New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-01-13

As she swept past, an escort, at
either elbow, Barbara stopped back
hastily. Faint perfume hung in the
air, The girl and the youths were
followed by an older man and Wo-
man whose eyes We're fixed on her
proudly. Barbara caught snatches Of
talk abou Yale University, football,
Thanksgiving holidays. The young
men seemed to be bidding for dates
during the holiday season.
Almost against her will, Barbara
followed them to the platform. a
porter came grinning. with the girls
bags, and the men fought for the
right TO tip him. At last they swung
her aboard and shouted fareWells as
the train pulled out. The girl stood
on the rear platform, waving her
handkerchief until the train round
Cd a curve and hid her from the
sroup on the platform.
Barbara turned back TO the wait
ing room. She entered it with lag.
cjng steps and strolled aimlessly
back and forth. At length she went
70 the newsstand and bought three
magazines and a very large and
brilliant box Of chocolates.
With these under her arm she re-
'lrned to the platform and found
.,er train waiting. She did not look
back as the train pulled away from
the depot.
She looked around for someone
who might prove an interesting
travelling companion.
The only persons in the car were
a half dozen stupid looking travelling
men and two women, one of them
an old woman with wavy white hau
and a brooch of twisted gold holding
a real lace collar; the other, a mid
, dle-aged woman, mannishly dressed
and weary eyed.
/ The older woman was doing with
her head dropping against the back
of the seat, and the younger one was
buried in a trade journal with a dull
gray cover.
Barbara went on eating her choco-
latcs. She explored the box Of candy
Investigated the silver covered
pieces. daintily sampled the tiny su.
gar perfume balls scattered through
! he layers.
She looked out the window as thC
last bit OF New Britain skyline fad.
cd out in the distance. She craned
her neck eagerly, for a sight OF the
tower on the Telegraph building, bu'
it was not visible.
The grandmother across the aisle
! had awakened and was watching
Barbara. When the girl turned ava!
from the window. she met the gaze
Of a pair of bright blue eyes over {
point lace collar. 1mpulsively. sh'
held out the box OF candy. The ole
woman hlushed delicately, took {
piece and thanked her.
ITS very nice candy" she said
nibbling it, Barbara smiled and prof
fered the box again:
Are you going far?" asked tht
woman formally.
ITO I;cw York" replied Barbara
with a faint suggestion OF pride.
"Oh, my, What a big city for yo,
70 be in alone! Or are you going +,
he with friends there"
Not until / make some friends,
said Barbara.
but don't you hate TO leave you
family?"
Il haven't any family. One plac
is as good as another"
The old woman looked curiously a
her but was politely silent. sh
went on nihbling the candy. Tn
going 10 visit my son in Bristol" sh
said. Her voice. too. was proud.
Hes cashier in a bank and h
has a real nice wife and three kid
dies. go 10 see them every fall.
have a lot of toys and things in m
satchel," She pointed TO an an
tiquatcG travelling bag in the oppo
site scat.
Barbara looked at her wrinkle
face, with its placid blue eyes abov
the little twisted gold pin.
Raymond always comes down {
. meet me in his closed automobile.
/ she added, contentedly. TITS wonder
full too have such 4 good son. don
know what I'd have done withou
him, after his father died. neve
had any other children except gil
, that died when she was just n baby.
She selected a chocolate-coverc
almond and bit into 1t carefully.
But you don't see him very Otter
} do you" asked Barbara.
| only once year. but know he