The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-28
Gar MIU1LNY
sue. -==--- 1898
By;aAaY RosERTs RiHEHaRI

The reason for the quarrel has moth.
fng to do With the story; It was the
usual affair, In which the. Girl declares
with every appearance of sincerity
that she hopes she will never see him
again, and the Man gnaws his lip
fashion having abolished the mustache
and declares savagely that she need
not worry, she won't
The only unusual feature was that
the Man was handsome, and did not
know #, and the Girl, who was charm.
ing, and knew It, was quite unspofled.
Perhaps it was the rain that had ruff.
lied the current Of true love.
AS he held his umbrella over the
Girl, they were as far apart as the
poles; the drip was falling on the rim
Of his hat, and his head being thrown
well back-he was very much injured
"a little stream Of water ran down
between the shoulders Of his gray rain.
coat. From one pocket protruded the
corner of q gilt tied package, and the
little widow who stood Just back of
them smiled and sighed.
When the Wilkinsyi1Ie car came
along he assisted the Girl In ceremo.
niously. On the platform she turned
and spoke to him.
"You have my purse" she said, Jelly
polite. May I trouble you for IT."
Which meant that she wished to pay
her own fare; he was not to dare to
do II.
The Man looked uncomfortable, and
fished out of one Of his big pockets a
dainty little patent leather affair with
a monogram on 1t.
The Girl went to the extreme end Of
the car and sat down; the Man made
his umbrella an excuse to stay on the
platform.
The car was comfortably full, but
not crowded. In fact, as they discov-
cred later. there were precisely TWEEN
ty.six passengers.
The conductor was collecting the
fares. He declined her proffered
nickel with a jerk Of his head toward
the door.
Fares paid" he said; but the Girl
insistently held out the money.
There Is a mistake" she said. flush
ing uncomfortably. Il intend to pay
my own fare"
The. conductor took 1t restgnedly.
We'll" he said, "the gentleman back
there with the gray raincoat paid your
fare, but If you want to pay twice, all
right"
He rang up the fare with an air OF
great probity and went on. The Girl.
flashed a glance of whitening scorn at
the back Of the car.
The widow was palpitating with en-
citement; there was a little excras.
cence under the glove on the third fin
ger on the Girls left hand. Perhaps
they were engaged!A
The rain was beating down merci-
tessly now-thc penetrating, all.per.
vading rain of February. The windows
wero steamed and opaque and the
tracks we're twin canals OF sluggish
yellow water. The car stopped with
q jerk, and the conductor thrust his
head in.
Gar ahead, please" he said sOno.
rously.
With o sigh the women began to
pick up their bundles and gather their
skirts. This was IN imposition under
which the Wilkinsyllleites had long
groaned. The car, designated plainly
for Wilkinsvil1e, would, toward the
rush hours of the evening, take its pas
Bengers only a certain distance. Then,
relying on the liberation and lack OF
spirit Of the average suburbnnite, the
passengers were transferred to an.
other car, which might or might not
be waiting ahead. and the original a
was hurried back to town.
The Man took a hand. When one
has Just q%uarreled with the only girl,
and she has Just told him, quite frank.
~, that she does not care for him any
moro, he is in the best possible condi.
ton to take up a public grievance.
Look here" he said, stepping into
the doorway, don't get out, you PEG
pie. It says Wllkinsville or the front
of this car, and We ought to stay o. 1t
until It takes us to W~Ilkinsville."
The conductor reached his hand to
the bell rope. The motorman had ia,
ken his place at the reverse end of the
car. which was now ready to start to-
ward the city again.
"All out for Wilkinsville," said the
conductor. "Take the next car ahead"
An Irish laborer got up and picked
up his dinner bucket
Come on" he said. Yell do 1t,
anyhow, afther the other cars gone
The grr.reat American people Is nigh
II indepindint-on the Fourth Of
July"
he went out then, but the shaft had
told. One passenger stopped in the
aisle.
Il demand" he said, shat this car
take US to wilkinsville. II II doesn't
there will be trouble"
'Tguess there will be-" said the con-
ductor 'ff missin' your dinner viii be
trouble"
Then the Man spoke again.
Anyone who wishes to should get
out now and take the car ahead-lf