The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-07-24
SELECT STORY.
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.

third and last call. The loving injunc-
tions piled upon Mr. Potter to be good
boy while she was gone, and the often
repeated asseverations that she wouldn't
be missed, that he'd be glad to get rid of
her, etc, had accumulated to such
frightful extent on the head of that de-
voted gentleman, that there was little
left for a bloated and reckless themome-
ter to accomplish in reconciling him to
the change. Mr.. Potter undoubtedly
| believes that it sis not good for man to
| be alone"-in winter. But in Summer,
with the mercury at 1902 in the ice-cel
lar, when the streets are melting down
| into the cutters and nothing is too much
cover, it is different. Besides it was
great deal more healthy for a lady of
/ Mrs Potter's delicate constitution, to
spend few months with her friends in
| the country--especially when gentle
man of Mr.. Potter's fragile appearance
wanted to go ON fishing excursion in
the mountains in an opposite direction.
Mrs. Potter's duty to society required it
and Mr.. Potter's manly devotion to the
lodge" made the piscatorial path of
virtue a necessity. So the day arrived
for third attempt, and Mrs. Potter was
fearful, and Mr.. Potter was much more
cheerful than could ever be expected un-
der the circumstances, the train was ex-
pected to leave at nine o'clock in the
evening, and Mr.. Potter was TO come
home early and pack things in the cool
of the day. 1t was about 3 o'clock on
the hottest afternoon of this year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and
| seventy-four, when Mr.. Potter sauntered
slowly down Pennsylvania avenue, de-
ending himself from the sun with an
uc:ent umbrella, looking at fishing
ac!lle in the shops, and debating with
himself whether trout really have
scales. 1t was too hot to reason about
anything except cremation, so he stepped
into Aman's for cobler and to get the
very latest about Tom Collins. There
he met friend who was to be one OF
the fishing excursionists, and the conver-
sation taking the direction Of trout and
claret punch, Potter incidentally men,
toned that his wife was to leave that
evening Mr.. Potter was quite cool and
agreeable now.
"But there is no train at that hour,
says the friend, on hearing the time
mentioned.
"What?" replied Potter, incredulous
ly. Then his friend drew forth paper
and pointed to the timetable said
$500, my dear sir" as coolly as if Il
had been Potter's treat and words
"Thank you 1 don't care if do" I
Mr.. Potter left so hastily as to forget tC
pay his bill we are morally certain ju
ry would acquit him on the ground o
emotional insanity. In his flight he saw
there was time yet. At the Sixth stree
) Office the ticket agent corroborated hi
> friends newspaper.
He purchased his ticket and asked 70
Pullman section.
"Have nothing but single uppe
BERTH" said the agent, looking out o
the window languidly.
"The deuce" piously::ejaculated Pot
ter, whose wife couldn't climb tree.
"You might get one at the other OF
fce," remarked the man yawning.
The "other Office" was mile ava
!; towards the Treasury. But Potter wa
hot now and he rushed into the stree
and hailed a passing car so fercely an
went aboard so defiantly that the cor
ductor was afraid to collect his fare
Having got his section and imbibed tn
information that the baggage would b
" called for in half an hour he steame
ened Mrs Potter into a comfortable +
by his appearance and heightened he
:, out again Immediately by stumblin
n through convenient piles of sprin
clothing in the middle of the floor.
y "Train leaves at 5:20," he burst fort
!, "and the man will be here in ten mil
- utes for the baggage"
A "WelI, then, I just can't go, that
a ALL" said Mrs. Potter, sitting down
n cry.
in "Why not?" asked Potter, "what ha'
as you to do?"
"a million things" smartly repli'
Mrs. Potter. She always puts h
figures high. 81 couldn't get ready
20 in that time if was to be hanged"
as as if to be hanged would be an ado
d tional inducement-"and I won't go
all if can't this time-that's fiat!"
q was fiat indeed, thought Potter and
or coaxed.
is "But, my dear, don't you see L
by bought the ticket and secured yo
OF berth and telegraphed your friends
is. meet you. I'll pack in five minutes a
~, while you put on your travelling sui
of Then he tore away his wilted collar a
ng seized the nearest article and chuclSed
ms, in the yawning Saratoga.
nd "Oh, deari" exclaims Mrs. Pot
ng excitedly, diving for it; "what fool y
all are; 1 want to wear that''
me Then Potter went for whole bundle
M clip.
Is "Good gracious! James," cries N
ny Potter, dropping the soap into the
lalf water, and again flying to the resc
ed you'll ruin my bonnets-just IL
Dor there!"
en- "Now Mary, look here" says Po.
Its drawing himself up threatengly, 81 kr
an how to pack trunk and I'm going
10 pack this. You put your clothes Q
,rv- And Potter can pack trunk; he {
lme He plunged at the articles, and fol
this and rolled and twisted everything
the the smallest possible compass and tue
most them away in corners and most unlil
II is places, separating what should he
served in pairs and pairing others in
most unconventional and astonisf
600 manner, and now and then, when
ngle Potters- back was turned, he'd jump