The Bourbon news., 1912-09-17
AT THE END OF
THE LONG CAR RIDE
BY EDMUND MoBERLY.

Whenever he could do so without
seeming rude, Kenneth Craig allowed
his gaze to rest upon the girl who,
like himself, stood waiting for a car.
He was spending a few months at
home, after several years in the trop-
les. During those years, he had been
able to associate with few of the
women of his race, and he now found
positive delight in the mere sight of
such a radiant, tailor-made vision as
the one few feet from him.
A car came along and they boarded
! it. 1t was we'll filled, and after she
! had seated herself, there remained but
one vacant seat-the place by her
side, which he straightaway took. An
acquaintance of Kennetfs, thinking he
was accompanying the girl, bowed to
| him, at the same time raising his hat.
Kenneth returned the bow, and absent
mindedly followed the others exam
/ pie as to the hat. In the next instant,
he would have given anything to re-
| call his action, for he saw that she
had noted it, and construed it as an
| impertinence.
! The conductor approached them, and
when Kenneth handed him dime, he
promptly rang up two fares, assuming
the pair to be companions, and being
in blissful ignorance of the fact that
! the girl was at that moment delving
in her handbag for her purse.
Your paying my fare was an act
! af Il
cool voice at his side.
Very WE'LL" he replied "Shall I
call the conductor? Or do you prefer
to cancel the debt by simply handing
me five cents?"
'The latter method will serve" she
decided, and again began to search
for her purse.
Suddenly she grew red and nervous.
81 cannot find my purse; it isn't in
my bag" she faltered.
I'm very sorry" he replied, solicit
ously polite.
"Oh, it isn't the loss that l mind
it was but small >sum-but now l
cannot cancel my obligation to you"
''It is q trif1ing matter Let us for
get it," he urged.
Indeed We must not You must let
me know where I may send the
money"
'Oh, very we'll. If you insist, here
is my card. 1t has my address on it."
The car stopped at his street, and
when he left it, he was mildly sur
prised to see that she did the same.
! h.
him. When he started toward his
home, he noticed that she was just
ahead. -S'ss;EEI
He tramped along, reading the head
lines of his paper, and when he reach
ed his home, he was amazed to see her
standing on the front porch.
'Are you following me?" she asked
defiantly, as he ascended the steps.
''Not in the way you mean" he re-
piled with a smile.
"Then why do you come here?"
''Do you know whose house this is?"
he asked, answering question with
question.
"Yes."
"Then will you kindly look at the
card which you so disdainfully thrust
unread into your bag while on the
carr"
The card was quickly found. She
read it with gasp. 'You are Elsa
Craig's brother" she exclaimed, in
pretty confusion. "Oh, why didn't I
| look at this card before?"
"And you are" he hinted.
I'm Barbara Page, Elsa's room
mate and chpm at college.
Kenneth looked at her intently. $50
you are Barbara Page" he said mus
| ingly. ELSA wrote me much about
you while was in Brazil-but, by the
way, you weren't expected until tomor-
row, were you?"
'No; am a day ahead. My father
was travelling this way today, so I
came as far as the city with him, leav-
ing my baggage to follow"
ELSA won't be home for an hour or
two yet," he said, opening the door.
Wont you come in?"
"Will you go to your room, or will
you bear me company in the living
room until sister arrives?" he asked
as they entered. "Such a pleasure
as chatting with a real, live American
girl has been almost entirely denied
me during the last three years, and
in view of the fact that you are in
debted to me for the sum Of"
eff you start by mentioning that, 1
shall assuredly go to my room," she
broke in with laugh, as she entered
the livingroom.
She sang his favorite songs to him,
and played the compositions of his
favorite composers.
Miss Page, did Elsa ever talk to
you about me?" he asked, after an
hour and half had slipped by and
no Elsa had appeared. "It is rather
strange question, but have special
reason for asking it,
''Oh, yes," she replied, "but k,think