The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-08-30

MI had restful effect on her
AV1 fellow passengers when she
entered the dining car. The
nervous little woman with the fretful
baby relaxed somewhat as Margaret
sat down beside her. Richard Adams,
across the aisle, unpuckered his fore
head and seemed to think better of
the caustic criticism he was about to
address to the ebony attendant about
the length Of time it took to broil
steak. Two children being piloted out
stopped instinctively to smile up into
the brown friendliness Of her eyes and
were started again on their way by
impatient parents.
The nervous little voice Of the nerv-
GUS little woman rasped out COM
monplace sentence and was answered
by Margaret's. velvety contralto, which
made Richard Adams smooth the last
faint wrinkle from between his eyes
and sigh cOntentedly. D.
She did not notice the extreme de-
liberation which enabled him to finish
just as she rose from the table, and
the keen look which followed her.
bronze head would have been lost on
her If the train had not given a sud-
den lurch just as she reached the
door. Some one of the line waiting
in the yestibule had loosened the catch
that. held the door, and only a quick
brown hand thrust against it prevent
ed it slamming on Margaret's fingers
as she regained her balance.
"Oh. thank YOU" frankly looking up
into pair of surprisingly blue eyes,
which would have been stern II they
had not been crinkled at the corners
by the action of the sun without and
a sense of humor within. She felt his
strong hand steady her for a neces-
sary moment and only that.
Making up time, l guess, and none
too smooth rOadbed to do it on" she
heard above the roar Of the train as
they crossed the space between the
two cars. with its flimsy. accordion
like cover. Then he seemed to draw
into himself with reserve equal to
her own. His seat proved to be op-
posite hers in the pullman.
She sat quite motionless, entertain
ing herself with mental pictures of the
end of the journey. sure-enough
holiday in California, after year Of
exacting hospital duty, following her
graduation. The doctors whose opin-
ion made it flattering. insisted on hav-
ing her as their special" when they
could. Now she had only Jacks eager
face before her and she blew him an
airy radio kiss, though her hands re-
manned idly clasped in her lap, hands
whose every firm curve said, Let me
heln VOL. z
She was barelk conscious Of. the
man opposite, Though she had taken
a nurses satisfaction in the ease with
which he had swung his heavy Glad
stone bag up before him and when he
burrowed for the book which now abb
sorbed him. Poor Jack Never we'll,
but so debonair and appealing that
she had to love him and promise to
marry him when he was better.
The next day was passing and Rich
ard began to inwardly curse the con-
ventions that kept them apart. "Hang
it all! suppose if were young
sheik and she flapper we wouldn't
be miles apart. could walk right
over and tell her she is the first wom-
an l ever really saw"
She seemed so obivious Of him,
friendly only with children and never
firing of them. Her seat became a
mecca for all TIE little chaps in her
car and adjoining ones. Over the cor
ner of his book Richard saw the most
amazing toys involved from candy
boxes and paper, bits Of string and
the most unpromising material that
the children produced.
At last he could stay out of the
charmed circle no longer. II could
white those handles a bit and then
they would stay in the wheelbarrow,"
he volunteered, carefully adjusting the
milk bottle top which served as a
wheel.
"That's just what we need. isn't it,
Billy?" she said, admitting him with
out demanding countersign, an ac-
curate account Of his genealogy, or
letter of introduction as he felt that
she might. e4..
saw a ship a-sailing. a-sailing on
the sea,
And, oh 1t was all laden with pretty
things for me.
she crooned to waiting five-year-
old as she ballasted half walnut
shell with softened wax and adjusted
a tiny sail on its toothpick mast.
There were comfits in the cabin and
apples in the hold.
The sails were made of silk and the
masts were made of gold.
he finished, and they smiled in absurd
freemasonry over the shared nursery
rhyme. s--. .- .--
''Why do people look for ships
which they have never sent out?"
she wondered.
Because we all want the impossi-
ble," he replied. "then we are not