Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-05-07


over his collar. He was probably SO,
bald, grotesQue, sullen. and yet not
without a suggestion OF power But he
had been drinking; as 1 looked. he
raised an unsteady hand and sum-
moned waiter with a 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.
had an idle inclination to advise the
waiter 10 remove the bottled tempta-
ton from the table. 7 wonder what
would have happened II I had? Sup
pose Harrington had not been intox-
icated when he entered the Pullman
car Ontario that night
For they were about to make a Jour
ney. I gathered. and the young wom-
an wished 20 go alone. I drank three
cups Of coffee, which accounted for
my wakefulness later and shameless
" watched the tableau before me. The
woman's protest evidently went for
nothing: across the table the man
grunted monosyllabic replies and grew
more and more lowering and sullen.
once, during a brief unexpected piaU
issimo In the music her voice came
20 me sharply:
III 7 could only see him in timei"
she was saying. "Oh. it's terrible!"
In spite Of my interest I would have
forgotten the whole incident at once,
erased IL from my mind az one does
the inessentials and gatherings Of
memory. had I not met them again
later that evening. ic the Pennsylvania
station The situation between them
had not visibly altered: The same
logged determination showed in the
mans face. but the young woman
daughter or wife? I wondered-had
drawn down her veil and I could only
suspect what wife misery lay be
meath
bought my berth after waiting in
a line Of some eight or ten people.
when. step by step I had almost
reached the window. a tall woman
whom I had not noticed before spoke
TO me from my elbow. She had a
ticket and money IN her hand
"Win you try to get me a lower
when you buy yours?" she asked. Il
have travelled for three nights in up
pers."
7 consented. Of course: beyond that
] hardly noticed the woman. had
a vague impression OF height and a
certain amount OF stateliness. but the
crowd was pushing behind me. and
some one was standing on my foot.
7 got two lowers easily. and turning
with the change and berths. held out
/ the tickets
Which will you have7- I asked.
Lower II or lower 10?"
1T makes no difference" she said.
Thank you very much indeed"
At random gave her lower II. and
called a porter 70 help her with her
| luggage. I followed them leisurely 20
the train shed. and ten minutes more
saw US under way.
I looked into my car. but il present
ed the peculiarly unattractive appear
ance common 70 sleepers. The berths
we're made up: the center aisle was a
| path between walls OF dingy. breeze
| repellinE curtains. while the two seats
at each end OF the car were piled high
with suit cases and umbrellas. The
| perspiring porter was trying 20 be IN
/ six places at once: somebody has said
that Pullman porters are black sc
they won't show the dirt. but they
/ certainly show the heat
Nine-ifteen was an outrageous hour
20 go 20 he'd. especially since I sleeT
little CT not at all on the train. so
made my way 20 the smoker and
/ passed the time until nearly IL with
cigarettes and a magazine.
The car was very close. IL was g
warm night. and before turning In
| stood a short time In the vestibule
The train had been stopping az fire.
quent intervals, and. finding the brake
man there, asked the trouble.
II seemed that there was a hot-boI
on the next car, and that not only
were we late, but we were delaying
the second section. Just behind. Iva;
beginning 70, feel pleasantly drowsy
and the air was growing cooler as We
| got into the mountains. / said good
night TO the brakeman and went bacl
TO my berth To my surprise. lower
ten was already occupied suit case
projected from beneath. a pair OF shoes
stood on the floor. and from behind
the curtains came the heavy. unmis
taxable breathing OF deep sleep.
hunted out the porter and together
we investigated.
Are you asleep. sir?" asked the
porter, leaning over deferentially. Nc
answer forthcoming, he opened the
curtains and looked in. Yes. the in
truder was asleep-very much asieeI
land an overwhelming Odor OF
whisky proclaimed that he would
probably remain asleep until morning
was irritated. The car was full
and was not disposed TO take an
upper in order 70 allow this drunken
interloper to sleep comfortably in my
berth.
You'll have to get out OF this"
said, shaking him angrily. But hi
merely grunted and turned over. A.
he did so. saw his features for the
nrst time IL was the quarrelsomt
man Of the restaurant.
i was lees tb.n a.-a- - -,