Middletown transcript., 1922-11-04
BY MILDRED WHITE
H.s,aoooaH:He csoso6oso0oasatsc0a.

the "busses" We're of disreputable ap-
| pearance, their drivers an indiffer-
ent lot. And it was dark and in a
big, strange city. An eager looking
| young man smiled hopefully from his
seat on shining Lizzie
Julie approached. The street light
shone on her upraised face.
| "Taxi?" he inquired.
"Jitney?" she asked this time.
The young man smiled-a quick, re-
| Sponsive smile.
| Julie came nearer. How much
would you charge to take me out to
2224 Ogden Park?"
1.-TWO dollars" he said.
But surely you would not charge
| the same price to carry one in this
| this"
Cheap bus?" the young man fin.
ished for her. "Well, since you put
| it that way, just how much, madam,
did you expect to pay?"
| Il have" she confided, exactly one
dollar and four cents in my purse"
The driver opened wide the door.
step in," he offered genially, "Tu
take you out to 1924 Ogden" Julie
stepped in.
Your jitney is really nice and COM
fortable,' she ventured from her snug
corner on the back seat.
I'm glad you find it so," the young
man agreeably replied. 81 am en-.
engaged to drive it,"
1T is well that the city can offer SO
many jitneys," Julie said, OTHERWISE
what would her people do in this
plight?"
The rest Of the long ride was ac-
complished In silence, for 1924 Ogden
Park Is very far out in the suburbs;
but the great gates of her aunt's beau
tiful home were reached at last and
the driver waited with her in the en-.
trance until Il maid opened the door
Then, most surprisingly, before Julie
could hand him the dollar ready In
her glove the man disappeared. When
she had raced breathleSsly after him
to the gates, she could merely see the
Lizzie rounding a corner. She thought
over the occurrence as she prepared
wearily for her nights sleep. No
doubt he took her for a girl in search
of employment. Later, the moonlight
flooding her pillow, she awakened from
an unpleasant dream. The young man
of the hired jitney and she We're driv-
Ing down rose-bordered path. He
was telling her not to worry over the
sad fact of her poverty, for he would
take care of her.
Roses We're nodding from the vine
about the easement window of aunt's
guest room. 1t was their perfume, she
decided, that was accountable for the
dream. Aunt Tilden returned the next
morning, impatient with the daughter,
who had called her.
Nothing but little Indigestion"
she told Juliet testify.
"Now, my dear" let me see what
you are going to wear to my party.
l know of one very nice young man
who will be present. And l do not
mind telling you now, that his future
prospects will even suit your merce-
nary mother. John Meredith is in mod
est circumstances now, but it is this,
his wisdom of economy, which has in
tiuenced his bachelor uncle to make
young John not only his future heir,
but decided to give him now every
advantage in his profession. John Is
very new doctor. Make your usual
impression-there must come a time,
when you will be happily interested,
yourself"
John will take you In to supper"
said aunt the night of the party.
jules heart sank when she looked up
at the companion who claimed her.
For miraculously seated upon her other
side was the smiling person of last
nights jitney drive. Juliet's amaze
ment was soon relieved to pleased ac-
quaintance. The young man awaited
no Introduction.
~ am here by invitation" he laugh
ingly assured her, friend of your
aunt's. In fact it was she who sent
me to meet you last night, when she
found she must go away. And 1t was
my own modest car that you maligned
though you will realize that 1t was
true that I was engaged then as
driver. And say, 1t was a silly trick
to pretend, but you did condescend tod
me In such queenly manner-and
oh, well, what's the use trying to ex-
plain away my fOolishness? Are you
going to forgive me? That's the main
thing. ! had dream last night
queer coincidence too," the young
man was telling her later, "about that
drive Of ours and"
Julie remembered suddenly her
neglected companion.
"If only" she thought this delight |
full young man Of last nights adyen-
ture might change places with the
man of aunt's choice" "What is |
your name?" she asked the jitney
driver.
John Meredith. The professor there
on your right got mixed in his dinner
companion"
Past and Present.
A New York city official, as the
story is going the rounds, was walk
ing through City Hall park with one
of his commissioners. AS they passed
the statue Of Nathan Hale, who stands
with his hands behind his back, the
commissioner said:
'Mr. Official, don't you think that
statue of Nathan Hale is a beautiful
vfaao ~ u,arly l