The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-04-30
LONG AND SHORT.

Ii was Disappointing, certainly, 10 say
the least of III | had missed the train By
half minute. as porter-apparently nc
porter Of the station-kindly explained
10 me. although | was already informed
OF the fact. thanks 10 my own unalded
powers Of observation. | had arrived IN
tune only 10 hear the loud ringing OF the
bell. the parting scream OF the engine. and
the grinding and grooming OF the train Is
il passed out of the station--slOwly at
first and painfully. with much asthmatic
painting. then more and more rapidly, a
though IL had drawn a long breath. and
made up its mind for very quick run in
deed,-ihere being no other course open
Ia il. A frantic whirling in the air Of col
ored lights. final scream in the distance.
and then il was completely gone.-the red
amp behind il which had been glaring up
on me after 4 malign and bloodshot fash
ion. quickly fading and dimmng into
mere spark. and al last dying out and rs
appearing altogether
IL was the more vexatious. that the dog
cart in which / had been borne 10 the
station hal vanished The driver had
failed 10 appreciate my position. He was
drowsy, had noticed. and. no doubt. anx-
ious 10 get home again and TO bed. had
been staying. | should mention. at Rose
Hall. the county seat in Yorkshire, of my
old friend Richard Roe. and / was journey
ing back towards London. IL Was late al
night. very dark, and rather cold. There
would De no other train for some hours.
[ was left stranded at a lonely country
station, with very undecided views a. 10
how should dispose OF myself, and OF the
measure OF time that had. like AN incon-
venient liability, suddenly devolved upon
me.
| handed over my luggage TO the charge
of the porter. and then, acting upon his
advice. quilted the station-Le spoke Of
il disparagingly. as a place where no drink
could be obtained-and went in search OF
a Railway Hotel. which he described a.
being In the immediate neighborhoOd. L
found il with little difficulty ; new build
ing-in appearance something between an
ordinary public-house and what auction
GERS call "villa residence liz smelr
strongly OF size. and paint. and varnish (;
potent flavor of damp mortar pervaded
il very completely. However. il afforded
me refuge and shelter. advantages by no
means 10 be moderated. in view Of the
special circumstances of the case.
entered the coffee r0om-a lofty cham
Der with .nap-like damp stains upon its
plain implanted walls, very barely fur
nishedand feebly lighted BY single jet of
gas issuing from an ugly rectangular ar
rangement Of piping suspended near the
ceiling. | rang the bell and ordered some
hot brandy -and-wafer. | did not really
need refre-hment OF any kind. still less OF
that particular kind. for | had bur lately
Quilted Roe's hospitable table; but 1.-THE
good OF the house, had TO be considered.
Moreover. feeling of depression was fast
coming over me.
The room being very clonded with to-
bacco smoke, did not az first perceive
that's man. a stranger. was sitting In an
obscure corner. reading, or affecting 10
read. newspaper widely extended before
him, the while he smoked furiously.
took out nv cigar case. Ii seemed TO b.
one Of those OCCASIONS when il behooves a
man 10 smoke as a matter of self-defense.
raised my hand 10 obtain light from
the gas Jet above me. | failed 10 reach il.
/ was not tall enough.
ALLOW me- said the man behind {.
newspaper.
Therrupon long arm was stretched
forth. In moment he handed me fam
ing spill. My surprise was so great that
was unable just az first 10 avail myself Of
his polite attention. He had but hall risen
from his seat with a sort of uncoiling &C
ton. 1t was clear TO me that he was Of
most prodigious stature.
"a giant,- | exclaimed rather alb
ruptly than politely.
.'Just so.r he said goomily. "Yes
I'm afraid so. The fact can hardly be dis
guised / must admit that l am giant.
And he hid himself again behind his news
paper And now felt assured that he
was not really reading IL, for could sc,
that he held ii upside down.
No doubt his head was rather small IL
proportion TO his stature. Giants head
are usually small. think. And IL wa
not an impressive head. IL was indeed
rather weak. sheepish-looking head, witt
vacant facial expression, sloping fore
head, retreating mouth and chin, anS
blank watery blue eyes. He was not q
giant 10 inspire terror III
was more likely to enlis
sympathy and pity. He wore the de
pressed. cowed air OF meekness maltreat
cd, and humility outraged. He seemed Z,
NE, i'll may say so. a giant who had beer
.'put upon" He was quite young man
with small fluffy whiskers. and a color
less downy beard. He had blushed VIC
lently in speaking 10 me.
l felt curious concerning him. II wa
50 strange. meeting so monstrous a crea
lonely Yorkshire Railway Inn. Their
was something altogether very quaint, n
4 fancied. attending upon the circum
stances OF our encounter.
:" "A dark night observed presently
by way of saying something.
I'm glad it's dark" he said. Iii
voice was Of agreeable tone, though
might lack force and irmness somewhat