The Washington times., 1913-06-07

I heart of the country to the great city
Gradually, and with the exhilarator
of their ever-increasing speed, th'
J courage of the man revived, and th'
blood flowed once more warmly through
| his veins.
He lifted his head and looked arount
| him.
Shock the first came when he realized
| that he was in a first class carriage
| shock the second when he saw that hi!
| solitary companion was lady. H'
| took in the details of her appearance
| and roundings-wonderfu enough t.
| him who had been brought up in cot
| tage, and to whom the ways and re
| sources of luxury were all unknown
| Every seat save the one which he oc'
! cupied was covered with her belongings
On one was a half-opened dressing
case filled with gold-topped bottles and
| emitting a faint, delicate perfume. On
| another was a pile of books and maga.
zines, opposite to him a sable-llned
coat by his side a luncheon basket and
| long hunting flask. Then his eyes were
caught by an oblong strip of paper
| pasted across the carriage window. He
| read It backward:
Engaged"
What an intrusion! He looked to-
| ward the woman with stammering
words of apology upon his lips-but the
words died away. He was tongue-.ed
He had met the languid gaze of her
dark, full eyes. a little sunercilious. a
| little amused. family crious. and his
own fell at once before their calm in
| science. She was handsomely dressed
The delicate. white hand which held
her novel was ablaZe with many and
| wonderful rings. She was evidently
tall, without doubt stately. Her black
/ hair, parted in the middle, dropped a
| little to the side by her ears: her com.
| plexion delightfully."- clear. was of a
| curious ivory pallor unassociated with
Ill health. She regarded him through
| a pair of ivory-handled lorgnettes
| which she carelessly closed as he look ed
| toward her
Will you tell me-" she asked quietly
, why you have entered my carriage
which is engaged, and in such an ex.
taordinary Manner
He drew little breath. He had never
heard voice like it before-soft, mu-
ton Of foreign accent. She was
waiting for an answer He began his
| apology:
II am sorry-indeed. I am very sorry.
| / had no time to look inside. and !
thought II was an empty carriage-a
third class one. too. 1t was very stu
pid''
You appeared to be-" she remarked.
in a hurry"
The faint note of humor in her tone
passed undetected by him.
Il want to get away" he said. II
had walked fourteen minles. and there
was no other train. l am very sorry
to intrude upon you. The train was
moving when l reached the platform.
| and jumped
She shrugged her shoulders slightly
and raised her book once more But
from over its top she found herself
watching very soon this strange trav-
cling companion of hers. The trousers
above his clumsy boots were frayed
and muddy, his black clothes were
shiny and antiquated In cut These.
and his oddly arranged white tie, some
how suggested the cleric.
But when she reached his face her
eyes fingered there. It puzzled and in
a sense attracted her. His features
were clearly cut and prominent. his
complexion was naturally pale. but wind
and sun had combined to stain his
cheeks with a slight healthy tan. His
eyes were deep-set. keen and bright,
tthe eyes of a visionary perhaps. but
afire now with the instant excitement