Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-12
Two in a Train

GA THIRD class single TO Gal
~ way. please" Miss Mathers
moved away from the ticket
Office, but not before a tall man
wrapped in a thin ulster. with a tweed
cap pulled down over his eyes. had
seen her-started first at sound of heI
soft voice. and then deliberately fol-
lowed her to the waiting train. II
was a bitter winter evening. and Miss
Msthers shuddered inwardly as she
thought Of that long, long train jour
ney through South Wales. the odious
crossing of the Irish Channel and the
wearisome journey TO Galway.
Tears started TO her eyes as she
thought of past arrivals there. How
different they had been! Then she
had travelled thither as guest. Now
all was sadly changed. and she was
going back TO dear. well-remembered
places to earn her own living as a
governess.
Seated in the corner Of a third
class compartment. Mary Mathers
settled herself under her rug for the
first stage Of her journey.
A warning whistle from the train
the door was wrenched open, and a
man, wrapped in a big ulster, got
in. followed by porter with a bag
and bundle Of golf sticks. There was
monetary hustle. during which the
express began TO glide slowly along
the platform. The porter jumped out
shut the door-they were off.
And in the opposite corner was sit
ting
Mary's heart gave a jump
Il thought ii was you" said Mere
dith, quietly. Aren't you going to
speak to me2'
"Of course" she stammered. with
lips that tried so hard not to culver.
You startled me So She smiled at
him CALAMITY You see, you are
about the last person ] expected to
see. Are you going 10 Ireland p
The Old Haunts.
Yes, and you? To the old haunts 2"
The quick tears started TO her eyes.
Yes, TO one Of the old haunts near
Galway"
Tough Corrib?" he asked.
Mary WINGED.
Yes. just on the shores, halfway
TO Oughterard"
He leant forward.
You don't mean to say that you
are going TO the WintonsY'
Yes"
Good! So am /. They're getting
up a first-rate house party. you know.
I'm awfully glad you're going to be
one OF them. too"
Mary gave "A little gasp, opened her
mouth as II 10 speak, and said moth
ing. What could she say2
Tell him the truth, OF course--that
instead of an honored guest she was
going 10 the Wintons as Eoverness at
$3.50 year, relegated 20 the school
room in "a distant wing. dining when
the rest OF the party lunched, disap-
pearing back again TO the distant
wing Of the house with her charges.
Perhaps now and then she would be
sent for to play accomplishments or
something OF the kind. But II Mere
dith was to be In the house, how
could she bear II? How could she
tell him? He probably knew nothing
about her reyerses Of fortune. She
couldn't blurt 1t out-apropos Of moth
ing at all.
Three years ago she and Meredith
had seen a good deal of each other.
No other man had ever touched her
heart or made any great difference
in her life. but he-she wrenched
herself from her dreams with an eff
fort as she spoke.
A Bad Prospect.
I'm afraid it's going to be a bad
night. Are you obliged to crosse"
Yes"
And II / remember rightly. you
don't care much about the sea, do
your"
Il care this much-that loathe IT,"
said Mary. with "A faint smile. 81
have never got over my distaste for
boats and everything to do with them
And the Irish Channel is always
rough when / cross IT,"
Meredith laughed
Have you only Just come back
from East African" said Mary. break
ing the silence that had fallen be-
tween them.
Three months ago"
But you will go out again.
4 don't think So" he said slowly
cit all depends on"
The door into the corridor was slid
open, the dining car attendant looked
in
Take your seats for dinner
please"
He passed on.
You will dine, won't you?" asked
Meredith. Nothing like good meal
you know"
The color mounted 10 Mary's face
How could she tell him that dinner
was not "A possibility TO her, simply
because she had no spare money 10
waste2 She had a little packet of
sandwiches in her bag, and some bis
cults. but her appetite sickened at the
thought OF them.
q am not hungry" she said. eva
sively. Il couldn't eat any dinner.
Left Alone.
Very well. Willful woman must
always have her way, but don't say |
didn't warn you. VIII you be all
right II ! leave you? / feel the pangs
Of furious hunger"
"Of course. ! am quite comfort
able"
Left alone, Mary sat up ana gazed
out into the darkness Her face
burned How could she endure the
hours OF this journey with Meredith
Sitting there, talking, looking at her?
She must get away from him Her
hard-won self-Contrul might desert
her, and then She rapidly col