The Washington herald., 1920-12-26

and widespread repute-had intro
duced himself to the lady passenger,
she had, herself, sweetly breathed a
name. in response, that the hearing
or the male passengers had various
iy Interpreted. In the not unjealous
spirit OF rivalry that eventuated,
each clung stubbornly to his own
theory.
For the lady passenger to have
reasseverated or corrected would
nave seemed didactic If not unduly
solicitous of a specific acquaintance.
therefore the lady passenger per-
mitted herself to be Garlanded and
McFarlanded and Solomoned with
equal and discreet complacency. 1t
is thirty-five miles from Paradise to
Sunrise City. Compagnon de voyage
is name enough. by the gripsack of
the Wandering Jew. for so bries a
journey.
Soon the little party of wayfarers
were happily seated in a cheerful
arc before the roaring fire. The
robes. cushions, and removable por-
tons of the coach had been brought
in and put to service. The lady
passenger chose a place near the
hearth at one end of the arc. There
she graced almost throne that her
subjects had prepared. She sat upon
cushions and leaned against an
empty box and barrel, robe bespread
which formed a defense from the
invading draughts. She extended
her feet. delectably shod. T. the
cordial heat. She ungl0-ed her
hands, but retained about her neck
her long fur boa. The unstable
n a m . had xrl Ia.
ing boa half submerged. her fecc-
a youthful face. altogether feminine.
clearly moulded and calm with
beauty's unchallenged confidence.
Chivalry and manhood We're here
vying to please and comfort ner. She
seemed to accept their devOIrs-not
piQuantly, as one courted and at
tended; nor preeningly, as many Of
her sex, unworthily reap their
honor: nor yet stolidly, as the OK
receives his hay; but concordantly
with natures own plan-as the lily
ingests the drop of dew foreordained
TO its refreshment.
Outside the wind roared nightly.
the fine snow whizzed through the
cracks, the cold besiegod the backs
VI the inundated six; but .he ele
ments did not lack a champion thai
night. Judge Menefee was attor-
ney for the storm. The weather wa
his client, and he strove by special
pleading TO convince his compan-
ions in that frigid jury-boX that
they sojourned in a bower of roses.
beset only by benignant zephyrs.
He drew upon a fund of gaiety, wit.
and anecioIe, sophistical, but
crowned with success. His cheer
fn1naRs
sistibly. Each one hastened to con-
tribute his quota toward the gen
eral optimism. Even the lady pas
senger was moved to expression.
Il think it quite charming" she
said, in her slow, crystal tones.
At intervals some one of the pas
sengers would rise and humorously
explore the room. There was little
evidence to be collected of it's habi-
,tation by old man Redruth.
Bildad Rose was called upon vi
vaciously for the former hermit's
history. Now, since the stage driv-
er's horses were fairly comfortable
and his passengers appeared to be
so, peace and comfy returned TO
him.
The old didapper," began Bildad,
somewhat irreverently, Infested
this here house about twenty years.
He never allowed nobody to come
nigh him. He'd duck his head in
side and slam the door whenever
team drove along. There was
spinning wheels up in his loft. all
right. He used to buy his grocer
les and tobacco at Sam Tilly's store,
on the bittle Muddy. Last August
ne, went up there dressed in a red
IA nd N@lz
solomon, and that the Queen of
Sheba was coming to visit him. He
fetched along all the money he had
"a little bag full of siiver-and
dropped it IN Sans well. She won't
cope, says old man Redruth to
Sam, II she knows I've got any
money
AS soon as folks heard he had
that sort of theory about women
ana money they~knowed he was
crazy SO they sent down and pack
ed him to the foolish asylum"
as there romance in his life |
that drove him to a solitary exist
enceF asked one of the passengers.
young man who had an Agency.
NO., said Bildad, mot that L ever
heard spoke of. Just ordinary |
trouble. They say he had had un-
tortunateness IN the way of love
deran gements with a young lady
when he was young; before he con-
tracted red bed quilts and had his
hnancial conclusions disqualified. III
never heard of no romance"
All" exclaimed Judge Men,fee, |
"a case of unrequitted |
affection, no doubt"
\ No, sir. returned Bildad, mot |
at all, She never married him.
Marmaduke Mulligan, down at Par
adise. seen, a man once that come
from old Redruth's town. He said
Redurth was q dne Young man hut