The Washington herald., 1916-08-01
DAILY SHORT STORY.
A CHANGE OF MIND.
BY EARL REED sILyERx

| DlcS stevens, looking at the letter In
his hand, frowned darkly.
"It's from my sister" he Informed bis
roommate. She's going to bring q girl
home with her for the spring vacation. d"
Well What Of it?" Jack ASkley
stretched indoiently on the cushioned
window seat.
What of it?" Dick threw the letter on
the desk. You don't know my sister,
do you? Well, she's a hlghbrow in Vas
sar, and whenever she comes home she
| brings along sons bsspessled old maid
| who talks about new thought, or hygiene
or something else that don't know any
! thiag about And I'm always the one
selected to entertain her. Imagine be-
lng eeoped up in town like Linden with
an old maid in the same house with you
and not a thing to do except talk"
why don't you 60 home with me2'
II can't. We've never been separated
| on Easter, and dad is set on the idea Of
having US all together. I'm doomed.
guess"
cant YOU come the day after Eastern"
by George, SO / eanl' Dick looked up
hopefully. "Iii go to New York to
| visit you next Monday"
"All right, I'll be looking for you"
Jack glanced at his watch. iiYeu'd bet
ter hustle il you're going TO get that
train"
why don't you come along as far as
New York with meT'
I'D like to, but I've got an examination
to pass before leave"
We'll. so Ions" he said. "See you
next week" His eyes fell upon the letter
lying an the desk. Oh. Yes." he added,
nay loving sister told me to keep a
lockout for Miss Mary Hughes at Pough-
keepsie. She's the girl who's coming to
see us. and is expected to take the same
train that l do. Sis went down yester-
day"
The name sounds rather old maidish," d"
go, he added teasingly. Well have a
good time, and give my regards to Miss
Hughes"
Dick secured a Pullman seat at AL
bany, and gave his attention to a paga-
zine until Poughkeepsie was reached.
Then, however. he looked intsrestedly
out of the window. Vassar girls. dressed
In all their spring fnery. were crowding
on the train. Only two seats were empty
in his car, and Dick wondered who was
destined TO fill them, especially as one
was directly opposite his own.
Two girls entered the car. One had
| blue eyes, the color of the sky on a per-
feet June day. The other wore spectacles
and carried a book on Modern Philoso-
ply" The girl with the blue eyes sat
opposite him. and the one with the spec
tacles took the vacant seat farther down
the car. The train started, but Dick
Stevens did not turn again to his maya
zine. The girl across the aisle looked
ever at him and SO he put the magazine
awsy in his bag.
Then fifteen minutes went before any
| thing happened. Finally Dick toek a
chance.
TITS rather tiresene riding" he polun-
teered, wheeling in his chair.
Yes. it is" 1t really wasn't what she
said that counted SO much; 1t was the
way she said it.
Would you like something to read?'
NO, thank you. 1t hurts my eyes to
read on the train"
DO you mind IL talk to your Dicks
eyes looked frankly into her own, and
| the girl smiled family.
why, no, not at ALL" she answered
| frankly. 1T will help to break the mo-
notony of the trip"
Thank you!" Dick smiled whimsically.
What shall we talk about?"
Anything you say"
We'll Pm going to tell you my name
first. I'm Dick Stevens, and I live In
Linden, n. j." She started slightly, but
he failed to notice it. I'm going home
for a vacation in the dsadest place on
earth"
Why" she ssid-and there was a de-
cided twinkle in her eyes-"rve heard
something about Linden. always
thought it was quite nice little place" :"
ut is. sometimes" Dick admitted, but
! It won't be for me this vacation"
"Whyr
We'll, my sisters a senior at Vassar;
maybe you know her-Betty Stevens"
The girl looked interested. Every yaea-
ton she brings home some highbrow
| whom have to entertain. The girls she
brings always wear glasses and talk
about stuff / can't understand"
That's too bad" She looked at him
sympathetically. DO you know who
she's going TO have this timer"
"Yes, a girl named Mary Hughes. You
can tell by her name that she's an old
maid" His eyes fell upon the bespec-
tacled individual who sat at the other end
of the car. II shouldn't be at ali sur
Irised II it was that young lady over
there" he said slowly. DO you know
| her,
Yes" His companion grinned. That's
Miss Hughes of the senior class"
II knew it" Dick sighed. But I'll
only have to be with her for two days"
| Why is that?"
Pm going 20 New York the day after
| Easter to visit my roommate, Jack Aek-
ley, Horses and chariots couldn't keep
me in Linden with any Of my sister's
friends
"Thats a rather mean thing to do
leaving your sister In the lurch-tsn't itY"