The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-10-18
WAITING FOR THE TRAIN.

He growledi smiled.
"Confound 'em. They're always
laie!" he growled again.
a OF course, too, confounded them
, in my heart of hearts; but, being q
woman, | hid my sorrows in my
breast, and endured it heroically
Heroicslly. Ii there isn't herolsm
/ in waiting pstiently for train three
, hours oser-due--in enduring the
, smell OF tobacco; the profanity Of
rough men; the gas from the great
monster of coal stove that always
: dwells i, waiting rooms; in suffering
the paBgs of hunger in dying of the
headache and heart-ache--in know
ing that your complexion is begrimed
by cinders that your chignon is CON-
ing down, and your crimps straight
eniDg out; that your bonnet is awry;
. that your hands are dirty; that you
present upon the whole, a woeiully
battered appearance, which is paic-
fully suggestive Of having been out
over night, and not getting home in
the morning-if to be, and to know
all this, and still to smile. and smile
aud be amiable, is not hefoism, pray
what is
/ | had been there three mortal
hours. had eaten all my sandwich
es, and read all my newspapers;
moreover, had committed to memo
~ all the posters on the walls. |
had composed several cantos of poet
ry, and a tragedy deep and bloody
enough to thrill the hardest heart.
Ii was only small effort more in
The same direction TO look benigniy
ON the old man, and even attempt
consolation.
Il dare say the train will be here
soon now,n l said pleasantly.
lie turned his face toward me, aud !
-narIed. In 50 doing, be showed all
array OF long, yellow, pointed teeth.
Ii vas not an agreeable spectacle 1
And now that no.iced it, his wien
ed. wrinkled, old face-Lis narrow,
cold, leadeu eyes, which could hard
/ ly light up, | fancied, but at the i'm
pulse Of anger-his grizzled, shaggy
beard and slouchiug figure, made up
tat ensemble far from prepossess-
ing.
"You dare say y ne growled.
w bat do you know about it
They'll come when it's too late. The
duce lake 'em."
He scowled and muitered, and bit
bis fnger-nails.
Iii yen were NV father old fellow"
| thought, Il should run away, or
drown myself
But be wasn't, most fortunately
and SO felt curious desire tc poke
him up liIIle-mske him show his
teeth and growl, like the ugly old
bear that be was.
You seem to be in hurry to go
On" | said
"ln duce OF bury, ma'am." he
snapped out. very shortly.
Hooked at him, wond ring why.
He turned upon me suddenly.
"See here you look like sensible
person I'm tempted to tell You my
errand. All You look curious now.
After all, perhaps You'll sympatbize
sith thai pair of young fools" be |
sneered. j
II must say, sir, that | think
there's mUre excuse for a young fool (,
than an old one" | said quietly. {
He bounded cut Of bis chair, went
to the door, opened it and slammed I
IL behind him. {
"Por mercy sake ma'am J" :
This vas the liiile, red, fat station
master. lie was engaged in feeding q
with fuel the monster VI stove |
aud ne paused in bis work {
aud surveyed me with open-eyed f
wonder. .
Nv hat have | doue," | asked,
laughing. !
"Done done!" be repeated, and
be swung his hands, and chuck U
LED alarmingly. L
why, there ANT man, woman, s
Or child who ever heard Of him that S
would dare 10 say SO much 10 him.
Why, that's Old Grinderl"
"Old Grinder is it. :" Il
"Uld Grinder, ma'am. ! reckon
you've heard OF him." in tone "
v hieh Implied that not TO know Old
innder would be to argue ones self e
lBknown-
"0b, yes. / bad heard Of Old b
Grinder" )
or course ! had. Wasn't be miser- N
v. cruel old fellow, aud hadn't be
,weet little blossom Of daughter m
,alied Nannie-I bad seen her once, 10
md never should forget he tender.
,atienr. sorruwful fsee-snd wasn't
here something about lover :"
The statiun-Inaster smiled. he &C
vas man who dearly loved dish 10
# -ossip and | was woman. curl !"
,us and sympsthetic He told me sa
be story then. Parts of il ] knew, ST
or bad spent long. idle summers to
u Old Grlnder's close neigbborbood.
He was the richest old curmudgeon 10
d all The country round. There was eo
time vi ten be wss not called Old
irInder. but John Oakley. which Was dr
Is real name and In those days be
fOn fair, gentle woman, who was 70
rawn TO him by heaven kno~s wha. ni
invisible to all eyesexcept
ers au
Poor, pretty Mamie Oakley lived
1rough few pale years of welded oe
fe. and then died, leaving behind ns
er auo,ber Mamie her daughter. :"
his girl vas # different metal from ef
er mother. The rougher nature OF ed
er father, modified BY her mothers
en,lepess, hloomed anew in SWEET. De
r. more beautiful furm- Mamie was vi
Ill of spirit, bot tender as . dove SO