The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-01-17
HIS FAvORITE PAPER
BY JOHN KANE.

ooDuipp Wao otdhdili6 Will DdCh "
the approaching train one morning.
peacefully gazing upon the autumnal
landscape, with bundle of newspa-
pers under his arm-it was young
Whitman's habit to buy all the news
papers in order to get what he called
broad point of view-when he felt
slight tug at the topmost paper. In
stinctively he frightened his grip.
There was another tug, this time
more decided one. It was also slightly
impatient, and II was successful. Az
the newspaper slipped from under his
arm young Whitman was aware that
coin was being pressed into his
hand. He turned just in time to catch
a glimpse Of pink, softly curved
cheek under an engulfing hat. and to
see the young woman deftly whip her
spoils into a shape convenient for car
rying as she ran.
Before he could recover his breath
sufficiently to call to her his assailant
boarding the train. All he could be
sure of was the pink cheek, a hat that
looked to his bewildered masculine
eye like all the other hats that were
bobbing about the station and a blue
serge suit.
Young Whitman looked at the coin
in his hand; then he looked at the
newspapers that remained under his
arm, She had taken his favorite, the
one that he really depended upon for
his literary meal. Then he looked up
into the gripnins countenapce of q
neighbor.
took you for newsboy, did shsY'
chortled the neighbor,
Once more young Whitman looked
down at the money in his hand. He
held It out helplessly. Can you beat
thatf" he said, dazedly.
In spite Of his loss, the memory Of
that pink cheek remained pleasantly
with young Whitman for some time.
For its sake he took decided inter
est In nondescYipt hats and blue
serge suits for several weeks after
ward. Probably it was this newly de-
veloped interest that made him notice
one evening in the street car which
was bearing him and a number Of
others over to his station that directly
in front of him sat a pink-cheeked
wearer Of a blue serge suit and a hat
of the kind already inadequately de-
scribed.
He was some little distance behind
the young woman and when ON getting
out he passed the seat in which she
had been sitting he saw that she had
| 1aft yxytD II cns,aA
the parcel and made after the owner.
81 beg your pardon" he said. raising
, his hat, but think you left this in
the car"
The girl looked down at the parcel.
"It is mine," she said. Thank you
ever 80 much"
, She moved to the sidewalk and lit
tie way out Of the crowd without ia
, king the parcel. Then she opened and
plunged her hand into the recesses of
an enormous handbag. After a more
, or less prolonged scrabble" among it's
contents she brought forth a small
purse. She scanned it's contents
, eagerly.
; Dear me-" young Whitman heard
her murnur. II haven't thing but a
quarter. I suppose I'll have to give
him that"
The parcel was taken from him with
hasty courtesy. Once more he felt a
coin pressed into his hand. A vaguely
impersonal voice breathed, THANK
you ever so much" and the owner of
; the parcel had disappeared trainward.
Young Whitman stood still, ponder.
ing. Il bet you anything" he remarked,
presently, to homself, that that is the
very same girl. 1t is fate!"
Nimbly and shamelessly he rushed
into the train, searched until he found
the girl in the blue serge suit. and
then seated himself directly behind
her. He was determined that he
would at least know her next time
they met.
He was 30 confident that another
meeting had been arranged by fate
that he felt no surprise when upon 60
ing over to call some evenings later
upon his friends the Parkinsons he
found there the girl Of the tips. Mrs.
Parkinson presented him to her, In
forming him that the girl was Parkin-
bhO . oiotCi, dHu thdI buO Wdo 6Oih6
to pass the winter with them.
The rest followed naturally enough.
They are married now.
my dear" young Mrs. Whitman
says whenever her husband starts to
tell the story of their early encoun-
tiers, really, the only thing I noticed
about him each time was his shoes
they were shockingly rusty and worn.
II you could have seen them! He
insists that said quarter was too
much for him. but. a. a matter OF fact.
would have gladly given him more.
for his shoes looked a. II he must be
hungry. I'm glad married him any.
way. for now ! make him keep bis
shoes looking respectable. Chicago
Daily News.