Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-04-18
His Fellow
Passenger
A Railroad
. Episode
BY CLARISSA MACKIE


Burnell boarded the train ut the
Grand Central station and walked
slowly through the crowded coaches
until he found a vacant seat. There
was only one, and the other occupant
was a woman, young and slender and
deeply yelled. He paused irresolutely,
and the woman drew aside her skirts
and made room for him. With 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, sprinkllng Of shop
pers and n number of travellers who
had made themselves thoroughly COM
Portable for longer journey, He shot
a glance ut the other occupant of his
seat and was startled into Il prolonged
stare.
Gout uuu lulOWh DuCh HtI NCll anu
revealed such II 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 gllded 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 1t up, and as he re-
stored 1t to her she thanked him with n
smile and flash of sea blue 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 q
wealthy Back Bay spinster whose gen
erous fee would support him for year.
"Will you please stop the sandwich
bOyT she asked dmidly.
The artist whistled sharply and when
the boy came she bought package of
chicken sandwiches and couple of or
anges. Burwell 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 Numbered
through the night; occasionally they
stopped Mt 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 1t,
where he alternately dozed and medi-
tated. The girl in black slept soundly.
At 1870 Burnell slipped his watch
back In his pocket just as the girl in
front awoke with n little start. looked
about her In bewilderment and then at
the empty seat at her side. She turned
I'm the seat and lifted her veil. and her
lace DTlkHteneu FlSlDly us sue IIlcl Tue
artists interested glance.
"Ten-thlrty," he said pleasantly
"Why, what time shall we arrive In
Providencew she asked. with careful
ly suppressed yawn.
providence! Why, madam. we will
be in Boston In exactly thirty minutes"
A look VI terror leaped to her eyes.
ooh. no, ne; II cannot be-" she cried.
II must have made n mistake. |
wanted to go to Providence, not Bos-
ton! What shall dor
THAT II easily remedied," said Bur
nell kindly, laying a strong hand on her
trembling little fingers "for you can
take train to Providence as soon as
we arrive or wait until morning. Have
you any friends In BostonT
TOO manyT she shook her head
doubtfully. "And, besides, haven't
any money. spent the last for sand
wiches. You see, Felix was to meet
me In Providence and"- she flushed
crimson and drew back In the seat as
II she had divulged some secret
Burnell's hand sought his pocket and
WlLnuTeW VI Ten uOlluT nOLe. IL was
half Of all he had In the world until
the portrait should be finished. Take
this You can repay It when you join
yourOriends. Here IL my card" He
thrust them into her hands
"Oh, you are 10 kind. shall never
forget IT," she murmured in a relieved
tone. II suppose / am horrible TO &c.
cept assistance from a stranger but II
you only knew"
ut IL sufficient for me that you hap.
pom to be in need OF It," returned Bur
nell, with his rare smile as he reached
for his overcoat. III you will permit
me ! will find out about the Provi-
dence train for you and see that you
are safely aboard"
THANK you. but I am sure that I |
can make the connection all right |
now" She pulled down the Disgusting
veil and preceded him down the aisle
OF the car, for they were drawing into |
the Union station. The young painter
saw his fellow traveller safely aboard
the Providence train. and when the
lights OF the end car had disappeared
In the darkness he walked thought
fully back to the subway for car TO
his hotel
The next morning he called upon
Lennder Rldgely the brother OF the
Indy whose mort rnif no Vua IN nalnf |