Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-06-22


she was returning to the Long Island
suburb on the evening commuters'
train. She was crowding into the
train at Jamaica when she was
startled by mans voice In her ear
and at the same time n strong arm
encircled her waist under cover OF the
many persons boarding the train.
Caught with the goodsi" the laugh
ing voice chided her.
Wren jerked angrily away and
turned to face the second man who
had thus insulted her. How dare
your" she cried. beside herself with
rage But the man more stunned
than she was, drew back. while
crimson stain flashed into the bronze
of his cheeks.
II beg your pardon" he managed to
stammer. II thought you were my
wife!"
Thoroughly unstrung Wren got
quickly into the train and secured
seat beside a comfortable motherly
woman with "a baby, and kept close
beside her until the car stopped at
her station.
She had several blocks to go before
reaching the home at which che was
visiting, and during her swift walk
she knew that the man who had put
his arm about her was Just behind
Hysterical and trembling with fear
she reached the house and Jean
Muller was there to welcome her
"Wren, dear! What's the matterl"
Jeans startled eyes scanned the girls
face. But before you tell mel
have good news! George will DO
here to night! Isn't that dandy
Now tell me what happened and all
about the shopping"
"Oh. it's nothing. except that every
man In town insults you'll" cried
Wren beginning to get her dimples
into place now that she was with
Jean again. "This morning on the
train a man pulled my-or rather ;
your-gold tassel and said, Ding
ding to mel"
"How perfectly abominable! And
on your first visit to me. When YOU
meet George want you to tell him
your experience and see If he can't
do something to protect women-oh
here he is now!" Jean turned to
fling herself into the arms of the
man who had come in with suit
case in hand.
Wren gaspedl 1t was the man
she had just seen on the train.
She turned from white to red and
in an attempt to gain time turned to
take off her outdoor garments.
Great Scott! Jeanl" the man
whispered hoarsely. Il mistook her
for you on the train and
Wren turned laughing, dimpled \
face to Jean Muller and her excited
husband. at is all jeans fault" she
explained, and extended q friendly 4
hand to Jeans husband; "she In
sisted on lending me her new Easter
bonnet because she said looked too
'hayseedy' in my own Oldvilh
clothes. 1 also had on jeans tweed
coat" Wren's laugh was infections
She liked jeans husband now that
she had met him, and with sudden
start she realized that she liked him
because he looked like--yes-like the
person who had sat behind her and
pulled her golden tassel.
Jean stopped laughing long enough
to inquire as to the appearance of her
earlier admirer.
Wren blushed and a whimsical
light dawned in her eyes. Il only re-
member that he was very good look
ing-much like your husband" She
bowed in mock flattery. His eyes
were laughing and brown and he had
a black mustache and his cheeks were
like the sunny side of an apple"
"Johnl" exclaimed Jean and George
In one breath. Then Jean continued:
'I showed Georges brother my new
Easter bonnet yesterday and he has
made the same mistake that George
didi"
Wren blushed happily, and hall
wistful smile played upon her, lips
81 wonder II he will forgive me?"
"He is coming to dinner tonight
you know, Wren" Jean reminded the
girl.
Later in the evening, when Wren
and John had abandoned the house
for the cool of the hammock undei
the apple trees, Jean cast triumph
ant glance at her husband.
Matchmaker" he admonished
and pulled her down into the chall
beside him.