New Britain herald., 1915-12-09
Why Madge Made Dicky Change to
 Tho Car Ahead.

l Tho Car Ahead This way-Jamaica express. Way stations to Babylou.'
 1 We could still hear the man at 1 the train gate directing passengers as l we went leisurely down the steps and l over the platform to the waiting train. l was glad that we had plenty of time. I do so hate to be hurried when take l train, or, indeed, at any other time. "How can an express stop at way stations?''
 I asked the question idly. I knew it was inane, but Dicky was looking for the girl in the cerise hat, and I did not wish him to know I observed his interest. So I tried to make con- versation on any topic
 I've change at Jamaica'' Dic<y ex- plained patiently. his eyes rowing over the people on the platform. This train is an express to Jamaica. Then 1t goes on to Long Beach, by way of Lynbrook. At Jamaica we get a red upholstered horror of a coach in which we ride to Marvin It ambles on after that to a lot of other stations on the south side of the island. I've never been out that way, although I've heard it's a mighty interesting trip. We'll take it some time this summer"
 He guided me into a coach with it's clean rattan seats, but I gave a little exclamation of dismay as I saw that the coaches were like those of the ele- vated roads, four cross seats, accom- modating only 16 people in the mid- dle of the car, and the rest of the
 
 Of course there was a man in each of the corners of the four seats facing forward, the only seats in which I am really comfortable. Men always do that on the elevated trains, make a mad rush to pre-empt those com fortable seats, and I saw that the rule held good on this suburban coach.
 "what did you say?" asked DiclSv, as he motioned me to a seat on one of the side benches.
 Dick Is "All Eyes,"
 Nothing of any importance" I re- joined lightly, sitting down. I detest the kind of woman who is always trying to change seats, or to alter ar engagements made for her in travelling. I would rather suffer any inconven1- Cnce than to be so fuSSy
 At any other time Dicky would have pressed me for an answer to his ques- ton, would have insisted upon my tell ing him what I had said. But just then the girl in the cerise hat whom we had seen in the railway station, came through the door with the same air of legal unconsciousness of her surroundings that she had shown l1~4 miring and critical eyes in the waiting room.
 She carried in her hand a small travelling bag, which while not new had received such good care that it was not at all shabby. She spent no time in selecting a seat. but with an air of taking the first one available sat down directly opposite Dicky and me. depositing her bag close to her feet.
 As she sat down she calmly crossed her knees something which I hate to see a woman do in a public place.
 Gee, she has the hands and the feet all right
 Dicky has a trick of mumbling be- heath his breath, so that no one can detect that he is talking. save the person whose ear is nearest to him. 1t is convenient sometimes, but at other times it is most embarrassing, especially when he is making com ments upon people near us.
 "I don't blame her for elevating one foot above the other,'' Dcky rat tied on. "Not one woman in a thou sand can wear those white spats. She must have mighty small well-shaped 1, tootsies under them.'
 The girl sat looking straight ahead | of her. The crossing of her knees l revealed a swirl of sill1en petticoat. l and more than a glimpse of filmy silk l stockings.
 Her shoes were patent leather pumps. utterly unsuitable for a trip to the country. Over them she wore spats of the kind affected by so many girls.
 I had a sudden remembrance of times in my own life when a new pair of shoes was as impossible to attain as a whole wardrobe. l had sud- den intuition that the unsuitable pumps were like the rest of her clothes, left over from some former affuence. She had bravely made the best of them by covering them with the spats, which I knew she could obtain quite cheaply at some bargain sale.
 A Very Tactless Speech.
 "Iooks like ready money, doesn't she?" mumbled Dicky in my ear.
 nodded assent. Dicky's open ad- niration of the girl was beginning to get on my nerves. It was our first days outing together since our mar riage, an Dickys whole attention since