The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-01-26
" s-"070 -
The Unhappy Reply.

q . .
The Unhappy Reply. ri Z
lido not think it d selfish act Il I
occupy this whole seat myself, as I
am to travel all this long day." said /
to b lady nearest me, one sultry NOM
ing, as I took the out-of-the-way end
seat in the cars ut Buffalo for Al
bany.
Certainly not" was the reply, as
put my shawl, books, papers, fan,
bouquet. 60, in one end, and nestled
myself down CT the ossiiisr. I soon
wearied of conversation and reading,
and had sunk into o fitful slumber,
when o gentle tap on my shoulder,
and "please, miss!'' made me wake
with q sudden start.
The car was filled to overhowing,
and q newly arrived party had enter
ed, and q pale little woman, with q
fretful baby in her arms, stood ask
ing permission to sit beside me.
With more of pity than of pleasure,
l shared my seat with her, yet I spoke
but few words, and sulkily forebore
taking the restless little creature, to
ease her poor, wearied arms; but
merely smoothed its yellow hair and
its pale, baby cheeks, and said Mary
was good and sweet name.
For my own. comfort, I had opened
the window. that 1 might. more dis.
tinctly catoh those picturesque views
that fitted by so rapidly that they
seemed like glowing pictures, without
one imperfection to mar, when my
attention was drawn to M rompa.
MON, who was necessarily + Ching.
II do wish you woul iat down
that window" said she. .'rhe coal
smoke makes my cough 80 much
worse" "
I am ashamed to confes: it now,
but I felt the angry blood Darn in
my cheek, and q flashing of the eye,
as I replied H'
'I am quite sick, and wearied, and
troubled, and hungry, and thirsty,
and crowded, and here You come as
an intruder, and keep me from the
mite Of cool, fresh air, that I am try.
ing to get. Do you think you are
doing as you would be done by?"
said I, tartly; and without waiting
for o reply, I rose and was letting
down the window with an angry
crash, as naughty child would slam
door shut, when she laid her poor
wasted little hand on my arm, and
said
"Oh. don't do IL, Men," and burst
into tears, and leaned her head down
on her baby, and cried bitterly.
The woman in my heart was
touched; but putting on the injured
air Of martyr, 1 compressed my
lips, and took up paper, pretending
to read. Pretty soon my eyes grew
dimmed. I could not see without
crushing the tears often, and I re.
solved to ask pardon for my unkind-
ness; but minute after minute glided
away, and we soon reached her place
of dest, ,ation, and she rose to leave.
rose, too, and the words were on
my lips, when q gentleman came to
assist her out.
She turned her gentle, fearful eyes
upon ME with sad expression, and
bowed SO sweetly, that my hand was
almost appraised for the forgiveness
the words were just dropping from
my lps-but she was gone. It was
too late; and 1, a woman, with q wo.
mans heart, was left with that sting.
ing little barb sticking in it, and the
sweet words and wasted little hand
thet could remove il. were gene from
me forever. 1 sank back in my seat
and wept bitterly.
The gentleman returned from as.
sisting her, and as the car was full,
he took up the place she had vacated.
1 inquired who the lady was. and he
replied:
"Her home is in Wisconsin. and