the sides, and 1t
struck me that there was pity kindling
| In his glance. l snatched at the ray as
| If 1t had been that everlasting straw
| which always seems to be bobbing
about when an author is drowning one
| of his characters.
do you think there is anybody who
could drive me?" l inquired meekly.
"You bet, MISS" said he. I'm ell
gagged myself or I'd be only too pleased.
but you just speak to that other gen
tleman there" with an encouraging
| Jerk OF his sleek head toward the next
vehicle. Hell take you anywhere you
want to CO."
"Are you sure it isn't private han.
som" breathed up to him In a low.
confidential voice. for the cab he indi'
Gated was even finer than his, and Stan
| doesn't look as smart on his coach on
a coaching parade day In the park rs
| did the gentleman l was recommended
to address.
"Sure pop" said my friend. grinning.
but not In way to hurt my feelings.
| so thanked him, and we both bowed
very politely, and the new man, who
| had heard after all. said that none Of
the hansoms We're private. Anybody
might have them who could pay. but
| needn't be afraid: he wouldn't
charge me too much.
When he asked where | wanted to
go, after all hadn't the courage to
mention the club The only other place
I could think of was the Waldorf-As.
toria, where Potter had said any stran.
ger who liked could walk In and sit
down. told the man to drive me
there, so he did, and only charged me
so cents, which he limited was very
special price. I'VE don't want you
English young ladies to think bad OF
u.s." he explained, and l assured him
there was no danger of that, If could
Judge by myself.
They wouldn't let me 90 into the
Turkish rOom-which ] remembered
very well-with Vivace. 50 had to
give him up to be fed and taken care
Of, and I was obliged to part with my
bag too. Then l wrote note to Mr.
Brett, Just few lines, saying that
was alone in New York. in little diff
Guilty. and, remembering his kind offer
ventured to ask II he would come te
the Turkish room at the Waldorf-Asto
ria to help me with advice.