Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/255

Rh family lived in Minnesota, he tried to recall whether that was a city, an Indian reservation, or what, but finally did recall that it was one of our 'provinces.' I let it go at that. And then he wanted to know where you lived."

"Where I lived?"

"Yes. I told him Philadelphia, and he knew where that was. He had a relative there for a while, he said. But you wouldn't know him, Miss Varris. He was a captain in Howe's army—that was back in 1777, or some time then. I think Mr. Dunneston is under the impression that Philadelphia is still the capital of our States. But anyway, he knows where it is."

"Good. And so?" the girl urged on.

"Oh, he gathered then, after a bit, that as my family lived in St. Paul and yours in Philadelphia our places could not be exactly contiguous in any true sense. And then by getting me to admit that our families could scarcely have known each other in the days of 229