The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-12-24


parted straight behind.
But forgot these dreadful misgiving
after whine, and edged gradually into
conversation with my blue-eyed neigh
bor
What did we talk about Why, Byron
and war, crotchet work and the Sanitary
Commission, of course.--What else do
young people converse on in these days !?
And she told me of the flannel wrappers
she had made for the soldiers, and re-
lated the particulars of the one battle l
had been concerned in and we laughed
and ioked and sentimentalized together,
and, in short, became excellent friends.
"Phil-a-del-phy p bawled the conductor
breaking ruthlessly into the midst of a
quotation that [ was unsteady murmuring
and I started up as if had been shot.
"My destination" / said regretful-
ly
'tMine, too" said the young lady. "Where
can that careless Tom be?"
"Allow me, quoth |, burdening myself
with Miss Eyeys multitudinous bags; [
will just take you to the waiting room,
where your brother will doubtless join
you"
Didn't feel proud just then, with the
soft little hand on my arm, and the slight
form clinging up close to me! should
I left her unwilling enough, in the door
way of the cheerfuIly lighted Ladies'
ROOM and sought the officials
as the New York train in?"
eyes, sir; just this minute arrived"
"Where's the conductor
'Well, if you'll wait a minute, he will be
along"
l stood back few seconds, watching
the tired looking travellers pour from the
cars in sleepy confusion. At length
caught sight of the conductor carrying a
crumpled baby in one hand, and huge
calico covered bandbox in the other
while behind him came a ponderous fe-
male with freckled countenance, and bon
net crushed out Of all semblance to
shape
"Hush up, Charles Augustus p cried the
lady to a wailing child three years old,
whose face was scarcely discernible through
the marks of tears and molasses candy eff
you don't quit that hollering I'll leave
you in the cars sures I'm alive !"
Conductor = [ ventured, boldly stem
ing the swarm of dirty children.
"Sir!'
81 am here to meet lady and children
who have travelled alone from Boston on
| this train to"
1.-THE very ones you want, sir" said the
conductor sliding the limp baby into my
arms and dropping the bandbox with
alacrity. Here's the gentleman, ma'am
l told you there would be no trouble
about meeting him"
And before | could open my lips to re
monstrate the ponderous woman had pre-
cipitated herself on me bodily, and wa:
hanging on round my neck, with sue
cession of kisses that sounded like the re
port of pocket pistol.
'I knowed you'd come to meet me
Hiram-I knowed you would never desert
your own Melyina to say nothing about
the children. Come here, Mary Jane an6
Charles Augustus, and kiss your own faith
er [ declare, if them new regimental.
don't make you look as fine as fiddle.
dare say for it shouldn't have known ye
now't you've got your hair and whsker
colored. You were always such a slim
genteel figure But you'd ought to have
sent me that bounty money. Hiram-Tl
stick to that, if it was the last word evel
spoke"
I looked around despairingly for some
one to free me from this terrible bondage
Alas, unkind fate there was my blue
eyed compag1aSn du uoyage convulsed will
pretty malicious laughter at the plight
was ln
II never imagined you were a married
man" said she demurely. Upon my wer(
it's quite privilege to witness this sweet
little episode of domestic affection. Take
you'll drop the baby if you hold i
in that sort of way"
1 set my teeth close together and strov,
to wrench myself away frem the cotton
gloved finger of the woman who seemed
determined to appropriate me.
"Let go my cravat, madam" l sai(
sharply, for she was clinging to me as tn
} yeritable Old Man of the Sea might hav
chung to Sinbad.-"I'm entirely at los
to know what you mean by this singula
conduct My name is not Hiram-Im no
married-and never set my eyes on yo1
before tonight Let go, and take you
baby"
Land O Goshen I" she shrieked,. q
: isn't Hiram after all-and the good for
$ nothing, shiftless mean spirited cur ain
2 here to look after his own wife and child
jren. l do say fort" she articulated
1 fiercely clenching her muscular fist, "
knowed Hiram Peck was meaner'n mus
e Gle shell, but didn't spose he was mea
3 enough to leave us in the lurch in in thi
! way"
She snatched the baby, broke ava
$ from me and impetuously towards tn
l conductor, whose distant lantern glance
|. among the people beyond.
al l1o I Al.