The Calumet news., 1913-10-04
On the Bridge
A Niqht Long and Happily
Remembered
By CLARISSA MACklt


night" cried Kitty, waving her hahu
as he swuuy or the moving car
Good uigut" he called back. adding
to the conductor as the rear OF the
car passed him. Please let that young
lady off at Belmont street
Thc conductor shouted back some
answer. and the almost empty car
uhizzed away into the darkness of the
surrounding country
"Graudmothcr viii scold, sh"
Thought. turning up the collar of her
coat aud lifting her face to the strong
breeze that swept through the open
car. "Shc will tell me that Bakers and
Withcrnms always rode in their own
carriages and that no lady returned
home uncscorted from any mcrrymak
ing. But we are quite poor now, ana
our days of splcudor are past. As long
as | work side 10y side in the same
office as Molly must use the same
vehicle that she does
Kitty smiled q little aS she thought
Of the crrand that had taken her 10
Molly's that August evening. Molly
was to he married. and Kitty had gone
ont 10 Homedalc To see all the dainty
details of the trousscau and to discuss
the simple plans. She was tu bc brides
maid when Molly WAS married IN the
village church.
The conductor thrust a rallousCd
blackcncd palm under her pretty nose
and Kitty fumblcd for a nickel and
paid IT, The bell tangled several times;
then there was nothing save the fash
of the car toward the city between
walls of green trees on either side of
the track.
Thinking Of weddings reminded Kit
ty of one that might have been hers il
her pride had not caused her to break
troth with Len Thornlcigh when the
Baked fortune went 10 smash at her
fathers death. It bad been Lens first
year at college. and he had cbafcd bit
tcrly because ne must wait three years
before he could leave and support her
He wanted to break or and go into
his fathers business without cOmplct-
Ing his college, career but the great
magnatc had dcmurrcd and held Len
TO a promise made years before
Kitty had not seen Len since she had
sent him that cruel letter that made
him see light at hast Nothing but
cruelty would have opened his eyes.
She closed her eyes now. and a stran.
glcd sob rose to her lips as she thought
of the last three years of waiting.
They stopped at "A little hooded sta
tiou and changed conductors Kitty
Baker never knew il She sat there
drowsily, her face very tender. think
ing of Len Thornlcigh
The bell ringing up fares reused her
q little aud she groped tor another five
cent piece. There was nothing left in
her purse save silver quarter She
held it in her gloycd fingers, waiting
for the conductor.
When he came she did not look up.
He leaned across the intervening space
aud held ont his hand
Kitty stared down at the hand. II
was very different from the hand of
the other conductor This was clean.
brown muscular looking hand. with
we'll kept nails and y paiu gold ring
ON the little finger
II was familiar band \ sudden
horror Smote Kitty Baker. aud she
thrust forward the silver quarter.
Somehow II spun away out Of her fin
gers aud went into the darkness.
ON she cried sharply. 81 haven't
penny with me-" Then she
looked into his face aud saw that If
the hand was the hand Of Len Thorn
leigh the face certainly belonged to
the son ot the great fnancicr Ills
eyes met hers uncertainty. stcadicd
and became bits Of gray agate.
II could not bc Len for he did moi
recognize her. II was q wonderful ro
sCmblancc
That was all the money / had"
apologized Kitty. What shall | doY"
You can pay me another time" he
said gravcly aud touched his hat. lie
rang UP her fare and went away TO the
back Of the car.
Kitty sat paralyzcd with surprise
It was Len Thornleigh's voice she had
heard too.
Her good sense Told her that this
was abSurd-to Imagine that This tro,.
ley conductor could bc Len Thornlcirb,
NhN. Len drove around in his own
hlgt power uiotorcars. and she had
read only the day before that his IA.
ihcr was building a great country
house at Marbiebcad.
The car whistled shrilly as II wont
1own the steep incline that approached
= narrow bridge over the little river
AS they rumbled over the bridge the
car slac6encd speed and came 10 n sud.
len standstill at the same instant that
The lights wcat out.
The conductor went forward ana On,
down with the motorman. Tbev tolk.
nd together IN low tones Kitty ,,oL
cd back through the car and saw ono
man sitting alone on the rear seat Uc
appeared to be asleep. although no
stirred rs she looked at him.
1t was very quiet there waiting for
ne power 20 return TO the trolley On
o'es' Kitty yawned sleepily and won.
1ereu u grandmother would scold very
mucp when she returned home.
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