The Delta independent., 1912-07-19

"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
honeymoon" 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.
ous 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 were 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 a few hours more,
Annie"
And Anne turned geranium-color
and dropped handful of checkers. 81
don't know how l can face it."
Ira growled like a lovesick lion:
Jaw, what do you care?"
But l was never married before
Ira," Anne protested, "and on a train,
too"
why, all the bridal couples take to
the railroads"
II should think it would be the last
place they'd CO." said Anne-a sensible
woman, Anne! Look at the MaIlories
how miserable they are"
Il thought they were happy" said
Ira, whose great virtue 1t was to pay
little heed to what was none of his
business.
"Oh, Ira," cried Anne, 'T 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 a
chance to kiss you, I'll bust"
why, Ira-we're on the train"
"Da-darn the train! Who ever
heard of a fellow proposing and get
ting engaged to a girl and not even
kissing her."
But our engagement is 80 short"
well, I'm not going to marry you
until l get kiss"
Perhaps innocent old Anne really
believed this blood-curdling threat. 1t
brought her instantly to terms. though
she blushed: But everybody's al
ways looking"
Come out on the observation plat
form"
"Oh, Ira, agcin?"
II dare you" ts ~
II take you-but" seeing that Mrs.
Whitcomb was trying to overhear. she
scenery"
So Ira rose, pushed the checkers
aside, and said in an unusually posi-.
tive tone: "Ah. Miss Cattle. won't you
have a look at the landscape?"
"Oh. thank you. Mr.. Lathrop." said
Anne, 81 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-noddings
went on back Of them. Mrs. Wellington
laughed loudest Of all at the lovers
whose heads had grown gray while
their hearts were still 80 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, boozily 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
man. sos;AehSpn and Fosdick tried to
get a window open to look out.
The first one they labored at, they
could not bulge after a bicepsbreak-
ing tug. The second new up with such
ease that they went over backward.
Ashton put his head out and an
nounced that the. approaching depot
was labelled Green River" yelling.
ton burbled: What a beautiful name
for a shtation."
Ashton announced that there was
som mething beautifuller still on the
platform-"Oh. a peach!-a nectarine!
and she's getting on this train"
Even Doctor Temple declared that
she was a dear lite thing, wasn't
she?
Wellington pushed him aside, say
ing: STAND back Doc, and let me
see; have keen sense of beautiful"
BE careful" cried the doctor,
hell fall out of the window"