Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-08-06

a vacant seat, as he passed down the aisle,
leaning on his staff. / glanced ahead
but | could see no place where
he could get seat except with
the young lady of whom l have
been telling you. | hoped that some
young man would give up his seat to the
poor old gentleman and lind one for him.
self in another car; for | was sure the
young lady would not make room for
him, if she could avoid it. She had
about as many packages as you intend
to take with you, Alice, and she had
arranged them all on the seat beside her
with such nicely that it gave them a
/ peculiarly touch-me-not appearance.
thought of asking her if she had noticed
that decrepit old man who was looking
for seat, thinking she might possibly
remove her packages if should. But |
had the curiosity to see what she would
do of her own accord, so / refrained
from speaking, and intended to give him
my place if he did not secure one before
he came to me. No doubt some of the
| people whom he passed would have
given him theirs if they had not observed
| that there was vacant seat beside the
young lady. As the old gentleman drew
nearer to us she turned her head and
looked out of the window. / must con-
fess, Alice, that l was rather glad, on
the whole, that no one had moved for
him. / wanted to see how far she would
let her selfishness carry her.
1.-TWO men-one middle-aged, the other
younger-sat in the seat directly oppo-
site the young lady. From few words
that caught of their conversation
learned that the younger man was car
penter, and / though it quite probable
that they both were. The middle aged
man sat next the aisle, and noticed that
he was observing the young lady quite
as closely as ! was. His face was not
very demonstrative one; but once or
twice | detected an amused twinkle in
his eyes and slight curl on his lips
when he glanced at her. When the old
man came opposite the young lady he
stopped and looked first at her bundles
and then at her But she didn't see him.
Obi no. She was looking out of the
window and humming a tune. He didn't
speak, but he drew long breath that
was half sigh, and he looked detected
and weary, and was about to pass along
when the middle-aged man opposite arose
and said respectfully: Take my seat,
sir And he kindly helped him into it,
at the same time glancing at the
young lady and saying: i can
find another for myself, or j can
stand She did not turn her head nor
show any signs of hearing him. So he
walked the whole length of the car,
looking for vacant seat; but, of course,
with no success, and it is not at all prob
able that he expected to find one when
he started AS he came back toward us
the twinkle in his eyes and the curl on
his lips were little more marked than
they were before, but there was less
amusement in the expression and more
indignation. Probably none of the pas
sengers except those who had observed
him watching the young lady noticed it,
| was satisfied, however, from his looks
that he intended to give that selfish, dis
obliging young lady a lesson, and | soon
found that / was not mistaken. He came
directly to her, and, gently touching her
shoulder (she was still looking out of the
window, he said:
Shall / place some of these bundles
up in the rack for you, young lady?
can find no other seat in this car that is
not occupied by some person.
SO You will please to leave my things
where they are she snappishly replied
j presume that there are plenty of va
cant seats in the rear car. A gentleman
would go and look for one, and not dis
turb lady in this way
"By this time all the passengers neal
were looking on and listening intently to
see what would come next. AT her
crusty reply he put on an exceedingly
abashed look, and stammered:
"'Ohl beg your pardon, young lady
. / had no idea that was about to en-
croach upon your rights. / did not sup
pose that you had paid for both of these
seats. But you have, of course; fol-
nothing can be clearer than that lady
would never speak to a man as you
spoke to me if she were not entitled tC
both. If you will please show me your
tickets for the two or will give me your
word that you have paid for them both
will go anywhere-will stand crowded
into any corner-sooner than disturb you
again
"She neither showed tickets mol
deigned to reply. SO he carefully re-
moved her things and took the seat, tell
ing her that whenever she or the conduct
or informed him that he had not the
same right to it that she had to the one
which she was occupying he would va
cate it the next instant. All of the pas
scngers who had observed what was go
lug OH sLllIeu appIoNihSly, anu onc vi
two laughed aloud; and the old man
nodded his head emphatically and whis
pered to the young carpenter: That pa,
inst aohat she deserUed.'
"The young lady tucked back her dress
disdainfully and looked scornfully at the
man beside her, and ! thought that she
was about to say something very vindic
tive; but il she were, she was prevented
by gentleman's rushing up to the win
dow where she sat and exclaiming:
"' came near not getting back to say
good bye Clara, Here are the books
that you wanted. The bookstore was
closed and had to wait nearly ten min
utes before it was opened. I'm sorry i.
has so happened that cannot accompany
you. hope that you will have pleas
ant ride and get to the seminary without
any trouble
A pleasant rider she repeated, sar-
castically; then putting her head partly
out of the window she whispered, suf.
ficiently loud for those in the adjoining
seats to hear her, and no doubt with the
special intent of humiliating the man
who had had the audacity to remove her