The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-02-25

4 ANAtN VI INV ~ ARNh ANRAAt NAN NJ
tie TO look az. Half n hundred one-storl
houses scattered about with some pre-
sumptuous attempt at regularity, whicr
was worse than any degree OF disorder,
were not inviting 10 the eye. a newish.
unfinished, weather-bOardy place, f0I
which the railroad was wholly rcspon.
sible-a place. albeit, which the enter
prise Of the circus and the patent mcdi.
cine had evidently followed closely mp.
Ii had been l~ivelier two or three years
before than il was now, they told him,
for AT that time il had been the terminus
Of theroad. But that ruthless maker and
unmaker Of cities and towns had crepi
on in course Of time and left thi, possible
metropolis a 'laid-out' city in adoubie
sense. Ii was now only one of the many
unimportant beads which the track had
strung on is line, and so business was
dull. Yet TO 10 il vas suggestive Of The
bustling world te which he had once be-
longed, and served To revive in his soul
a few strains OF the music of humanity
which had well-nigh become silent. He
was more crazy than ever 70 get of, but
there he a and there he must stay
all night.
Thinking il over, he concluded to put
up At the Central Hotel-a longish,
many-windowed building, dingy with
dirt from the sidewalks, but perhaps
the best house of its kind the place
could muster. There was the usual bar
room l0afing: the usual round Of coarse
Jokes and tobacco splitting the usual
rush OF all parties to the station when
the train from the East whistled in the
distance.
With this last movement 10 himself
fell In, and idly watched with the others
the mailbag, the two pine boxes, the
old gentleman, and the girl with the
scarlet braided saque come of the train.
Then, apparently satisfied with these
small items Of interest, the crowd dis
persed.
In our hero's wake, as he sauntered
back 10 his lodgings, was a young man
whom | have no excuse in the world for
Introducing 10 YOU except for the fact
that he some way introduced himself 10
10. lie was full OF that g~ood-natured
chatter which your Western yeoman
takes pleasure in, and 10, among other
things, learned that there was a night
school in the place. that his companion
attended, and that it met that night.
Would the stranger 90 Tonga
"Yes, lie believed he would indif-
~ferently replied 10.
And he went. When he had seated
himself and looked about him, he open
ed his eyes very wide indeed. Behind
the desk sat the scarlet jacket which
had come OF the train. In il was a
slender little creature, with eyes as
black as sloes, and a great fleece of
black hair cOmbed back, and tied with
a scarlet ribbon. This glowing fairy
OF the ferule, so 10 speak, was ruling
things with a high hand in that school
room. Her pupils were, for the most
part, boys and grown men, though a
dozen or 20 girls back in n corner
served 70 soften the scene
"A regular Yankee" thought Jo-
missing it, - you will see. Neverthe-
less, he watched the proceedings with
interest, and was not loath at the end
10 be taken 10 the desk and presented
to her sprightly highness. If the truth
must be told, a thrill or two ran up his
arm rs he took her mite of a hand in
his big one. With some effort he prick
ed up his tagging knowledge Of the
ways Of the world. and talked with her
for full five minutes. During this time
he managed To learn that she had set
afoot the night school 10 supplement
the day school, which all who ought to
could not attend. She was from Hi
nois. Her name was Miss Beck. She
lived at Smocking-the next station
with her father, who had brought her
there three years ago.
By this time she was drawing on her
gloves, and her escort was waiting. 10
babe her goodnight, and both went
their ways.
He remarked how chilly the air was rs
he went to his hotel. His teeth almost
chartered. lie wondered later why he
couldn't sleep. Long after midnight his
wide-open eyes were staring up at the
ceiling. He thought he had never felt
Just 20 before. BY and by still more
novel sensations took possession Of him.
An irresistible desire 10 yawn seized his
Jaws, and il seemed a. if those useful
members were in danger Of dislocation.
lie could have drank a tubful of water,
50 thirsty was he. ley ripples began to
chase each other up and down his back.
His fingers and toes were, oh, how cold,
Then he shook-shOok till the bedstead
writhed under him, and the covers slid
to the floor time and again. There was
no hope Of mistake about it. He was in
an ague fit himself this time, and laid
up for one day at least.
The landlord mustered adoctor, such
as he was. Quinine. Of curse. He
knew ague, if nothing else, and with
wisdom born from experience he adj
ministered a dose large enough to throw
the most stubborn chills on the delen-
sive, ii not rout them from the field.
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