The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, December 19, 1895, Page 5

CHRISTMAS EDITION. —__—~—Ss HOLIDAY DECEMBER 14, 1895. SUPPLEMENT. 1, | A Railway Comedy. 4 By J. T. Newcomb. | i T was only a case of incompatibility. They grew quarrelsome by degrees and over little things. At first they made up laughingly, with a quick They were real trels and they hurt, but they were short, into his r them she seemed even dearer than Then came the Beginning anywhere, the old ani- sities kept coming up again and again. Nell,” he would say, at it again. We better stop.” the caress that marked their resump- In ss and a tender word when she came back arms a slower, sullen able here, wearily, ye are id n of amicable relations was forced ad of impulsive, and they got it over ickly as they could ter And then they grew He stayed away from home as ch as he could, and she forgot to take feof her personal appearance, and she fed so much that her nose was always red en he did come home. : One day he got up from the table with an patient fling and went into the library, utting the door with a slam. je door opened slowly and she came in, Presently oking very quiet and a little paler than sual He was standing with his back to ¢ open fire, and he did not move as she me to him and put her two hands on his .‘' this is awful. Can't He looked at her heavily for a moment, ind then deliberately took d own her har And pushed her slowly away from him “Yes, Nell,” he said, rcughly, ** we ght help it, but your soft ways wont Ip you any now.” She looked at him in _ and went quietly out of t fe put silence and on his overcoat and When he up his mind to tell went came back int that he was ashamed of himsel not find her He found a little note in Stead was a lunch spread f him on the t lid not eat it Then sa gone ho maher. She coul happy re she was n them to een upand d cigar savy into his pock cigar an ome at ore than a year ¢ from her. ‘ It was very She thought it would be | happen them if they were free. SEs re Wises Vs Js UNCLE NED'S DILEMMA ; “HOW SHALL THE CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS BE FILLED !”—Drawn sy Howakv HELMIcK. “Tf this man is troubling you, madam,” John looked at his wife and she looked he said, ** I will see that you are relieved of | at him. Then they both burst out laugh- the annoyance ” | ing. John sprang up in a twinkling. She put} When they arrived at their destination her hand on his arm |her father found her leaning on her hus- ‘You need not trouble yourselt,” she | band’s arm as they walked down the depot said, frigidly, to the stranger. ‘* This gen-| steps He demanded and received as much tleman is my husband.” | of an explanation as either could give The *Oh Lord!” exclaimed the man who| suit was withdrawn and a very much had interfered Several of the passengers | happier and a very much wiser couple re smiled audibly. turned to their home once more took away the cup when she had finished, and returned just as the train started As the train pulled out of the depot he leaned over to speak to her Her chair was turned as it had been before. When he leaned over he did not know what he was going to say. He asked her if she would not turn her chair around. She made him no answer and he repeated the question The man across the aisle got up and came over to her and a man across the aisle hastened to help her John was the quicker, and she ac- knowledged the politeness with a frigid bow The man on the other side of the car was looking. and his interest was aroused When the train stopped at a way-station to allow the passenge:s to lunch, she did not getup. John went out and came back ina moment with a cup of coffee and a sandwich. She accepted them with some hesitation, not knowing how to refuse. He She did not think it was right for her to keep his name. The letter was gentle. That was all. She had written it out and pruned it and cried over it, and then she had copied it on a fresh sheet of note-paper so that none of the tears blotted the page that he saw. John walked the floor a little later than usual that night, and he smoked an addi- He wrote two or three letters toher The one he sent said she was no doubt right. She might make any change she saw fit and he would not oppose her. A rved on him. tional cigar. little later the papers were s He was sitting in his study one evening when remembered that the trial was set for the next day. He was not He had planned an excur- sion somewhere, but now he wanted to go— not to enter a defence, but as a spectator he suddenly to be present It was the closing scene of his life tragedy. All the actors come before the footlights as the curtain goes down. He felt that he orght to be there. He took an early train the next morning for the city where the trial was to be held. He bought a parlor-car seat. but went into the smoker to finish a cigar. She had taken the same train from her father’s home two stations back, She was going down alone and her father was to meet herat the depot. She was glad to be alone, she thought, as she leaned her head wearily against her hand on the window- | ledge | When he came in from the smoker he | took the only vacant seat It was just be- {hind hers They recognized each other of course There was a moment's hesitation, and then each bowed gravel It was per- natural for them to bow, and yet it d strange to both of them. He sat behind her and took up a newspaper fectl se me had not seen him once in a around ayer or larges, and es on his temples were d threatened § quite > She rem t once she had promised to kiss the place. to make the hair grow—and a big hot heek Then she stra 5 e little > often on a railway train occurred d J red a trifling assistance, an ha