Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-11-01
a TOURIST FROM INJIANNY."
~ nREr HARrl:.

We first saw him from the deck Of
the UnSr Fritz, as that gallant
steamer was preparing to leave the port
of New York for Plymouth, Havre, and
Hamburg. Perhaps twas that all OBJ
iects became indelibly impressed on
tile memory Of the departing yoyager;
perhaps it was that mere interrupting
triyialities always assume undue mag
nitude to us when we are waiting for
something really important, but re-
tain II vivid impression of him us he
appeared on the gangway apparently
hopeless, yet, rs 1t afterward appeared,
really triumphant alteration with the
German-speaking deck hands and
stewards. He was not heroic figure.
Clad in II worn linen duster, his arms
filled with bags and parcels, he might
have been taken for haekman carry
ing the luggage for his fare. But it was
noticeable that, although he calmly per-
sisted in speaking English and ignoring
the German Of his antagonists, he, iii
some rude fashion, accomplished his
object without losing his temper or in
creasing his temperature, while his
foreign enemy was crimson with rage
and perspiring with heat, and that
presently, having violated Il dozen Of
the ships regulations, he took his place
by the side of il very pretty girl, ap-
parently his superior i'll station, who
addressed him Us father As the
great ship was swung out into the
stream, he was still a central figure on
orr deck, getting into everybody's way,
addressing all with equal familiarity,
imperturbabe to ailront or snub, bat al
ways doggedly and consistently adher-
ing to one purpose, however trivial on
inadequate to the means employed.
You're sittin' on suthin' o mine,
Miss, he began for the third or fourth
time to the elegant Miss Montmorris,
who was reyisiting Europe under high
social conditions. "Jist rise up while |
get it-twon't take minnit." Not
only was that lady forced to rise. but to
make necessary the rising and di3com-
posing Of the whole Montmorris party
who We're congregated around her.
The missing "suthin' was discovered
TO be a very old and battered news
paper. It's the Cincinnati Times" he
explained, rs he quietly took it up, OBJ
liyious to the indignant glances Of the
party. :" It's little squoshed by youl
sittin on it, but it'll do to refer to. It's!
got letter from Payris, showin' the
prices o them thar hotels and rist'rants,
and allowed to my darter we might
want it on the other side. Thar's one
or two French names thar that rather
gets me-mebbee your eyes is strong
er, but here the entire Montmorris
party hustled away, leaving him with
the paper in one hand-the other point
ing at the paragraph. Not at all dis
comtted, he glanced at the vacant
bench, took possession Of it with his
hat, duster, and umbrella, then disap-
peared, and presently appeared again
with his daughter, lank-looking young
man. and an angular elderly female,
and 50 replaced the Montmorrisses.
When we were fairly at sea he was
missed. A pleasing belief that he had
fallen overheard, or had been left be-
hind, was dissipated by his appearance
one morning with his daughter on one
arm, and the elderly female before re-
ferred 70 on the other. The Ensef
Fut-, was rolling heavily at the time,
but with his usual awkward pertinacity
ne insisted upon attempting to walk to-
ward tie best part OF the deck, as he
always did, as If ii we're a right and
a duty. 4 lurch brought him and his
uncertain freight in contact with the
Montmorrisses, there was mo-
ment of Wild confusion, two or three
seats We're emptied, and he was finally
lcd away ~ the steward, an obviously
and obtrusiyely sick man. But when
he had disappeared below i was no
tieed that he had secured two excellent
seats for lis female companions. No
body dared to disturb the elder, no
body cared to disturb tic younger
who ii may be here recorded had
shy reserve which checked aught but
the simplest ciyiiities from the mascu-
line passengers.
i few days later i vas discovered
that lie was not an inmate Of the first,
hut Of the second cabin: that the elder.