Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-01-31
CHAPTER III


bhiut lholAhhCu avery 10 the aisle,
where already some Of the passengers.
having settled their belongings In
their sections. were beginning 10 wan
der through the cars seeking ac-
quaintances or players 10 make up a
card game. Eaton took from bag
n 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 10 her father; DOrne
nodded but did not look up.
The observation room was nearly
empty. The only occupants were a
young woman who was reading a mag
azine, and an elderly man. Eaton
chose 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. II
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 II almlessly. TO the
reading table, turning over the maya
zines there; abandoning them he
gazed about as II bored then. with a
wholly casual manner. he came
toward Eaton and took the seat be-
side him.
"Rotten weather, isn't it," Avery
observed somewhat ungraciously.
Eaton could not well avoid n reply
TITS been getting worse" he com
mented, sever since we left Seattle"
"we're running into II. apparently"
Again Avery looked toward Eaton and
waited.
"Yes-lucl1y II we get through"
The conversation on Avery's part
was patiently forced; and II was
equally forced on Eaton's; neverthe-
less II continued. Avery introduced
the war and other subjects upon which
men. thrown together for a time. are
accustomed 70 exchange opinions. But
Avery did not do Il easily or natu-
rally; he plainly was OF the caste
whose pose II Is 20 repel, not seek,
overtures toward a chance acquaint-
ance. His lack OF practice was per-
fectly obvious when nc last he asked
directly: "Beg pardon, but I don't
think know your name"
Eaton was obliged 10 give Il.
"Aflne's Avery" the other offered;
"perhaps you heard It when we were
getting our berths assigned"
And again the conversation, enjoyed
by neither Of them, went on. Finally
the girl Mt the end OF the car rose and
passed them. as though leaving the
car. Avery looked up.
where are you going. Harryr
'T think someone ought to be with
Father"
'I'n 90 In Just a minute"
She had halted almost In front OF
them. Avery. hesltating as though he
ara not know what he ought TO do,
finally arose; and as Eaton observed
that Avery. having introduced him
self. appeared now 10 consider II his
duty TO present Eaton 10 Harriet
Dorne. Eaton also arose. Avery muir
INJURED the names. Harriet Dorne.
resting her hand on the back or
Avery's chair. Joined In the CONVEX
sation. As he replied easily and In
terestedIy 10 a comment of Eaton's'
Avery suddenly reminded her Of her
father. After a minute, when Avery
still ungraclous and still irritated
over something which Eaton could not
ruess-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 a girl TO make a mans acquaint-
ance directly, says nothing against
her making II through the medium OF
another man-had been so unnatu-
raIIv done that Eaton understood that
Harriet Dorne deliberately had ar
ranged 10 make his acquaintance and
that Avery, angry and objecting, had
been overruled.
she seemed 10 Eaton less alertly
hovish now than she had looked an
hour before when they had boarded
the train. Her cheeks were smoothly
rounded. her lips rather fun. her
Iashes very long. He could not look
mo without looking directly at her, for
her chair. which had not been moved
since Avery left II. was at an angle
with his own.
To avoid the appearance OF study
ing her too openly. he turned slightly
50 that his gaze went past her to the
white turmoil outside the windows.
sIt's wonderful" she said "isn't itr'