The Falls City tribune., 1909-07-09

Maj. Wa1cott.' she returned, meet
ing me half way.
we were talking of the third rail-"
| interrupted; now, Grace"
Major" she reiterated. But I
shook my head.
"The third rail-" l insisted. Grace
Van"
We'll" %retorted Sylvia, in the kind
of a murmur which is just u%nintelligi-
BILE enough to be just ineligible. she's
just about as thin as one, anyway. If
that's what you mean
That settled 1t. My attempt to force
the conversation into the broad chan
mel of g%eneralities was futile. | gave
it up. | looked out of the window. We
were at the Ninety-sixth station I
rose.
oh" she exclaimed, do you get
out here?" She knew as well as |
that 1t was Grace Van Auten's sta
ton.
hastily sat down again. Mere
force of habit" | returned, blandly.
The train pulled out. I was still
within 1t. still sitting in the seat that
was next to Sylvia. Suddenly Sylvia
uttered an exclamation of alarm.
looked. Upon the platform there
stood two people. They We're together.
They were engrossed in conversation.
One of these was Grace Van Auten;
the other Maj. Walcott.
Within our car there was a silence
too eloquent for words. Sylvia was
still gazing out of the window.
ALLOW me-" | suggested, dolefully,
ito offer my sympathy to one who has
thus"
She laughed, but her laugh was
forced a bit, | thought. 81 was think
ing" she answered, "of you"
All" l gasped, with an attempt at
a rapturous sigh, "of-me!"
and of-your plight" she went on,
coldly.
Again We %relapsed into silence. The
guard broke in upon us with a shout.
He was nee more calling out a sta
ton. | heard it. knew what he had
said.
what was that?" | remarked to
Sylvia; what station may this be? |
didn't hear"
She had been gazing absently at the
floor. She no longer ~prodded it with
her IMPLYING umbrella. At my ques-
ion she turned to me, still with an alb
sent-minded expression upon Der face.
"This time" she answered, why,
this time l think it's-Yes."
But that was not what the guard
had said. Far from 1t. He had said
"One Hundred and Thirty-seventh
street." as plainly as it is written
here.
"This," I told her, SIS the real sub
way language. It's strange too," ]
went On, as we passed down the aisle,
that for once both you and the guard
said just the thing you meant"
She looked at me in a dazed sort
of way.
"What-what did I say?" she STAN
l shook my head. you have-said
It," | replied. Once more we alighted
and assembled to the ether above.
1t SO happened late that afternoon
that stood, for the first time since
July, within the precincts of her
I'm coming In" had told her. And
l went. Once l was there I didn't
know what to say. Generalities, per-
sonalities, intellectualities-they all
deserted me. Finally Sylvia came %
the rescue.
THAT reminds me-" she ventured,
without saying what reminded her,
that Grace Van Auten's reception Is
tonight" She stopped. Then she
went on. would you like to take
me?" she inquired.
would II" | exclaimed. I was only
too delighted.
What time shall I-?" 1 added final
ly.
"Oh." she replied, mot in a hanson.
Let us take the-the subway. It's SO
much more fun, you know"
l understood and acquiesed.
4 hOhSh " Il DlOiiithtp dliu tlltl,
like a flash. | saw my opportunity.
in that case, since it is your sug-
gestion," l remarked ~recklessly, you
must pay the fares. | shall take the
toll" added. And then up and
kissed her.
That's one" | said,-"your fare
l explained. She seemed to ompre-
bend at once.
And that" | added, kissing her
again, "is NINE" We stood there for
a little while. | was wishing that we
might pay over again.
But, OH" she exclaimed suddenly,
how stupid! We need transfers, of
course. Don't forget that"
l forthwith paid for and had trans
fers issued. On our road-our SUBJ
way, Sylvia's and mine-that after
noon, we issued ten transfers to each
single fare. This took some time.
That night, as we came back, Syl-
via looked at me.
NIIaxr nr- - che sDc,s1l DID,