The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-06-20
CHAPTER i-(contInued.)

Anu the PROOF lndl WOnteu anyways
act reasonably" l retorted, is that
they never give you the reason"
Instead OF taking that for the flip
pancy IL was. she thought about II for
some minutes; or else II reminded
her OF something.
Besides" went on, this Is an ad-
venture, as far as II goes; little
| one. IL you like, but still with all the
earmarks OF romance. II was unex-
pected, and II fits into itself perfectly
all the parts of the scene match like
la picture puzzle-and II happened
through a mixture OF chance and the
taking OF chances. It's just that
snatching at casual excitement that
makes things happen TO people.
Don't things enough happen to peo-
pie without their seeking them outY"
she asked.
mot TO most people: and not nova
days, IL they ever did. Do you remem-
Der Humpty Dumpty's objection TO
Alice's face, that II was just like other
faces-two eyes above, nose In the
middle, mouth under? Well, thats
the only objection have to life; days
and doings are too regular too mucn
according to schedule. Why is train
less romantic than stagecoachY Be
cause II runs on time and on a track
II can't do anything but be late. But
the stage-coach dallies along through
the countryside, with inns and high-
waymen. and pretty girls driving geese
TO market and all the chances OF the
open road. The horse OF the knight
errant was better still, and for the
same reason"
II don't think anything very much
has ever happened to you," she said
slowly.
Well" said I, I'm not pretending
: to be Ulysses; and you've reminded
, me OF my tender age so often that
can hardly forget II In your presence
But | have had q few exciting mo-
ments. and want more. / don't care
whether they are pleasant or not, SO
long as | come safe out OF them some
how. They'll pay for themselves with
the gold OF memory"
That's just what / mean" she re-
turned. you talk about things as II
the only question of importance were
whether they are exciting. One looks
J at looks that way, and pictures, and
things that are real A moment ago,
you put highwaymen In the same class
with inns and goose-girls. Do you
suppose any one that was actually
held up and robbed OF his fortune
Z would think of the robber as merely
pleasant thrill?"
"Td rather be robbed by highway
man than by railroad, anyway. Al
: the worst, I'd have had a run for my
! money"
3 She went on without smiling: And
! even trains run off the track some
r times. Do you think you would enjoy
I the memory OF railroad accident
, even IL you weren't hurt yourself?"
Perhaps not But there's another
' disadvantage OF the train. It's SO reg
: ular and mechanical that II anything
does go wrong there Is an ugly smash.
; It's the same way with modern people.
;. Most OF us live such an ordinary
) habitual life that IL We get thrown on
> the track we're likely to break up
|, altogether"
D | had struck the wrong note again.
: The light went out In her face as
. cloud-shadow darkens a sunny field,
; and she looked away without answer
. ing. Not to make my mistake worse
: by taking notice Of II, l said, After
: all, what should we do II things al
ways went smoothly and there werent
any adventures"
She said quietly, I'VE might be nor
NAL and Wholesome and comfortable
and Continued looking out Of the win,
! dow and toying with her chain, while
cursed myself for a tactless cloud
!. hopper without the sense to avoid a
3 danger sign. Then I found myself
, wondering what this trouble could be
I that by the mere touch Of an accident
D al allusion could strike the Joy out OF
a creature so naturally radiant What
ever 1t was, 1t had come upon her
within the last six months. or the
chances OF our Christmas week had
been singula-ly free from reminders
of It. Could there be possibly any
connection between II and that chain
with its hidden pendant? Or was 1t
only by accident that her hand went
to Il In her moments Of brooding?
: seemed to have noticed the chain be-
fore, and her habit Of playing with II
: In idleness, but could not be sure.
She reused herself presently. and
} the talk went on, though with an un-
: dercurrent OF discomfort. For my
part, | was still repenting my clumsi-
ness : and she, suppose, felt annoyed
at having shown 80 palpably an emo
ton which she had not intended for
my eyes. So that, In spite OF regret
for the approaching end Of the adven-
ture, l was hardly sorry when our ar
rival at Stamford supplemented
speech with action.
Are you expecting any one TO meet
your" I asked, as the platform emp
tied and left US standing alone.
mo, they didn't know what train |
was coming on. But there's the troll
ley now. And It's your car, too; that
Is. II you're still going to the Aims
: lies"
A short open car. with an air OF put
J ting It's wheels close together In order
to buck, squeaked around the curve
J and took US aboard. When we were
J we'll under way a short, heavy man
came around the corner OF the station
or an unsteady run and pursued a lit.
tie dista .ce with inarticulate shout
: ings and violent gestures. We were
too far of 20 sec him very distinctly,
but I thought he had somehow a for
eign look; and unless my ears were
at fault he was cursing us In Italian.
We left him standing in the middle
OF the road, shaking his fist and mop
ping his face with a red handkerchief
1 only nfhar ar