Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-04-20
The Absent-Mfnded Travellers.

The Absent-Mfnded Travellers.
We have heard of a man who was so
absent. minded that at night when he re-
tieed he frequently put his pantaloons
carefully in bed aud then flung himself
neriigently over the back Of chair and
stoned there all night without finding
Cut his mistake. But the Danbury Mems
man details q worse case: - Several pas
SEM gers vere sitting in the waiting-room
of the Danbury railroad station one even
ing. Two of them were men who did not
| appear 20 be acquainted with any one,
and who were sitting apart, each busliy
engaged in his own thoughts. Both OF
them happening to look up at the same
time, they caught each others glances. a
look of mutual recognition Immediately
followed, and they rose and shook hands;
How are your an2iously inquired
No. /.
. Pretty good How are you r said No.
2 in tone of solIcitude-
Pretty good Waitin' for the trains"
:. Yes. Are your"
q Yes
Then they both sat down, and in a mo-
ment were again absorbed In their re-
spective thoughts. In another moment
they caught each others glance again. A
lcok of recognition followed. Both rose
and grasped hands.
flow are yous'' inquired No. 1, with
considerable anxiety.
"a Pretty good How are you" asked
No. 2. anxiously.
Pretty good. waitin' for the train ?"
"Yes. Are your"
Yes"
This matter having been settled to the
satisfaction OF both, they sank back in
their seats, and again fastened their gaze
abs;ractedly on the floor between them.
With that appreciation of every trivial
circumstance peculiar TO people waiting
for a train, the companions OF the two
took especial notice of the first recog-
milton. On the second performance, they
stared with all.absorbing avidity al the
performers, and exchanged giances among
themselves, while two or three OF them
significantly tapped their foreheads and
looked meaningly at the two acquaint-
ances. This caused considerable uneasi-
ness among the others, and one very nerv-
Gus woman got up and went out on the
platform. The objects Of this sentiment,
oblivious to il, sat gazing intently at the
floor. Finally one of them raised MS
eyes. and they rested on the other. lie
looked quite hard at him. Then the
other raised his eyes, and the glances OF
both met. A look of recognition stole
| into the faces Of the two men. I'M
pulsiyely they rose to their feet, and
grasped each other Ey the hand.
"How are you?" asked No. ], with
deep interest
Pretty good. How are your' in
ouired No. 2. with intense anxiety.
Pretty good. Waitin' for train ~
Yes. Are your
"Yes.n
This last exhibition had such a marvel
Gus effect on the other people that No. i
was prompted TO issue an extra to the
regular edition in the shape OF:
!" Has the train conner"
AS soon as the two rose to shake hands
for the third time, a woman with two
children hastily transferred them TO the
outside platform. She was Immediately
followed by heavy woman with band
box, who had a sharp struggle at the
door, as to precedence, with short, slim,
pale man carrying a valise; but owing to
her preponderance of weight, got the vic
tory. They were promptly followed by a
weak. looking couple who had been In
dustriously nursing each others hands.
| The last in the number was large man
with pair of pompous side whiskers.
| He was at first disposed to maintain his
ground, but weakened at the last mo-
ment and skipped out as lightly as the
others, but made compromise with his
dignity by stationing himself at the win
dow, where he could peer in upon the lu-
natics. Left alone, the two acquaint-
anees sank back in their seats and fell to
staring at the floor before them as alb.
stractedly as before. Thus they remained
until the train approached, when, both
lifting their eyes, they impulsiyely rose to
their feet, movement which prompted
the large man at the window to excitedly
exclaim:
"They are at it again, by Jove!'
1t subsequently, transpired that the two
men were prominent residents down the
road, and both of them noted for their alb
sent mindedness, which probably explains
| the sinpularity of their conduct