The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-03-13
SHIPS
BY MoLLIe mATHeR
20. 1924. western Newspaper Union,

THHE conductor came through the
train explaining that heavy drift
of snow along the tracks had caused
the delay. The snow had been unusual
ly heavy, coming suddenly in great
sheets, blown by driving wind. But
the passengers were not alarmed; the
diner would supply their need of food,
and the cars were warm and comfort
able.
Janey, closing her magazine, looked
through the window down country
road. She thought 1t would be refresh
ing to walk that white sunny way, and
her fur coat was warm. So she re-
placed the small dark hat on her wavy
hair and stepped briskly from the
platform.
Now, as she walked the white sunny
way she was thinking, ruefully, that
there would be no one to welcome her
back to the small apartment-no one
to give smiling word Mother had
always awaited her homecomings
eagerly, father following with his
quiet but loving welcome. The rooms
above the music store would be quite
empty, echoing their loneliness With
her customary happy spirit Janel
turned from somber reflections to
thought of cheer "I'll find some red
mountain-ash berries" she deter
mined.
Janey found the mountaln-ash ber-
ries; she had glimpsed the dropping
tree from afar. A flock Of winter
hungry birds vanished, chattering at
her approach. Janey was not very
tall; she had to reach to touch the
lowest llmb-and then could not quite
make 1t. A pleasing voice accosted
her-"May assist your" the voice
asked, and the owner of the voice
raised easily his strong arm to her
aid. She stood, branch in her hand.
stripping from 1t tendrils Of scarlet
bloom. The man reached for more.
He smiled down at Janey. "They are
CHEEKY in this white coldness," he said.
Were you detained in the train?
thought so. l, too, decided upon a
country walk"
Ianey smiled in turn her thanks.
She liked the frank brown eyes of this
obliging stranger; liked the breadth of
his manly shoulders and the natural
courtesy of his manner. They retraced
their steps carward.
The young man had come on from
the Cousins city. where Janey had
been stopping, and conversation proved
that he knew, in business way, the
cousins husband. The young mans
name was Bruce Cary, and civil en-
gineering his trade; this came in nat
ural confidence, as the long walk
brought them together, and the fact
Of Janey's city residence was also
communicated. II could not keep up
my old home, you know" she told
Bruce Cary. with the number of mu-
sic pupils one may find in a small
town."
1t did not occur to either that conf
dences given freely to strangers was
far from their custom. Simply, and
unatcountably, each realized the 9TH
er's true and comforting interest.
Janey had read somewhere that love
was like that-you felt that you had
known the loved one indefinitely.
The man, helping her up the train
steps, relaxed his assisting arm with
strange regret. And when he asked
the pleasure of sharing her car seat
during the rest of the journey Janey
gave consent joyfully.
Bruce Cary's journey did not end
with Janey's destination; he told her
this. regret In the tone that SO pleased
her. Sometime" he begged, bending
closer, "you will let me stop over to
see you In the little music studio that
is your homer"
Janey shook her head at has been
very delightful. meeting this way" she
said. II, at least, have passed a
happy hour. But. after all, we are
strangers to each other, going our sep
arate ways. If, as time passes, my
work is happier for the memory Of
this winter afternoon, If the red ber-
ries bring recollection Of your kind
ness, your sympathetic understanding
to me, why, that will be enough"
Janey smiled wistfuIly into the
eager eyes regarding her.
"Please," she begged, "do not try to
persuade me otherwise. 1t will be
better so. Ships you know, that
pass"
The man repeated slowly. "'Then
darkness again, and a silence think
not that, my little friend. However,
now. your way. Good-by until we
meet again."
The cold apartment was cold and
desolate. Even the crimson berries
and the glowing lamp could not re-
lieve the gloom. Janey touched the
piano KEYS: minor chord mock ed
her. II suppose" she told herself
tremulously, this Is the darkness and
the silence"
The days went on. 1t was inexplic-
able how one voice, newly learned,
could haunt with thrilling cadence;
how the glance Of one pair of dark
eyes could eclipse all eyes that had
haen hefora In mamorv