The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-06-23
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
A NARROW ESCAPE.
BY Martha c. Sanford.

Curtiss Rollins dashed breathlessly
into the station, just as the man be-
hind the megaphone announced: I'm
coming o'clock upstate express on
track IA" He made his way nervous
ly through the anxious crowd surging
toward the gate and took up his posi-
ton in the line behind the guard
ropes.
Then, serene with the consciousness
that he was, after all, on time, his
mind lapsed into contemplation OF the
business problem from which he had
wrenched himself but 10 minutes be-
fore.
The passengers, hurrying from the
train, made no individual impression
upon him. He stood there as one
waiting to be recognized and set in
motion. Suddenly he was aware that
he was being spoken to.
You don't remember me, I'm
afraid, Mr.. Rollins"
His bewilderment, as he looked at
the girl, was quite evident
I'm afraid don't" he began STUN
blingly. Eyes, 1 do" he retracted.
can't recall your name"
"Eloise Kimball," the girl informed
him. I'm Margaret's roommate"
To be sure he assented genially,
though in reality the recollection of
that distant day spent in a whirl and
hutter OF endlessly accumulative girls
momentarily dismayed him.
AS he bent down, quite as a matter
OF course, to take up her suitcase,
he remembered that this wasn't the
girl he had come to meet after all.
Great heavens!" he exclaimed /,
dismay, I'm afraid I've missed my
sister. Did you happen to see her
on the train, Miss Kimball?'
AT this Eloise could hardly keep
from laughing outright. The man was
certainly living up to his reputation:
An irreclaimable freak" was Mar
garet's sisterly way of describing him.
She isn't coming until the 1890
train tonight" Eloise informed him.
"She asked me to tell you. That's
why l was so very indecorous as to
speak to you"
Rollins looked dumfounded.
Got me up here for Dothing?" he
asked in amazement. Couldn't she
have telegraphed? Really, Miss Kim
ball, can't see what good four years
at college has done Margaret If it
hasn't taught her to realize the rela-
tive importance of things. The idea
or making me come way up here in
the midst OF business hours for moth
ing. L"
Suddenly he stopped short. A pair
OF mischievous brown eyes were
laughing at him.
Il mean, of course" he amended
humbly, that Margaret might have
telegraphed and saved us both this
trouble"
Tt this the latter dubbed over.
Il fear we are a pretty thoughtless
lot" she admitted demurely. But
We learn very easily-that's where
our education benefits us, perhaps.
Now don't let me keep you away from
business another second ! feel very
guilty"
This sympathetic little apology had
its effect on Curtiss Rollins. He be-
came all at once aware of the girls
extreme prettiness. 1t would be brt
tai to leave her in that big station
alone and helpless.
Hang business!" was his unex.
pected reply. DO you have to cross
the city, Miss Kimball?"
Yes, l leave by boat from the East
river side. But please don't bother
about me, Mr.. Rollins, I'm quite used
10 crossing the city alone, really"
: What time does your boat leave ?"
he inquired pertinently.
AT 6 o'clock"
Its about $3.50 now" Rollins said
consulting his watch. THAT will give
us time for little fun. What would
you like to do most, Miss Kimball? ?"
Have college sundae and rige
down the avenue on top of the bus"
she announced unhesitatingly.
But seriously" urged Rollins.
That's serious" protested Eloise.
Have you outgrown such simple
forms OF amusement"
Not outgrown, just forgotten" he
assured her heartily. Il think il
be jolly lark. Now for the college
sundae. What is your favorite fla
vor?"
., shades Of solemn stocks and
bonds, if Margaret could have seen
them now! Eloise described a COM
plete revolution on her rotary stool
at the thought of it.
And the ride down on the bus, with
the brisk breeze blowing through their
halr and everywhere the exhiliration
as OF holiday about them
Il never had so much fun in nv
hfe! Rollins exclaimed with unaffect-
ed enthusiasm.
Its because you're playing truant,"
Eloise assured him.
Aren't you having fun?" he asked
he:
"Of course! could squeal, I'm so
happy"
But you aren't playing truant.
WHAT"
I'm just playing" interrupted Ell
olse quickly. And that's more fun
than anything else in the world"
Rollins was the first to break the
little conscious silence that followed
was awfully rude to you at the
station, Miss KimbaI. 1 hope you'll
torgte 1T. l don't know what YOU
thought of me-
Margaret had prepared me for the
worst" she said.
What had she told you?" he de-
manded. 1T will probably do me good
to hear"
Eloise let him have the merciless
truth.
And / suppose you agree with
her?' he questioned, half in lest. half