The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-10-25

high school days. wnsa his geneeai
trustworthiness and pleasant manners
had made him a general favorite in
spite of his poor surroundings and
humble parentage. He had been
obliged to stop ochool and go to work
before finishing his course. and had
obtained work in distant city where
she had lost track of him. Judith OBJ
served that he now had the bearing of
one who had succeeded, and she felt
glad as she remembered his early
struggles.
AS he turned, she noted the manli-
ness of his face, and at the same mo-
ment he observed the smiling gray
eyes opposite, and his own lighted up
with recognition and pleasure.
Judith Cameron, by all that is
lucky!" he exclaimed, and crossed the
aisle to shake hands.
Where did you come from?" he
asked as she made room for him in
the seat beside her.
From the old home back in Ohio"
she laughed.
But what are you doing way out
here?" he asked boyishly, unable to
grasp the situation.
I'm on my way to Oklahoma City,
to teach chemistry and biology in the
high school. And ISmight '; the
same question of you." she smiling
ly returned.
"On my way to the Panhandle to
plat some new additions for a town."
he replied, and nodded toward a sur
veyors transit in the front end of the
car. 81 feel that owe my success to
you, Judith, for you were the one who
first gave me hope of realizing my am
bitions through the methods of spare
time study and correspondence work.
You were always so kind to me.
81 might have. done a great deal
more" A wave Of regret swept over
her as she remembered the narrow
snobbishness of the little town where
they had both spent their early youth.
Mentally, she contrasted his self
made success With the dereliction OF
the other man who started out in life
with every advantage on his side, and
who was now kept afloat merely
through his family influence.
l Meanwhile, the train that had been
moving slowly, stopped again, Glanc'
ing out the window, they could not
see a break in the leaden clouds
above, nor the red water that GOV
cred the earth.
"You-alls am shoah watah-bound,
the porter remarked with cleaning
smile as he passed through the car.
At that moment, the conductor en-
tered and said: We'll have to tie VI
here for the night, as the condition ci
the track makes 1t unsafe to go on
We are just at the edge of town, and
therell be a cab down here in few
minutes Il anyone wants to go to 6
hotel"
Whereupon arose a discussion as tC
what they had better do. At last, only
few of the more venturesome spirits
decided TO brave the rain. The major
ity preferred to remain.
A little later, as Judith lay in hei
berth listening to the patter of the
rain, the strangeness of it all kept hel
awake She was glad that Frank haC
not gone to a hotel; the knowledge
that he was still on the train brough
sense of protection and made
seem less lonely. She went over ant
over in her mind as a woman will
each detail of their unexpected meet
! ing. Their talk together made her re
call many incidents of her girlhoo'
that she had not thought of for years
/ She fell asleep wondering If Franl
, remembered the many times he use'
to help her with her algebra problems
: Next morning the rain ceased. Grad
ually the passengers began to emerg
} from their berths, and greet each 9th
I er with that feeling of long acquaint
ance which a delay on a train oftel
: brings. Just as they were discussing
the prospect Of breakfast, the cor
} ductor said: There's a railway cal
, ing-house little way from here; yo
can get some breakfast there"
. Joyfully. they made preparations I
! go.
/ AS Judith was going down the steps
Frank Leedford Joined her, and L
gether they picked their way alon
[ the red, clay-stained track. They wer
unaccountably merry, and laughed lik
r two care-free children as they noun
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