The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-18
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One or two young men came out O.
the Academy of Music when the oper;
was over, and fingered in the lobby tC
watch the passing of the crowd. Young
Fred Saulter came up to them while
putting his pearl lorgnette in its case.
Nice house, eh?' he said, languid.
". "Well dressed. See Fanny Swan
Wretched taste for young girls to weal
diamonds! What dye think of the
new tenor, Ell? Miserable, say"
The Older men answered him civilly
and walked on, leaving him with some
lads of his own age.
"What would Miss Swan say if she
heard that cub criticizing her?" said
DIR. Pomeroy. "The most insufferable
creature in the world to me is a con-
ceited boy, assuming the tone of man
OF position when he has not yet proved
his right to be alive"
81 thought young Saulter had mon
ey," said one of the party. HE
drives fine horse, wears clothes made
by better tailor than can afford, and
lunches at the best restaurant
Money! said the doctor, angrilv.
"Why, his father is head bookkeeper
for Smiler q Son, with a family of six.
He strained every nerve to educate this
boy, who now looks upon every practi-
cable way of earning his own living as
plebeian. I'll warrant you the fellow
never had twenty cents in his pocket of
his own earning. His restaurant and
llyery-stable bills come to his poor old
father at the end of the month";
Meanwhile, young Saulter stood COM
placently twirling his opera-hat and
watching the pretty girls as they
passed. He caught a glimpse of his
dapper little figure in a great mirror
the waXed mustache, lavender gloves,
wired roses in his button-hole, and
looked pityingly after the doctor and
his friends.
How those old fellows must envy
sparkle, and dregs, Ell? Oh, by the
way, | saw a curious thing to-day!
Dick Knight-you remember Knight in
our class, who took the scientific course
to fit him for civil engineer? Well,
it appears that, times being so hard, he
could get no proper work to do, so he
has taken to improper. Instead of lay
ing by as | have done, waiting quietly
for an opening for an educated man to
step into, he actually is-rm ashamed
to tell it!''
"What? What is he?" asked his
listeners.
"Driving an engine on the Central
Road! Fact! saw him, all grimy with
smoke, in his little caboose to-day.
Good heavensr l said; Knight, are
you mad?'
"' Not so mad as to starve,' he said,
laughing.
II asked him why his father did not
support him and keep him from such
degradation. Then he aOaS mad.
"'Do you think l, with my big, strong
body, will be burden on an old MANI
he said; and began to talk nonsense
about laziness degrading man, and that
no man was ever degraded by honest
work, with more of the same sort OF
bosh, all very ridiculous and very dis
graceful. You'll see him tonight il
you take the eleven p. m. train"
Tut, tut!' the lads said; and "Pool
Knight! he was good fellow!' precise
ly as if he were dead.
Indeed, from the light brilliancy Of
the scene about them-the music, the
beautiful, low-voiced women, them
selves daintily attired, that gay and
happy part of the world-there was ;
gulf like to the grimy engine-driver il
the dark depot, a gulf which none but ;
mailman, they thought, would willing
ly cross.
They sauntered out of the opera
house, and a few minutes before
eleven reached the depot, in time TO
the train that ran out to the suburban
town where they lived.
There he ISL whispered Saulter
"He takes our train out, but the en-
CINE is not yet put to it.
The engine was on siding, putin;
and splitting little jets of steam, ant
Dick Knight, tall, manly young fel
low, was coming at the momen
down from the Superintendent room
He caught sight of his old classmates
laughed, hesitated and raised his han
to his hat.
Going to speak to him, hey?" SAT-
little Billy MCGEE, anXiously.
The young men grew red and embal
raised. Seine of them nodded to Knigt
awkwardly, and seemed inclined to g
and meet him.
81 say nor said Saulter, peremptC
rily. "If he chooses to leave the con
partnership of gentlemen, l shall ne
follow him. talk to mechanics an
that sort of people who never had
chance to be anything better, but Knigl
is social suicide, sirr'
"Thats true" said McGee. "Ho'
well Saulter puts thingsr' he addec
aside. "'Social suicider Well, l sha
not bring him to life"
Knight saw that the young me
wished to avoid him, and turned asi(