The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-05-18

were fortunate enough to obtain ad-
joining seats, and, as 1 occupied mine
by myself, offered to give room upon
it for some of the bags and baskets per-
tanning to my companions. The offer
was accepted, and, at the lady's invita-
ton, turned my seat so that could
sit facing them, and thus continue un-
interruptedly the conversation into
which we had fallen.
This arrangement proved, to me at
least, very pleasant one, and the three
hours ride which followed was the least
tiresome of any l ever spent upon rail-
way. 1 learned that the name of my
new acquaintance was Fry, and that
the lady herself was the daughter of
Henry Fitzmorton, of Baltimore, a gen.
tleman we'll known to me by repute. 1
had spent several years in Baltimore at
an earlier period of my life, and it was
very pleasant to inquire after old ac-
quaintances, many of whom found Mr..
Fry was also we'll acquainted with.
Thus, enjoying alike the intelligent re-
marks of the gentleman, and the lively
sallies of his wife, the morning slipped
away, and 1 was obliged to glance at
my watch to satisfy myself that noon
had really arrived, when the train
stopped at - Junction, and the con-
ductor, passing through, announced:
"Twenty minutes for dinnerW
OF course we alighted, and of course
l kept near my young friends during
the meal. This proved to be excellent,
and was heartily enjoyed by all of us;
so much so, indeed, that the warning
whistle sounded just as we arose from
the table, and we were obliged to join
in the general scramble usual in such
cases. to settle our bills, and resume our
seats in the cars, in about half the time
that should have been appropriated to
the purpose.
Mr.. Fry and his wife were immedi-
ately in front of me, and as we came to
the door, where the landlord stood col
lecting his money from the passengers
as they passed out, Mr.. Fry handed him
five dollar BILL for which the landlord
had some trouble in making the right
change.
While we were waiting, 1 drew forth
my pocketbook, to have my money
ready when my turn came; but, as is so
often the case at such times, found, to
my great annoyance, that 1, too, having
nothing smaller, would be obliged to
present five dollar bill. Mr.. Fry's
quick glance over his shoulder caught
my annoyed look, and guessed the cause.
DINNER for three, landlord, out of
that bill," said he, quickly and then, in
an aside to me, "It's all right; let it go
SO. / don't want to wait for him to
make change again."
1 had no time to demonstrate, or, in
deed, to do anything more but to bow
my thanks, intending, of course, to dis
charge the debt at the first opportunity.
"a remarkably free-hearted fellow"
was my inward comment, recalling also
the careless ease with which, in the case
of the pocketbook he had found, he had
passed over the probable reward to the
ticket clerk. Such little incidents as
these, trihing as they may seem when
mining character, and Mr.. Fry's will
ingness to pay my hotel bill, though l
had not the slightest intention of profit
ing by his liberality, increased very ma
terially my good opinion of him.
Our seats resumed, the train, mo-
ment later, moved slowly onward; but
we had gone but few rods when it
stopped again. To the noisy cries of
whats wrong?" arising from various
parts of the car, was at last elected the
reply that something had given way
about the engine. and that we should
probably be detained some time, waiting
for the necessary repairs to be made.
Mr.. Fry and l were endeavoring, by
questioning those who seemed to know,
to find out more particularly what was
likely to be the extent of the detention,
when little cry of dismay from Fanny
recalled our attention at once to her.
my handkerchief! Oh, Bob, my
handkerchief is gone."
"Nothing very alarming in that, is
there Z" he replied, smiling.
"Indeed there is" she cried, discon-
solately mot alarming-I don't mean
that-but very, very vexatious. 1t was
that fine stitched one, with my
monogram embroidered in the corner
don't you remember? 1t was my we'd
ding-present from poor cousin Lou, who
hem stitched and embroidered it herself
there was hardly a present received
that L would not rather have parted
with"
perhaps it is still about you some-
where shake out your dress and mantle
you may find it," he said, sympathiz-
ingly, for she was evidently seriously
distressed at her loss.
She shook her head, the tears rising to |
her eyes as she spoke:
alt is of no use have not had it |
since we left the hotel. l remember |
having it in my hand during dinner,
and of laying it beside my plate upon
the table, and that is where 1 have left |
it, am certain. Poor, poor LOU"
She turned away her head to hide her
tears; and her husband, in an under
tone, explained to me:
"Her cousin has died since we left |
home;" then, aloud, he continued
Come, come, Fan! the loss is not
irremediable. Danish those sober looks.
We are but few rods from the hotel,
and the train is likely to wait here for
half an hour or more; will run back
and see if L cannot regain your trea-
sure"
Her face frightened up in an instant.
"Oh, Bob that is so good of you
But"-a shadow of doubt suddenly
crossing her face" am almost afraid
to have you go. Suppose the cars should
go off and leave your
mo danger" he replied, gayly; "though,
if they did, it would be nothing worse
than temporary inconvenience; you
would have to stop at the first station,
and wait until joined you by the next
train. leave you in good hands;
know Mr.. Savage would not let you