Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-08-17
SHE WAS
SLIGHTLY
MISTAKEN

Il as the train pulled into Hell
ena Congratulations" she
added, mischlevously, "I'll hurry out
SO as not to embarrass you when
congratulate him."
What do you meanT asked her
companion, opening her hazel eyes
wide with surprise, either real or sim.
ulated Ida thought the latter and
laughed, saying, while putting on her
hat, "Oh! You didn't fool anybody
when you announced you were going
to visit your aunt In Seattle. We all
knew just about the time George was
expecting to sail for China. Still,
don't know why you wanted to pass
up big wedding, unless you thought
1t more romantic to elope. What a
joke, though, that I should strike the
same train on my way home from Wis
iting mother"
The other woman laughed mirth.
lessly as she said, "Your wild conjec.
lures are a bigger Joke. George Put
nam proposed to Elsie Green, at the
Dalton masquerade, and-got turned
uoMbi ubh Wuhl any .
leavings."
81 don't believe it." cried Ida, In
dignantly. "He has been daffy over
you for year."
"Over my money, you mean" was
the cynical rejoinder, "but Elsie has
more"
For shame, Joan. George isn't
that kind Of man. Somebody has
been trying to make trouble between
you. He didn't propose to Elsie
Green"
ASK him." tainted Joan, you say
he is on the platform"
Il WILL" retorted Ida, fiounclng out
of the pullman, without even bidding
her fellow traveller good-by.
Left alone, Joan sank back in her
seat and closed her eyes entirely alb
sorbed in her painful reflections.
George Putnam filled her mind, and
she smiled derisively although tears
weled up In her eyes. She finally
reused herself as the voice of the por-
ter's ''las call for lunch" rang through
the car; then she rose, languldly, and
| followed him into the diner.
The dinlngcar conductor seated her
at table where a man was reading
newspaper that effectually con
cealed his face. Two or three min.
utes later the waiter brought his or.
der, when he put down the paper, and
Joan found herself face to face with
George Putnam.
She flushed, then bowed formally
murmurlng his name. He returned
her salutation with great composure
saying, ida told me you were on this
train. was going to look you up aft
err lunch, as could see no reason why
rejected sutton should consider him
| self a pariah"
made no answer, merely folded and
unfolded her napkin nervously and
fingered the cutlery by her plate
Her brain was In such a turmoil
that she could not converse intelli
gently. She looked out of the win
dow, but the wind blew the engine
smoke so that at times 1t entirely
yelled the landscape and she really
saw nothing. As she kept her eyes
turned toward the window he could
watch her unobserved. A shadow
crossed his handsome face as he noted
her golden red hair, matchless com
plexlon and 1.-THE, graceful figure, and
the dlmple that nestled so close to the
sweet red lips.
He fingered over his luncheon and
gave an extra order so as not to finish
before her. AS she began to eat he
caught her eyes turned on his face
with speculative expression In their
depths, which was easy for him to un
derstand after his conversation with
Mrs. Allen.
They left the diner together, and
as they reached the outside platform,
he said, resolutely, ~ want to explain
about the Dalton masquerade, Joan
Get your wraps and we'll go out on
the back platform of the observation
car, where we can, probably. have
chance for private conversation. as II
is pretty cold this afternoon"
His assurance nettled her. II was
In her mind to refuse his request, or
rather command; still, as they walked
through the car that contained her
berth she picked up her coat and went
on with him to the observation car.
He took couple Of camp stools as
/ they went out to the platform, placed
hers In the most sheltered corner,
then sat down at an angle where his
broad shoulders would shield her still
more from the wind.
$50" he said without preamble, aft
er they were seated, "you think | pro
posed to Elsie Green at the Dalton
masquerade and you don't want her
leavingsT"
The satlrical smile on his lips, and
the hooking light In the eyes that
were looking Joan squarely In the
face, again reused the girls indlgna
ton.
81 know you proposed to her." she
retorted angrlly. 81 suppose you liked
her best all the time and were just
fOoling with me to make her Jealous.
Then, when she refused you you
thought you might do worse than take
me-"
In answer to this unpleasant speech
George laughed long and heartily
which 50 exasperated Joan that she
rose ana would have left him and
gone inside the car, had he moi de
tanned her with strong yet tender
hand
"Forgaye me-" hp said still laugh
Ing hut who told you such n stOryf