Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-12

Vdlnly TO lessen tue QOuT ASPECT VI ASs
two coaches. Painting, he entered the
rear coach and threw himself and his
bag into a seat.
Five seconds later he glanced across
the aisle and discovered in the oppo-
site seat Miss Cynthia Meyrick, &C.
companied by a very sleepy family!
He considered moving to another
seat. But such q theatric act could
only increase the embarrassment. AL
ready his presence had been noted
Aunt Mary had given him glare,
Spencer Meyrick a scowl, the girl a
cloudy vague where have seen this
person before?" glance in passing.
Might as we'll make the best of 1t.
He setted himself in his seat. Once
again, as on another railroad car, he
sought to keep his eyes on the land
scape without-the dim landscape
with the royal palms waving like grim
ghosts In the half light. The train
, sped on.
A most uncomfortable situation! If
only it would grow light! It seemed
so silly to be forced to find the view
out the window enhancing while 1t
was still very dark.
Spencer Meyrick went forward to
the smoker. Aunt Mary, weary of
life, slid gently down to slumber. Her
unlovely snore filled the dim car.
How different this from the first
ride together! The faint pink of the
sky grew brighter. Now Minot could
see the gray moss hanging to the ever
green's. and here and there a squalid
shack where human beings lived and
knew nothing of life. And beside him
he heard a sound as Of a large body
being shaken. Also the cultural pro.
test of Aunt Mary at this inconsider'
ate treatment.
Aunt Mary triumphed. Her snore
rose to shatter the smoky roof. Three
times Minot dared to look, and each
time wished he hadn't. The whole SKY
was rosy now. Somewhere off behind
the horizon the good old sun was ris'
| ing to 20 to work for the passenger
department of the coast railroad.
Some sense in looking out now
Minot saw a shack that seemed famil'
iar-then another. Next station,
hearing on it's sad single the CHEEKY
name of Sunbeam And close to the
station, gloomy in the dawn, a. dessl'
Gated chauffeur beside an aged auto.
mobile.
Minot turned quickly, and caught
CYNTHIA Meyrick in the act OF peerlng
over his shoulder She had seen the
chauffeur too.
The train had stopped a moment,
but was under way again. In those
brown eyes Minot saw something
wistful something hurt--saw things
that moved him to put everything to
sudden test. He leaped to his feet
and pulled madly at the bell cord. =.
"What-what have you done!'
Startled she stared at him.
"I've stopped the train. I'm going
to ride to Jacksonville as rode to
San Marco-ages ago. I'm not gong
alone"
"Indeed?"
"Ouick. The conductor will be here
in a minute. Here's card and pen
cil-write note for Aunt Mary. say
voull meet them In Jacksonville!
Hurr, please!' s:u,,.,
"Ope last ride together. One last
chance for me toto set things right
If can
IF you can
TT admit it. Won't you give me
the chance? thought you would be
game. I dare you!'
For a second they gazed into each
others eyes. The train had come 10
stop, and Aunt Mary stirred frettul l!,
in her sleep. With sudden decision
Cynthia Meyrick wrote on the caro-
and dropped it on her slumberlng rela'
tive. -. ;, u,o
Il know I'll be sorry-hut---' she
gasped. s,o+ou,s
Hurry. This way. The conductors
coming there!'
Moment later they stood together
m the platform of the Sunbeam sta'
tion. while the brief little train dis
appeared Indignantly in the distance.
"You shouldn't have made me o'