South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-23

] NlulSlue, lneTe was a DlaChneSS,
pierced, now and then by the dart
ing lights that cleaned an instant
and were gone forever. All the
night seemed rushing past to make
room for the maddened thing that
sped into its depths, while inside.
/ the lights and comfort of the par
lOr-car formed an odd contrast
! But the soft luxury OF the car pass
1 ed unnoticed by one of lis occup-
ants II was only the ever-chang-
ing glimpse Of life and lights that
| interested her. From the blurred
busting of the towns, out into the
still vastness of the country, and.
still unsatisfed, on to some town
Iagain-the restlessness and the
/ power fascinated her and she
thrilled at her own feeling of free
dom and accomplishment. She had
! left that narrow, deadening
existence forever, and from now
she was ION her own"
She thought, with a happy aloof-
ness, OF all that she was leaving
The narrow life, the stagnation. the
security of il all came back to her
She had had her friends and her
some day, she would have married
and have gone having her friends
and her clothes and her good times
with the addition of a husband.
And now she was all alone.
1t is not a very far step from in
dependence to desolation. Was
this idea that had been the biggest
and most revolutionary thing in her
life merely a mood? Suddenly, she
felt withered and little and incap-
able and most unutterably afraid
She had not been reared for that
sort OF thing and she could not
change herself She was made to
be protected and demure-she
would have TO remain protected and
demure.
To get away from all the seeth-
ing uncertainty and despair, she
went into the dining car. She had
figured that if she got off at
Rochester. the next station. she
would still have enough for her fare
home and 50 over for dinner Her
! plan was 10 come into the house.
perfectly naturally, in the morning
and Aunt Rosa would think she had
spent the night with Marion. as she
had planned. Yes. it would all be
| the same as before and Josephine
Dent would again be a pretty. sweet
| young girl. whom every one liked
little and nobody cared for par
ticularly
The dining car was full and
Josephine had 20 take a table with
n pale, fiuttering woman. with
large. appealing eyes and a very
sweet smile. Josephine was max
I ing out her order when she heard
the gentle and rather embarrassed
voice OF this person.
After Josephine had thanked her
| informer and followed her advice
/ foolishly enjoining the waiter to
hurry. the timid little woman
seemed inclined TO sink hack into
silence. But Josephine craved some
sort Of companionship.
I'm not used 10 ordering on
trains" she laughed "And I don't
know what's usually good"
"Oh. I don't know. either" re
! piled her companion. I've never
travelled alone before and I'm quite
alarmed"
/ Josephine started a little. II
! seemed as II n mirror had been held
up her and she shrank at what IL
! revealed.
This is my first time too" she re-
piled But I find Il fascinating"
/ "Oh. do you ," The little woman
/ looked wonderingly at Josephine.
/ I'm going 10 see my husband be
/ fore he sails" she added. ''I wouldn't
I go for any other reason. Oh. don't
= know what I'll do when he's gone
We'll. you must be cheerful for