The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-07-23


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 | 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 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 detected an amused twinkle in
his eyes and a 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 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 mddle-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 | 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
indign alton. 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 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:
a. Shall ] place some of these bundles
up in the rack for you, young lady? l
can find no other seat in this car that is
not occupied by some person.
''' You will please to leave my things
where they are she snappishly replied
{ 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 near
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
"'Oh! l beg your pardon, young lady.
l had no idea that was about to en-
croach upon your rights. | did not sup
pose that you hadpaid for both of these
seats. But you have, of course; for
nothing can be clearer than that lady
would never speak to 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.
ho fipEn
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
sengers who had observed what was 60
ing on smiled approvingly, and one or
two laughed aloud; and the old man
nodded his head emphatically and whls
pered to the young carpenter THAT acas
Just achat she deserred.'
"The young lady tucked back her dress
disdainfully and looked scornfully at the
man beside her, and thought that she
tive; but, if she weres she was prevented
by gentleman's rushing up to the win
dow where she sat and exclaiming:
"'I came near not getting back to say
goodbye 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 ii
has so happened that l cannot accompany
you. l hope that you will have a pleas
ant ride and get to the seminary without
any trouble
"' 4 pleasant rider she repeated, sar-
castically; then putting her head partly
out of the window she whispered, spf
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
things and take a seat beside her: l
shall have lovely time; you may be
sure of that, father. An insolent old car
penter has crowded himself into the seat
with me, and
the moving off of the train. Soon after
the cars started the insolent old carpen-
ter turned toward her and said, as COM
placently as he would have done if he
had not heard her epithets:
"Your fathers voice sounded ia
miliar to me, young lady, and was about
to rise and see if l knew him when the
cars moved out of the depot. Will you
please give me his name?'
"'No, sir, will not,' she haughtily
replied l am not in the habit of hold
ing conversation with strangers
GO Oh! ah! please excuse me, he said,
unable to repress 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 station
she hastily arose, and, gathering up her
packages, which were rather more than
she could conveniently manage, said, inn
peratively:
G. Let me pass out
"Certainly, young lady, he pleasantly
replied. stop here myself. You seem
to be burdened with packages. Allow
me to take some of them out of the car