Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-09-05
A THRILLING NARRATIVE.

Mrs. Potter had made great preparations,
the starting had twice been postponed, and
now the day drew nigh for a third ard last
call. The loving injunctions piled upon Mr.
Potter to be good boy while she was gone,
and the oft-rcpcatcd asSevcrationS that She
wouldn't be missed, that he'd be glad to
get rid Of her. ETC.. had accumulated to such
Il rrightful extent on the head of that devoted
gentleman, that there was little left for 4
bloatcd and reckless Thermometer to accom-
pli-h in rccNciling him to the change. Mr..
Potter undoubtedly believes that it ''iS not
good for man to be alone in winter. But
in Summer, with the mercury at 1907 i'll the
icG-cclar, when the streets arc melting down
into the cutters and nothing is too much
cover, it is different. Besides it was great
deal more healthy for Il lady of Mrs. Pottcr's
delicate constitution, to spend a few months
with her friends in the country-espccially
when gentleman of Mr.. Pottcr's fragile
appearance wanted to 90 on fishing eXcur-
Son in the mountains in an opposite dircc-
ton. Mrs. Pottcr's duty to society required
it, and Mr.. Pottcr's manly devotion to the
'lodge,' made the piscatoral path Of virtue
a necessity. So the day arrived for a third
attempt, and Mrs. Potter was fearful, and
Mr.. Potter was much more cheerful than
could ever be expected under the crcum-
stances. The train was expected to leave at
9 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 three
O'Clock on the hottest afternoon of this year
Of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
scycnty-four, when Mr.. Potter sauntcrcd
slowly down Pennsylvania avenue, defend
ing himself from the sun with an ancient
umbrella, looking at fishing tackle in the
shops, and debating within himself whether
trout really have scales. 1t was too hot to
reason about anything except cremation, so
he stepped into Aman's for 4 cobblcr and
to get the very latest about Tom Collins.
There he met friend who was to be one of
the fishing excurSionistS, and the converse
tion taking the direction of trout and clarct
punch Potter incidentally mentioned that his
wife was to leave that evening. Mr.. Potter
was quite cool and agreeable now.
"Rut there is no train at that hour" says
the friend, on hearing the time mentioned.
" "lihm?' replied Potter, incredulously.
Then his friend drew forth Il paper and
pointing to the timetable, said-'5:20, my
dear sir" as coolly as if it had been Potter's
treat and the words, THANK you | don't
care if | do If Mr. Potter left so hastily
as to forget to pay his bill we are morally
certain jury would acqut him on the
ground ofemotional insanity, In his flight
he saw there was time yet At the Sixth
street Office the ticket agent corroberatcd his
friends newspaper.
lie purchased his ticket and asked for a
Pullman section.
"Ilavc nothing but single upper BERTH
said the agent, looking out Of the window
languidly,
The duce!' piously calculated Potter
whose wife couldn't climb tree.
"You might ret one at the other Office, y
remarked the man, yawning.
The "othcr office WAS a mile away to-
wards the Treasury. Bat Potter was hot
now and he rushed INTO the street and hailed