The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-02-06
even this failed to absorb his atten-
ton. He was trying to evolve a


Not long after NJ. L. V. arose as II
bent on going to the dining car for
dinner. and Hezekiah followed. Al
the doO$ of the car he waited while
Nj. l.. V. seated herself at one of the
only three tables that were vacant.
Hezekiah beckOned the head waiter
to him and slipped In the palm Of his
hand enough silver to win his aliegi-
ance There were q few words In an
undertone, and then Hezekiah followed
the waiter down the aisle.
I'm sorry. sir-professor. but these
two vacant tables are, so to speak, re-
served, and the other table wouldn't be
safe. There Is something the matter
with the chairs there. ! wouldn't
hardly want you to sit there; so since
you are In such hurry. professor. I
am going to ask this lady here If she
will let you sit at her table. Thank
you. ma'am." And M. l.. ". with a
| gracious smile made Hezekiah feel
that he was entirely welcome.
There seemed to be no awkward
bitches In what followed. Hezekiah
accompanied nj. L. v. back to the
car where their chairs were located.
and instead of sitting In his own
chair, he took one that belonged TO
passenger who had abandoned his
In favor of the smoker.
They talked about all sorts Of
things, but Hezekiah did not men,
ton his work as professor nor his
university interests, nor did NJ. l.. V.
say anything that would indicate I'M
due pride i'm her social position.
Yet he had the vision of the array
Of hat boxes before him and the other
pieces Of smart luggage. He recalled
that his sister, who was looked upon
as extremely eXtravagant, never had
but two trunks and one hatbox in
her travels. Her dressmaker's bills
had been the despair Of his tight-fsted
grandfather. How large would
mans income have to be. he asked
himself, to justify him in asking
girl who had all that luggage to marry
him?
inadvertently Hezekiah mentioned
that he was, after night and a day
In the next town, going to make his
way on to the East. M. l.. ". blushed
and said that her plans were the
same. So they met and they became
as intimate as 1t is possible for two
people who have. no, real knowledge
Of each others identity to become.
And Of course the psychological mo-
ment came. That Is, 1t was the mo-
ment when, according to HeZekiah, he
could no longer endure the suspense
of not knowing whether the charming
NJ. l.. V. returned in measure the re-
gard that he was showerlng upon her.
1t was on their third trip together |
They had met without either knowing |
that the other was to continue tray
cling eastward, and Hezeklah, for his |
part, explained away any suspicious
that might have made NJ. L. V. suspect
that he was In reality so low-brow
an individual as travelling salesman
by saying that he was out on visit
TO some college professors on some i'm
portant commission for his university.
The college professors" in question
were hardware retailers and his uni
was the wash-boiler factory es-
tabllshed by his grandfather.
Hezekiah had not thought out just
what he would say by way of making
the final explanation he had decided /
that he would have to know whether
NJ. l.. V. cared for him. If she did,
perhaps she would care enough to for
give his deceit If she did not-well,
then, he would never have to explain,
and she would go on thinking of him
rs very learned individual.
When he told her Of his regard
they were going 'at the rate of sixty
miles an hour over smooth stretch
Of rail-she turned perceptibly paler.
He had said: 81 knew from The first II
that you had all sorts of money-and
that you were high i'm society. | saw II
the trunks, I remember, and thought II
that my sister, whom I had though
had all the clothes any woman could
want, never had quarter as much
know all that, and yet ]
am having the nerve to ask you TO
think Of me rs a possible husband"
". |
please, don't ask me why. But
would rather never let our-our friend.
ship go any further If do you will
hate me-" Il
Hezekiah leaned across the gap that
between their Pullman
hairs. 81 could never hate you, little
GIRL" he said, and there was warmth
n his voice that surprised even him
self.
swell. then. III tell you. You'll Zee
now you and l could never-never go
my further. have never had much /,
If an education and you are so learned
we read what good books could. and
Ill that, out It isn't the same. And !
hen, you see, I'm a travelling sales
woman. ! sell hats for big New {
York milllner-those are the boxes Of
sample hats that you saw"
10 instinct Lower Gift? I
IT, a ra acnuotnnal v,artapa 40 |