The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-26


and Bitter Creek, whose very, names
imply literature and war whoops, cow
boy yelps. barking revolvers. another
redskin biting the dust, cattle STAN
pedes, townpaintings, humorous
lynchings and bronchos in epileptic
frenzy.
But the talk Of this train was CON
ccrned with none OF these wonders,
which the novelists and the maya
zinist have perhaps a tribe overpub-
lished. The talk of this train was con-
cerned with the eighth wonder of the
world, semi-detached bridal couple.
Mrs. Whitcomb was eager enough to
voice the sentiment Of the whole pop
ulace. when she looked up from her
novel In the observation room and.
nudging Mrs. Temple, drawled: by
the way. my dear. has that bridal
couple made up its second nightn
quarrel YETI"
The Mallorys?" Mrs. Temple
flushed as she answered, mercifully.
oh. yes, they were very friendly
again this morning"
Mrs. Whitcomb's countenance was
cynical: My dear, I've been married
twice and ought to know something
ABOUT honeymoons. but this honeyless
noneymoon-' she cast up her eyes
and her hands in despair.
The women were SO concerned about
Mr.. and Mrs" Mallory, that they
hardly noticed the uncomfortable
plight Of the Wellingtons, or the curl
GUS behavior Of the lady from the
stateroom who seemed to be afraid OF
something and never spoke to any
body. The strange behavior of Anne
Cattle and Ira Lathrop even escaped
much comment, though they we're for
ever being stumbled on when anybody
went out to the observation platform.
When they were dislodged from there.
they sat playing checkers and talking
very little, but making eyes at one an
other and signing like furnaces.
They had evidently concocted some
secret Of their own. for Ira, looking
at his watch, murmured sentimentally
to Anne: only few hours more.
Annie.
And Anne turned geranium-color
and dropped handful Of checkers. Il
don't know how / can face it."
Ira growled like a lovesick lion:
Jaw, what do you carer"
But / was never married before,
Ira" Anne protested. "and on train,
too"
Why, all the bridal couples take to
the railroads"
I should think 1t would be the last
place they'd 60" said Anne-a sensible
woman, Anne! Look at the Mallories
how miserable they are"
4 thought they were happy" said
Ira. whose great virtue it was to pay
little heed to what was none OF his
business.
"Oh, Ira," cried Anne, IT hope we
shan't begin to quarrel as soon as we
are married"
AS If anybody could quarrel with
you, Anne" he said.
do you think I'll be SO monotonous
as that?" she retorted.
Her spunk delighted him beyond
words. He whispered: Anne. YOU'RE
so gol-darned sweet If l don't get q
chance to kiss you, I'll bust"
why. Ira-we're on the train"
"Da-darn the train! Who ever
heard of fellow proposing and get
ting engaged to a girl and not even
kissing her"
.tput our on oornap4 10 on short
well, I'm not going to marry you
until | get kiss"
Perhaps innocent old Anne really
believed this blood-curdling threat. II
brought her instantly to terms, though
she, blushed: But everybody's al
ways looking"
Come out on the observation plat
form"
"Oh, Ira, again?"
Il dare YOU"
II take you-but" seeing that Mn
Whitcomb was trying to overhear, she
whispered: Lets pretend it's tho
scenery"
So Ira rose, pushed the checkers
aside, and said in an unusually posa-
tive tone: "Ah. Miss Cattle, won't ycrl
have look at the landscape?"
"Oh, thank you. Mr.. Lathrop," saAa
Anne, II just love scenery"
They wandered forth like the Sleep
ing Beauty and her princely awaken
er, and never dreamed what gigglings
and nudgings and wise head-noddinFs
went on back of them. Mrs. Wellington
laughed loudest Of all at the lovers
whose heads had grown gray while
their hearts were still so green.
1t was shortly after this that the
Wellingtons themselves came into
prominence in the train life.
| AS the train approached Green
River, and its copper-basined stream.
the engineer began to set the. air
brakes for the stop. Jimmie yelling.
ton. BODILY half-awake in the smok.
ing room, wanted to know what the
name Of the station was. Everybody
is always eager to oblige a drunken
mar. SO Ashton and Fosdick tried to
get . window open to look out.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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