osite section returned to the car. He looked tired, very anxious,
and his face was paler and the sad expression more pronounced than
before. The train-conductor stopped him to speak of some telegrams that
had been sent, and both ladies noted the respect which the railway
official threw into the tone in which he spoke. The card-players stopped
their game and went up to ask after the frozen men. It was not until the
whistle was sounding for the station that he stood before them and with
a grave and courteous bow held forth Mrs. Rayner's silver flask.

"It was a blessing to one poor fellow at least, and I thank you for him,
madame," he said.

"I have been so anxious. I wanted to do something. Did you not get my
message, Mr.----?" she asked, with intentional pause that he might
supply the missing name.

"Indeed there was nothing we could ask of you," he answered, totally
ignoring the evident invitation. "I am greatly obliged to you for your
kindness, but we had abundant help, and you really could not have
reached the car in the face of this gale. Good-morning, madame." And
with that he raised his fur travelling-cap and quickly turned to his
section and busied himself strapping up his various belongings.

"The man must be a woman-hater," she whispered to Miss Travers, "He's
going to get out here, too. Who _can_ he be?"

There was still a moment before the train would stop at the platform,
and she was not to be beaten so easily. Bending partly across the aisle,
she spoke again:

"You have been so kind to those poor fellows that I feel sure you must
be of the army. I think I told you I am Mrs. Rayner, of Fort Warrener.
May we not hope to see you there?"

A deep flush rose to his forehead, suffusing his cheeks, and passed as
quickly away. His mouth twitched and trembled. Gazing at him in surprise
and trouble, Nellie Travers saw that his face was full of pain and was
turning white again. He half choked before he could reply: he spoke low,
and yet distinctly, and the words were full of sadness:

"It--it is not probable that we shall meet at all."

And with that he turned away.

II.

Even in the excitement attendant upon their reception at the station
neither Mrs. Rayner nor her sister could entirely recover from the
surprise and pain which the stranger's singular words had caused. So far
from feeling in the least rebuffed, Mrs. Rayner well understood from his
manner that not the faintest discourtesy was inten