The Huttig news., 1910-04-09


 matinee race booked for next week? Otherwise aren't you comfortable? Isn't your house in order? Do you want to sell "ony in order to have the library done over in mission or the drawing room in gold2 Do you want somebody to count the empty cigarette boxes lying around every morning."
 Lay it to' the long idle afternoon. to the new environment, to anything you like, but 1 began to think that per haps l did. I was confoundedly lone ly. For the first time in my life it's even course began to waver The needle registered warning marks on the matrimonial seismograph, lines vague enough, but lines.
 My alligator bag lay at my feet, still locked While l waited for my coffee I leaned back ard surveyed the people incuriously. There were the usual couples intent on each other; my new state of mind made me re- gard them with tolerance But at the next table, where a man and woman dined together, different atmosphere prevailed. My attention was first caught by the woman's face She had been speaking earnestly across the table, her profile turned to me. l had noticed casually her earnest manner her somber clothes, and the great mass of odd, bronze-eolored hair on her neck. But suddenly she glanced toward me and the utter hopelessness almost tragedy-of her expression struck me with a shock She shalf closed her eyes and drew long breath, then she turned again to the man across the table.
 Neither one was eating. He sat low in his chair, his chin on his chest, ugly folds of thick flesh protruding over his collar He was probably 50, bald. grotesque. sullen, and yet not without a suggestion of power But he had been drinking; as I looked. he raised an unsteady hand and sum- moned a waiter with wine list
 The young woman bent across the table and spoke again quickly. She had unconsciously raised her voice. Not beautiful. in her earnestness and stress she rather interested me- 1 had an idle inclination to advise the waiter to remove the bottled tempta- ion from the table. I wonder what would have happened if I had2 Sup pose Harrington had not been intox icated when he entered the Pullman car Ontario that night
 For they were about to make jour ney. I gathered, and the young wom. m wished to go alone. I drank three ups of coffee, which accounted for my wakefulness later. and shameless y watched the tableau before me The yomans protest evidently went for 'othirg; across the table the man grunted monosyllabie replies and grew nore and more lowering and sullen lnce, during brief unexpected pian- ssimo in the music, her voice came 0 me sharply:
 ''If I could only see him in time," she was saying. "Oh. it's terrible,"
 In spite of my interest I would have forgotten the whole incident at once, rased it from my mind as one does he inessentials and clutterings of memory, had l not met them again, ater that evening. in the Pennsylvania tation. The situation between them lad not visibly altered: The same logged determination showed in the aan's face, but the young woman aughter or wife? l wondered-had 'rawn down her veil and l could only inspect what white misery lay be- cath
 I bought my berth after waiting in
 line of some eight or ten people. When, step by step, l had almost cached the window. tall woman fhom had not noticed before spoke me from my elbow She had a icket and money in her hand.
 Will you try to get me lower vnen you buy yours?" she asked 'l nave traveied for three nights in up aers."
 consented. of course; beyond that
 hardly noticed the woman. l had l vague impression of height and a certain amount of state'iness, but the rowd was pushing behind me. and ome one was standing on my foot l got two lowers easily, and, turning with the change and berths. held out he tickets.
 Which will you have?" I asked. Lower 1 1 or lower 10?"
 Tt makes no difference" she said. Thank you very much indeed.
 At random I gave her lower II. and called porter to help her with her rggage I followed them leisurely to he train shed, and ten minutes more saw us under way.
 looked into my car, but t present d the peculiarly unattr2ctiye appear nee common to sleepers. The berths nere made up; the center aisle was ath between walls Of dingy. breeze epelling curtains, while the two eats t each end of the car were piled high with suit cases and umbrellas. The aerspiring porter was trying to be in K places at once; somebody has said hat Pullman porters are black so hey won't show the dirt, but they certainly show the heat.
 Nine-flfteen was an outrageous hour