The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-04
CHAPTER III,
MIs. porne Meet. Eaton.

where already some Of the passengers
having settled their belongings in
their sections, were beginning to wan
der through the cars seeking ac-
quaintances or players to make up a
card game. Eaton took from bag
handful of cigars with which he
filled a plain, uninitialed cigar case,
and went toward the club and obser-
walton car in the rear. AS he passed
through the sleeper next to him-the
last one-Harriet Dorne glanced up
at him and spoke to her father; Dorne
nodded but did not look up.
The observation room was nearly
empty. The only occupants were
young woman who was reading mag
aZine, and an elderly man. Eaton
chose a seat as far from these two as
possible.
He had been there only few min
utes, however, when, looking up, he
saw Harriet Dorne and Avery enter
the room. They passed him. engaged
in conversation, and stood by the rear
door looking out into the storm. 1t
was evident to Eaton, although he did
not watch them, that they were argu-
ing something; the girl seemed insist
ent, Avery irritated and unwilling.
Her manner showed that she won her
point finally. She seated herself in
one Of the chairs, and Avery left her.
He wandered, as If aimlessly, to the
reading table, turning over the maya
zines there; abandoning them, he
gazed about as If bored; then, with
wholly casual manner, he came
toward Eaton and took the seat be-
side him.
"Rotten weather, isn't it7" Avery
observed somewhat ungraciously.
Eaton could not well avoid reply.
ITS been getting worse" he COM
mented, lever since we left Seattle"
"We're running into 1t, apparently"
Again Avery looked toward Eaton and
waited.
"Yes-lucky If we get through"
The conversation on Avery's part
was patiently forced; and It was
equally forced on Eaton's; neverthe-
less 1t continued. Avery introduced
the war and other subjects upon which
men, thrown together for time, are
accustomed to exchange opinions. But
Avery did not do 1t easily or natu.
rally; he plainly was Of the caste
whose pose 1t is to repel, not seek,
overtures toward chance acquaint-
ance. His lack Of practice was per-
fectly obvious when at last he asked
directly: BEG pardon, but I don't
think know your name."
Eaton was obliged to give it.
mines Avery" the other offered;
perhaps you heard 1t when we were
getting our berths assigned"
And again the conversation, enjoyed
by neither Of them. went on. Finally
the girl at the end Of the car rose and
passed them, as though leaving the
car Avery looked up.
Where are you going, HarryT
II think someone ought to be with
Father"
"I'll go In just minute"
She had halted almost in front of
them. Avery, hesitating as though he
did not know what he ought to do,
finally arose; and as Eaton observed
that Avery, having introduced him
self, appeared now to consider 1t his
duty to present Eaton to Harriet
DOrne, Eaton also arose. Avery mur-
INJURED the names. Harriet DOrne,
resting her hand on the back of
Avery's chair, Joined in the conver-
sation. AS he replied easily and in
terestedly to comment of Eaton's,
Avery suddenly reminded her of her
father. After a minute, when Avery
still ungracious and still irritated
over something which Eaton could not
guess-rather abruptly left them, she
took Avery's seat; and Eaton dropped
Into his chair beside her.
Now, this whole proceeding-though
within the convention which, forbid
ding girl to make mans acquaint-
ance directly, says nothing against
her making 1t through the medium Of
another man-had been so unnatu-
rally done that Eaton understood that
Harriet Dorne deliberately had ar
ranged to make his acquaintance, and
that Avery, angry and objecting, had
been overruled.
She seemed to Eaton less alertly
boyish now than she had looked an
hour before when they had boarded
the train. Her cheeks were smoothly
rounded, her lips rather full, her
lashes very long. He could not look
up without looking directly at her, for
her chair. which had not been moved
since Avery left 1t, was at an angle
with his own.
To avoid the appearance Of study.
ing her too openly. he turned slightly,
SO that his gaze went past her to the
white turmoil outside the windows.
MAJ At M