Smyrna times., 1913-02-05
His Fellow
Passenger
A Railroad
Episode
BY cLARIssA MAcKIH

Grand Central station and walked
slowly through the crowded coaches
until he found vacant seat. There
was only one, and the other occupant
was woman, young and slender and
deeply yelled. He paused irresolutely,
and the woman drew aside her skirts
and made room for him. With a MUIR
INJURED word of thanks he flung his grip
into the rack and settled himself be-
hind the evening paper.
The train drew out of the station
and into the sitting atmosphere of the
tunnel. The dim light made reading
impossible, and Burnell turned his eyes
toward his fellow passengers. There
were the usual aggregation Of home
going commuters, a sprinkling of shop
pers and number of travellers who
had made themselves thoroughly CON-
Portable for a longer journey. He shot
a glance at the other occupant Of his
seat and was startled into a prolonged
stare.
She had thrown back her veil and
revealed such profile as Burnell had
dreamed of. She was young, perhaps
twenty-one, with delicate coloring and
pale golden brown hair parted above
a low, white brow, her nose was per-
feet, and her mouth adorable
AS the train glided out Of the tunnel
into the pale afternoon light the girl
made little movement, and the purse
in her hand slipped to the floor. Bur
nell bent to pick it up, and as he re-
stoped it to her she thanked him with a
smile and a flash Of sea blui eyes that
fairly made him dizzy.
He looked wistfully at his painting
Kit in the rack above and wished that
he was going to Boston to paint pic
ture of this girl, instead Of that Of a
wealthy Back Bay spinster whose gen.
erous fee would support him for year.
''Win you please stop the sandwich
boy?' she asked timidly.
The artist whistled sharply and when
the boy came she bought package Of
chicken sandwiches and couple of or
anges Burwen WINGED as he saw her
carefully counting the money from her
shabby purse.
at is the curse of everything" he
thought savagely, remembering some
of his own shattered illusions. Then he
returned to his newspaper, while the
girl ate her lunch daintily by his side.
After that she drew down her veil and
leaned back in her corner. and Burnell
thought she slept.
Hour after hour the train thundered
through the night; occasionally they
stopped at a brilliantly lighted station,
and the car was gradually emptied of
its passengers. After they had left
Providence behind and were whirling
on toward Boston Burnell left his seat
and took a vacant one just behind it
where he alternately dozed and medi.
tated The girl in black slept soundly
At 1890 Burnen slipped his watch
back in his pocket just as the girl in
front awoke with a little start, looked
about her in bewilderment and then al
the empty seat at-her side. She turned
in the seat and lifted her veil, and hel
face frightened visibly as she met thC
artists interested glance.
"Ten-thirty," he said pleasantly.
'eWhy, what time shall we arrive ir
Providence?" she asked, with a careful
iy suppressed yawn..
Providence! Why. madam, we will
be in Boston in exactly thirty minutes.
A look Of terror leaped to her eyes
~Oh, no, no; it cannot be-" she cried
AI must have made a mistake.
wanted to go to Providence, not Bos
toni What shall l doT'
'"That is easily remedied," said Bur
nell kindly, laying strong hand on he
trembling little fingers, ''for you cal
take a train to Providence as soon a
we arrive or wait until morning. Hav,
you any friends in BostOnY'
~Too manyw she shook her hea,
doubtfully. "And, besides, haven
any money. / spent the last for sand
witches. You see, Felix was to NEE
me in Providence and she fushe
crimson and drew back In the seat a
If she had diyulged some secret.
Burnelrs hand sought his pocket an
Withdrew a ten dollar note. 1t wa
half Of all he had in the world unit
the portrait should be finished. "Tak
this. You can repay it when you jOi
your friends. Here is my card" II
thrust them into her hands.
ooh, you are so kind. shall neve
forget it" she murmured in a relieve
tone Il suppose l am horrible to al
cept assistance from stranger. but
you only knewl"
at is sufficient for me that you hal
pen to be in need of it, returned Blu
nell. with his rare smile as he reache
for his overcoat. "If you will perm
me / will find out about the Prov
dence train for you and see that yC
are safely aboard"
THANK you. but l am sure that
can make the connection all rig
now" She pulled down the disguisIr
veil and preceded him down the ais
of the car. for they were drawing in
the Union station. The young paint
saw bis fellow traveller safely aboai
the Providence train. and when Il
lights of the end car had disappears