The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-01-24
A TRAIN EPISODE
sy MouLIE MArHER
Wspa per UnIon,l


DOB was determined that the girl
across from him in the train
nhould not depart on her way without
IN effort. upon his part. tn meet and
know her. tNfe
His sister Letty-and who. If not u
sister. is able to Judge u man?-said
that Bob was just tine best and most
unsslash person one could Imagine.
Lefty told her husband. despairingly,
that Bob hadn't an ounce Of romance
In his honest being--whereln Lefty
was wrong. She could not know OF
bis secret dreamS-dreams still left
from his flrst youth. And so now here.
b q tiresome train. was visualized at
last the object Of his dreaming. Per-
haps Miss Connie Carson had brought
these dreams to life, In the inadvert-
ence Of her smile. Taking her seat
opposite she had winsomely smiled at
the strange, big man regarding her.
That the smile had been promptly TAX
eA back left no remedy for Its dam
aging impression. The supposedly un-
romantic Bob sat blinking. thinking.
Beg pardon said the young woman
"T0r the moment I mistook you for II
friend of my brothsr's-sOmethIn
about your shoulders and your glasses,
maybsNbsS pardon" lF'r h
The young woman opened q magn-
siAs land absorbedly read. Miles
sfpped by--shen might be going to get
Of almost saywhere. and pass out Of
bly, lifsT~strsngeiy, desolatsa thought.
May K. asked Bob politely "Open
the, window for your These car win
dows are didicult." =, i-e,-i .,- 5
The young woman looked up, saw
Bcb's smbarra ssment, recognized with
skin born Of former encounters the
eagsrne0a Of his case.
Couldn't you think Of something
sriginalf' saacily asked Miss Connie
Carsoa. opening the window. mo.
thank you !; It's all right" Is, 4e
She returned to ter, magasins.
Feeling quite as foolish A. he now
looked, Bob. returned to his opposite
seat. 80. she thought him an ordi-
nary hirt.. He grinned A. such she
could not have squelched him more
completely. One hates ridicule.
The miles slipped by-she might be
getting OF anywhere-he had to know
her. Every moment her charm grew
upon him he was possessed of \ new
strange fancy that they understood
each other: that she was aware of his
admiration: knew it to be not Of
light sort; was making 1t hard for
him.
He approached, the apposite seat
frankly. His dark eyes troubled.
please" begged Bob. and then smiled
at his unusual request. ALLOW me
to talk to you for y few moments.
l know 1t would be something to re-
member the rest of my life. know
I'm talking like an idiot, but can't
seem to help it. l just cannot let you
go out of my life like this
The young woman calmly regarded
him. 81 haven't come into it yet." she
remarked.
The train came to sudden stop.
to ascertain the cause of delay. 1t
would be necessary to await the com
Ing of new engine; the conductor
explained the one in use had become
slightly disabled. The passengers sat
In their seats as patiently as they
might. Strangers heretofore found
friendly discussion concernIng the dis
abled engine and various personal at
fairs. But the one woman in the
world refused to make acquaintance
with her unknown admirer.
in an hour or So" she told Bob
coldly. I'VE shall be separated and un-
remembering. l do not like" added
Miss Connie Carson primly, "a stran-
ger who attempts to attract my no
tice-by any means" she further add
ed severely.
Crestfallen, Bob took deserted seat
Just before. He did not wish to re-
main where q lovely visiOn was ever
more firmly impressing itself upon his
consciousness, to his future unrest.
He closed his eyes. drew down his
hat brim; beneath the brim he still
seemed to see blue glancinG eyes. He
knew she was there behind, from the
rustling Of the magazine pages as she
turned them. The car gsve q sudden
tolt-lurched violently on its way.
Bob felt an obscuring blow-not a
painful one. Confusediy he groped at
the soft thing enveloplng his head
found other smaller hands endeavor-
ing to assist him. Then. oh unbeliev.
able His dream woman stood before
him, a heavy cloak in her arms.
"It fell from the rack" she said
She appeared less dependent: more
like q frightened child. Nevertheless
Bob spoke coldiy.
II dislike" he said. "a stranger to
attempt to attract my attention-by
any means"
They were laughing. "They tell
me-" Miss Connie Carson voiced her
fear, "that we are using the disabled
engine. temporarily repaired. Don,
you think that dangsrous"
ROh laoked grave huf his dsrk ava.