The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1909-02-20
Haste Does Not Always
Bring Repentance
90
BY MARION B. NOLAN

After an unusually mad rush to
dress, eat her meagre breakfast and
get out, she hurriedly snatched up
her gloves and purse and emerged
from the house breathless and rosy,
just in time to see the eight O'Clock
car appearing over the top of the hill.
"Oh, DEAR" she thought, just as
she had thought on each successive
morning, why can't get up in time
to take things easy?-but then, I've
caught my car" At this last thought
she smiled, for was there not GER
tain very nice young man who would
be sure to be on that very car
had morning gone by for the last
six months when he had not been
there, always in the same seat? And
did he not look at her with the most
sincere admiration, and an evident
desire to make her acquaintance:
But alas! Nine. Grundy decreed that
without mutual acquaintance these
two young people could not become
friends. 1t was unfortunate that
such acquaintances seemed difficult
to be found, but nevertheless she had
grown to look forward with great
pleasure to seeing him morning after
may seem, it cheered her through
her days work. Yes! It was very
unfortunate indeed that among all
the girl friends of whom she casually
inquired his identity, not one could
get beyond the fact that he was a
Stranger.
On this beautiful spring morning,
she daintily stepped on the car, and,
seating herself, started to draw on
her gloves, which in her haste she
had neglected. After very leisurely
survey of the passengers, her eyes
lighted on manly figure in the cor
ner. Not for worlds would she have
him see her looking in his direction,
SO her eyes strayed upward to the
various advertisements, which on
certain occasions in street car prove
most interesting. One glove on, she
absently took up the other, and still
studying the lads" overhead with an
absorbing interest, started to draw
it on. A stifled litter and then a
burst of laughter filled the car. Al;
eyes were upon her. What could be
the matter? One glance at the glove
she was trying to put on. Horrors!
1t was nothing more nor less than
baby's tiny black sock!
Blushing painfully she hurriediy
snatched the offending article from
her hand. Sitting there alone, with
all eyes upon her, passengers on the
platform craning their necks to see
the cause of so great an uproar-cau
anyone picture more embarrassing
situation? Painfully conscious that
under one bare hand lay that awful!
black sock, she sat rigid, uncertain
whether to laugh or cry. Oh, If there
were only some one she knew.
Happening to glance up with a
quivering lip, she saw IA
miliar figure coming toward her.
Seating himself beside her, with the
air of an old friend Of the family,
and apparently unaware of anything
a little out of the ordinary course of
events having happened, he started
to question her about her mothers
state of health. With sigh of relief
she launched on to recital of events,
not stopping to answer his polite IN
quiries regarding members of her
of whose existence up to this
she had been unaware-any-
thing to fill in the time until she
could escape from that car with its
still broadly smiling occupants.
Oh, how could she ever Thank this
young man for his thoughtfulness
and tact in relieving 50 painful a
Well, they say lone good
turn deserves anothera and who cas
nay but what that good turn was per.