Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-23
Cupid Travels on a Pullman
ny PHOEBE SHEFFIELD

dow OF INC Pullman. Watching each f.
miliar landmark ny past. First, the
away: the Methodist Church followed
! suit: next. it was the negro sllanties
az the edge OF town, as II were. take
TO their heels, and, last of all, the COW
cred bridge disappeared from her
vision,
The sight of the covered bridge
brought back to her mind all that she
slcighing under its roof that she and
Billy Gaynor had their last quarrel.
Not their first by any means, for, some
how, quarrcliing with Billy seemed TO
be tho natural order OF things Ruth
often wondered if she really loved
Billy Gaynor. and if she could ever
ono OF the few eligible bachelors in
tho small town: in his dic,atorial way
Ruth supposed that tic loved her, and
life as an old maid WAS not alluring.
To the idea that this last was not
an honorable sentiment with which to
arproachh o the state Of matr,,"onS' Ruth
no one clse--but even here she fall
tered, for there had been someone else.
S long ago whe ns she as
almost succeeded in blo,tins out that
memory. Almost, but not quite.
n;in,tt any any rate nero she was leaving
where she had lived alone for several
years. and that memory. and actually
running away from IL b IL. she wOnlO
go far. far away, across the continent
to New York. make new friends. have
adventures. perhaps, and best OF all.
CSci pc the memory.
AS Ruth lay in the berth and planned
her future. il suddenly struck her that
tho wind was bowling about the train
pounding against the windows and
rafting off the roof She raised the
shade and looked out; but the binding
curtain through which she could see
nothing.
~ real blizzard" she said 10 herself
set caught just ahead in the noun
ms and, so thinking. she fell
asleep.
When she woke in the morning the
banked with snow and the porter was
busy reassurins eager passengers:
Yes. miss, were showed in. but the
But the now-plow did not come, and
u seemed TO Ruth as tho day wore on
that sho detected anxiety on the faces
Of the passengers. And the, blizzard
did not. stop. 1t ragged and howled
about the ca" as if delighted TO show
it's power 10 this sample OF cviliza-
tion caught in its wilderness.
The passengers now wore their coats,
blankets were provided by the porter
and the menus in the dining-ca car shrunll
perceptibly. 1t was while playing
hrdse a to Wills ahec away nt the hSur $, that
much bundled partner opposite at
tractcd her. and she looked up, star
tied, into eyes bent on hers. familiar
eyes they were. too. But their owner
gave no sign Of recognition, and his
opponent addressing him as Dr. Then
ton, brought Ruth back from her day
dream. But. she could not get those
hands out of her mind-ihe long, slim
fingers. the peculiar shape OF the nails.
and, most OF all, the scar across the
left hand, where he had cut himself
picnic and where old Dr. Thorn. who
fortunately happened to be present,
had handased the hand but had as.
sured David Sterry that he would
and Trenton are two different names,
and Ruth, shaking herself for "A goose,
confined her attention TO the game.
The next day the storm continued
much shorter and the trainmen plainly
anxious.
During the afternoon call came
from one of the cars for A doctor. 4
very sick baby needed attention DIR.
Trenton responded AZ once but in
short time he was back asking for
nurse. and Ruth, with her recent
training in first aid volunteered her
services.
ITS simply a case OF nursing. that's
all Or. Trenton explained, as they
hurried through the cars. The baby
has pneumonia, is very i'll and we have
no medicines. If you can help ME now
] snail stay with him tonight when
the worst is on"
1t was on the tip of Ruth's tongue 10
ask DIR. Trenton questions about him
self out the sight o. the baby drove
every question from her mind. And
how they worked, she and DR.. Trenton
Ruth refused 10 go to bed when night
came and in the semi-davkened car
with even the helpless mother asleep,
and the bowling winds and the beating
SNOW the only sounds. Ruth and DR..
Trenton battled for "A life
Toward morning ,hc battle was won.
the baby fell asleep and two exhausted
but happy persons cripped hands, un-
able TO speak. AS Dr. Trenton helped
knth 10 her own ear. great wave OF
JOY came over her. S-c could not cX-
plain II or accoun. for it, Something
in the Way he held her arm was dearly
familiar, Something-then as he
laughed out ~ a remark she made. she
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