Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-08-15

Nuld huc NOulu 40 OF llef own accord
so | refraincd from speaking, and in
tende to give him my place if he die
not secure one before he came to me
No doubt some Of the people whom hC
passed would have given him theirs j
they bad not observed that there was
vacanJ seat beside the young lady Al
the old gentleman drew nearer to us she
turned her head AMI looked out Of the
window, must confess, Alice, that
was rather glad, on the whole, that ne
one had moved for him. l wanted tC
see how far she would let her selfish.
ness carry her.
"Two men-one middle-aged, the
other younger-sat in the seat directly
opposite the young lady. From a few
words that / caught Of their converse.
tion learned that the younger man
was caponter, and I thought 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 l 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. Oh no. She was looking
out of the window and humming a tune.
He didn't speak, but he drew a long
breath that was half sigh, and he
looked detected and weary, and was
about to pass along when the middle
ago man opposite arose and said re-
spectfully 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 | can stand. She did not
turn her heard nor show any
signs OF hearing him. So he walk
ed 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
bis 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,
disobliging young lady lesson, and |
soon found that l was not mistaken. He
came directly to her, and, gently touch
ing her shoulder (she was still looking
ont 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 occu led by some person
"'You will please to leave my things
where they are, she snappishly replied.
L presume that there are plenty OF va
cant seats in the rear car. A genHcn,an
would 60 and look for one, and not dis
turb a lady in this way
by this time all the passengers near
were looking on and listening intently
to see what would come next. At her
crusty reply he put on an exceedingly
abashel look aud stammered:
On J peg NunI Pl,a 1a,,. rnur- lady
Ihad no idea that l was about to en-
croach upon your rights. | did not sup
poge that you had paid for bothot these
seats. Bnt you have, of course for
nothing can be clearer than that lady
would never speak to a man as you
spoke to me if she were not entitled to
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 nor
to reply, So he carefully re-
moved her things and took the seat,
telling her that whenever she or the
conductor informed him that he had not
the same right to it that she had to the
one which she was occupying he would
vacate it the next instant. All of the
passengers who had observed what was
going on smiled approvingly, and one or
two laughed aloud; and the old man
nodded his head emphatically and whis-
pered to the young carpenter; Taat
was Just ,Uhat she deserved
"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 vindictive but, if she was, she
was prevented by gentleman's rushing
up to the window where she sat and ex-
"'I came near not getting back to
say goodbye Clara. Here are the
books that you wanted. The bookstore
was closed and l had to wait nearly ten
minutes before it opened. I'm sorry it
has so happened that cannot accom-
pany you. l hope that you will have a
pleasant ride and get to the seminary
without any trouble
"'A pleasant ride ? she repeated,
sarcastically; then putting her head
partly out of the window she whispel ed,
sufficiently loud for those in the adioin.
ing seats to heGr her, and no doubt with
the special intent of humiliating the
man who had had the audacity to re-
move her things and take seat beside
her l shall have q lovely time; you
may be sure of that, father. An inso-
lent old carpenter has crowded himself
into the seat with me, and
"She was cut short in her remarks
by the moving off of the train. Soon
after the cars started the 'insolent old
carpenter turned toward her and said,
as complacently as he would have done
if he had not heard her epithets
"'Your fathers voice sounded famil-
lar to me, young lady, and l was about
to rise and see if knew him when the
cars moved out of the depot. Will you
please give me his name?'
"'No, sir, will not, she haughtily
replied. Tam not in the habit OF hold
ing conversation with strangers.
"'Oh, ahl please excuse me, he said,
unable to repress a smile. Perhaps We
shall make each others acquaintance
some time. Then we will converse.
"He did not speak to her again until
we reached Richland. When the con-
ductor called out the name OF the sta
ton she hastily arose, and, gathering up
her packages, which were rather more
than she could conveniently manage,
said, imperatively:
"fLet me pass out.
Certainly, young lady, he pleas
antly replied. Il stop here myself. You
seem to be burdened with packages
Allow me to take some of them out OF