Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1901 — MR. SINGLETON'S LUCK [ARTICLE]

MR. SINGLETON'S LUCK

f»o« WHION Mr.' Singleton 'started Y Wfl for New York be felt that be «V* wag making n sacrifice. lie ni conscious that not many men would take a weed’s voyage and submit themselves to.‘the tedium of 24 hours’ railway journey at the end of It In order that they might l»e present at u friend's wedding. But flie elt'c'umatanees were peetirtat*. Hot) Collier was Tdft very partleiilar friend his fldua Achates*-flml the’bond between them hud even proved strong enough to surtwlve a file years' separation. Two young me*'had aetnully maintained a #ve • years’, evrresrwndtvnce. n^d, with something approaching regularity. Now (Pytfdap bgd.gnccmpbed to the pharma S" jSome, jlttle Yankee girl, Singleton ought, of her as a "Yankee" girl.' though (he apbllcfttlou would not hnvfe't tty 1 <i he" A* rued' ftnmbn bto M}}? PWTO'tteiKWtbutflrai tlm'New 'Vdt'k mray_ .co til H,Vied mJ r f»ytfWood,. 'S#uW wd'wmu, i (tiytJiiihieiit wrt^o-, UeH<tcdUiiMilodaik>U| to'find'the ell male ' ,tdtoU®»bta, arid- to (detest' all Atuntloa ynd ttt«y thing Alserifan toithe utmost ' !!*>• eapafcity, , in,ft,he hiond hb’ , .wgfrjln glad that,.the CulqpnP , ifW drove him to the Fifthuvpmje part tabbed hint, for tp] tym* found a civil Jeliu and.be nskpd Cor a moderate fare would have ppsot IPs mtr acquired theories. lie spCtit a I 4My hi New York morosely, add the following morning stepped "aboard” IhU veritable train bound for Chicago.

After he had made himself comfortable and scattered his papers about him to his liking he found that he was seated hi proximity to a singularly pretty girl. Bhe was apparently traveling alone, and in view of the fgct that they Would be companions for a long time, Singleton considered that cpnversatlon with her might Just as well |>e estaliUsbed soon as late. Indeed, better. After It had been opened lie eopgratu-' lated himself on hnvfng held that opinion. She was indisputably a very nice tin Indeed. She had, to begin with, I most captivating ejes and a clear fresh ▼ot«c. She boasted, too, au entirely charming smile, which really repaid •ne for the trouble of being witty, and filsclosyff pa ndqiUop a set of teeth that •hone like pearls. He was reluctant «t the end of a ebiiple of hours to describe her as a ‘‘Jolly little filtt," but tfcut la what he called her mentally before be liked her so much. * , tca, I acknowledge It Is my first visit to yoor oountry,” he said, when •he taxed him with being a '‘Britisher,” “and I'm horridly forloru! I’ve uohody to tell me what I ought to see, or where I ought to go. Don't you sympathise with me?” “Tremenduouely," she declared, with another of her cnpltlvattng smiles. “Why don’t you buy a guide book?” **l didn't know you’d got so fur as guide books over here,” he said. ‘‘Really? You are getting on famously for a new country." Bhe laughed, hut averred she was Indignant. Her Indignation was very piquant; but he implored her to forgive him. He was lu doubt wbeu she consented, whether her forgiveness was aot more Irresistible tbau her in dlguatloa. “Of course,” she asked, after a few ■Routes, “you are going to visit Niagara? You have heard of Niagara?" “A waterfall or a mountain. Isn't It?” Inquired Mr. Singleton. “A mountain," she said, ‘'with buffatoea «U the top. They grew there, you know, and live on the pumpkins.” “It must be very interesting,”'lie said gfavely. l'Yre, I shall go there one day U I have timet' She stared at him and tlieu clapped her hands gayly. “I do honestly lielleve,” she exclaimed, “that you menu that! Is It possible you don't know that we touch Niagara on the way to Chicago, and that you can continue the Journey by a later train?” "No.” said Hlnglelon, "upon iny Word 1 did not know. What a duffer 1 am. Then I can go to-day?” “Of course you oau," she answered. “Lot* of the people round its will do that. It gives you a couple of hours •r so ut the Falls.” “And are you going?” he asked gaickly. “I don't know," said she tantalislug|y. “No, 1 don't think so," “O, do," he l>egged. “I know I shall (all in, nr something If T go alone- and then think of your responsibility. Do conic, too, please." He hud 1 wen nwnre from the com wcDccuient that his persuasions to her would isrevall, hut ho felt, nevertheless, a glow of unreasoning satisfaction when they at Inst loft the primitive station together uad got Into the rackety trap, whose driver chatted fut'ts and figures so incessantly. They enjoyed thesaselves vastly. Hhe permitted him •suffer her an Ice cream and u souvenir of the visit from the fancy bazaar where pebble* and yard mcnaurcs and photographs were sold, lie purebasen • view of the Horseshoe Full and bagged Iter to keep It ns a memento of whnt had lawn to him au extruortlluarBy happy afternoon. “Bs, extra ordinary as ad ah« naked. with her cucloufKng smile Again, “Bo extraordinary.” said Biugleton,

“that If I told you you would be hngry with mq.” , ! , | “J am never angry," shu murmured. "I am much too well-behaved,” “I am not so aure of that,” he returned in a low voice. "If you will give me that, photograph back for a moment I should like to write something on It. . lyill you?”, She withdrew if coldly, and taking out hts pencil case and leaving a blank for her name, he wrote: “Here Was Joat Miss —.’h good opinion, and Mr. Berqy Singleton's peace qf mind.” He restored it to her respectfully. ‘‘l hpve •been obliged to om|t your name,” he said, “but you know It Is voUrs tbit la meant.” “I am aware at do reasop why I should conceal Pry name,'’ she Replied. "M|y ttimb Is iF*Fkmoment the young man’s!fncul-, Hat) o'tottered: '“Lynwood,”i had *he said ? I Could it lsM-wais It possiblp(that out pftaiHJu* eourimpu of Ameripanthat mafignaut ,httu>of ~0/t thrown Bob’s fiancee la ,1)1* path,,to be’, flirted with? And—hang It—she had, ; qjj<-ojbgage<|,UUnjr Hjy* hud w<tf ,fIM, m .M u> iwaa ,^p,lpg ’the (h#'fal- ‘ ’“bid yfiur utttne is ramlllpr to nie. ; Mtfy I lf you know a binn lu Chhage called Hobcrt *dr 'Bob’ 1-OottlefH.Uii i.of • (jeul, [> ; rji | -M 1 1 “i know him very well sold. ',‘He will be at thd statioh to-meet we." , , ,• r .i The world rocked about tilq. The bombshell had, fallen, and* there, no, more could be said. He accompanied her to the platform speechlessly, and they took their seats In the train, the deplorable agony on hl6 countenance puzzled her; was he afraid? She would be sorry to thjnk he wus a coward, though It had nothing to do With her. She retired behind Puck, and when she put It aside Singleton ingratiatingly offered her Judge. She declined It with chilly politeness. He looked out through the window and wished he had never met her—wished be had met her ltefore Bob had—wondered what the deuce was to be the end of It all. Not a nice wife for Bob, be decided; a nice wife for himself, he thought madly, but —well, no, not a nice wife for himself either, considering she was engaged when she Jet him take her to Niagara and touch her hand. Hut how pretty and—Well. yes. a nice disposition, he would Ray 1 , If she had only been free to coquette with him. Bother Bob! What was this?—heavens, it waß Chicago. How many hours had tossed while be looked at her? Had ho slept, Uad lie eaten, had he smoked, or had he lived on folly and on love? She was gathering up her scent-bottle, her books, and her gloves. Somebody spoke. She gave a cry of pleasure, and he perceived Bob Collier holding out his arms to her, and next they kissed. Collier could see him across her shoulder.

“Percy, my dear old Percy!” he exclaimed. He wrung his baud and laughed with delight. Then he turned from him to the girl and laughed again. “Why, this Is funny,” lie declared. “You two have been traveling up from New York together and don’t know each other. Percy, let me Introduce you to Miss Lynwood, the young lady who, for the punishment of my sins. Is to be my sister in-law next week!"—Ex.