The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1914-04-24

trIe was waiting FOR them at the curb.
The last few days OF her New York
visit Essie spent with girl friend.
And when she passed through the gate
&C the Grand Central station bound for
the train that was to take her to her
home in an upstate town, she was
wearing the hat with the inviting yell
low feather For Aunt Linda was net
along, and her chum, who came to the
station with her, adored the hat.
Essie was a gregarious young WON.
an. In the small town where she lived
1t was a habit for people to be neigh;
borly. so when the middleaged man
in the parlor car seat across the aisle
offered her q magazine, she accepted 1t
with smile and a nod Of the yellow
feather. When she entered the dining
car for luncheon and the dining car
conductor placed her opposite the
same man, she was not displeased. He
was a well-groomed, interesting look
ing man. And Essie liked men. When
the stranger suggested that she order
lunch for both of them, Essie didn't
mind Luncheon for one was always
des dly stupid. OF course, she realized
that Aunt Linda would be hOrritied at
such proceeding, but Aunt Linda was
| old-faahioned. It was common talk in
the family that Linda was entirely too
! diffident, too reserved. She was not
nearly so popular as her sisters, who
| were of more sociable mien. However,
- dol
| to Linda's name, and there were some
of the family that--well, that's quite
another matter.
Essie enjoyed the luncheon, and
| though she endeavored in the usual
way TO pay the check, her protests-
tions were quickly swept away. As
the man plloted her back to her chair
in the parlor car, she was conscious OF
n certain guilty feeling, but she put 1t
from her How could a girl be expect.
I'd to do anything else? She was only
| human, and she liked to talk to peo-
pie. She couldn't play any kind OF
game by herself. There are many
young girls like Essie.
1t was only twenty minutas until
Essie's home town would be reached.
She was rather sorry. She was having
such good time.
'Td like to see you again." said the
man. meaningly.
"Oh, thank you" laughed the girl.
i've enjoyed meeting you"
But you don't live far from Buffalo.
and haven't you some friends there
that you could tell your parents you
we're going TO visit-while you really
same down to spend few days with
me? know a nice little place where
we could go and be undisturbed.
Here's my card. That's my Office ad-
dress. Write me when you can get
away"
Essie was dumfounded All the
color had gone out of her face. She
felt sick to the very depths Of her.
She simply couldn't speak. The card
dropped from her nerveless fingers.
But the stranger did not understand.
His eyes glittered strangely, while the
mark of the beast was in every line OF
his face. You're great little kiddo,
he said, "and there isn't anything
wouldn't do for you. Do you think you
could come down to see me in few
dayS?"
The girl found voice. but still it was
not her own voice. 1t was the voice ot
q girl who has suddenly had every
ideal and illusion knocked from under
her.
"Oh, oh, you horrible thing, you!
I-I-you'Ve made mistake. oh,
hate you, hate you! never want tc
see you again, never!"
When calm came, Essie was in hel
own room ut home-alone. She wai
glad she was alone. All the Joy hsC
gone out Of her vacation. She felt un
clean, tainted as if she had beer
walking through bogs Of mud anC
slime.
And, sobbing, the girl wondered, arr
all men like that, or. was it the yellow
. feather? 1t had not yet occurred t
} her that young girls who accept fS
Vors of strange men on trains are yer,
apt to be misunderstood and-iRsulted
, That was one thing that Aunt Andi
| had forgotten to tell her.
Testing the Upper Air,
BY means of balloons the upper al