Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-27

"Brothers and sisters like you? Maybe you
haven't any. How many brothers and sisters
II might have fifty" growl 1, "but I
haven't
! "No7 Lost sones?"
| A relapse again into silence fast verglng on
"Don't like to talk about your family, meb-
be; Some people don't: I don't mind. Lief
! talk about my folks as not. Got any objection
| to my asking how old you are?"
| "None In the world"
| A new and prolonged pause.
| "YOu haven't told me-"
"What?"
| GLOW old you are'
"You haven't asked me-"
More meditation. This time resulting in no
| enhancement.
:" did; but ! don't mind asking you over
again, How old are you?"
"Old enough TO mind my own business and
to tell other people to mind theirs. You really
VIII DO me favor, my friend, by asking me no
more questions"
| profound reverie, and l thought my purgatory
was ended. Vain thought. He came up to the
| next round, smiling.
"Lecturing's your trade, amt 1t? You make
your bread and butter by It, don't your"
My tiled head nodded what served for an as
| sent.
mill, then? One fellows stamps ares good as
| another's, hey?"
am forced to admit it.
"Wel, now," growing emphatic and drag
| ging out some greasy looking bills and cur
! rency. look here. You'll never lecture in our
| town. It's too derned small. But I'd like to
hear what you can do when your steam's up.
thought I'd get free blow out, but reckon
you weren't born yeSterday-got your eye
teeth cut. There's a dollar; IL that pay you
for good SQUARE talk and all the fixens7'
make 1t manifest to him that it iC0n't. and
hold my peace once more.
What! not for a dollar, Well, then, it's
pretty steep but don't mind just for once 60
ing ttrO dollars"
Not even for two dollars can be wound up
and made to go, and his forbearance is ex-
hal sted.
You don't mind my telling you that think
you're pretty considerably much on the make?
l Mt yer did see your beat. You won't be socia-
BILE, and you won't make square trade?
You're not the woman for my STAMPS" putting
back his unwashed currency. Il wouldn't ia <
to gu ff-well, I'd as lief talk to a stone WALL
Perhaps you'd like your own company"
Anu as did not contradict him, he gathered
himself up, overcoat and all, and replanted
himself for slow roast by the fiery dragon of
q stove.
But, evidently. bore me no malice, for, get
ting out at a lumber town. In the woods, he
paused and said, III you ever SHOULD speak
anywhere round, I'll come to hear you'
AN IMP oMPTU Coz FsKtNoE.-He being gone,
tefOre could relapse into my usual condition
OF stony silence enter another sp ecimen.
III Is one came In from the smoking car, AM,
peerlng about with pair OF small sharp eyes
set too close together to commend their owner,
presently spied me, and. posting to the seat
vacated by my lumber friend, proceeded, not 10
draw from but to DeSJoW upon me.
IL heard you last night, ANNIE" he re.
marked, by way of an easy and friendly OPEN
ing, '.at -. don't live there. l happened
in. Yes" no repeated, Il happened into the
too Inflated at his voluntarily seeking the show,
and must tell NE how it fell by chance.
| appreciated his consideration and awaited
further developments.
"Yes" he reiterated, to make sure l fully
understood him, II went to hear you, and I
must say, on the whole, was agreeably diSap
pointed, didn't believe woman could speak
so WELL"
After pause to give due weight to the an
nounceinenL:
"Tm a DOCTOR"
In spite OF the weighty Information, l was
still able to maintain an upright position and
gaze at him unralteringly.
A half dozen men who had changed their
seats so as to be at close quarters were Sitting
about very STILL with weather eye fixed on
us, and one ear set at an alertangle to catch
whatever might be said, as is the fashion of
your true Western American when any thing Is
''gotng on" ready to listen or to strike in, If
occasion offers, on either side, impartially
NO." he went on raising his voice and look
ing toward the conference meeting, 81 liked
to hear you well enough. You're smart
There's no denying that, but don't like your
sentiments. l think 100 highly OF the sex-Tm
a lady's man myseLf-to have them turned out
to shoe horses, and build roads, and be black
Smit and transfers, the way you want em
to be. l suppose you'd like 'em to wear trouS-
ers and chew" rolling his quid and splitting an
whole figure generally, wouldn't your"
sob. no, my friend, answered I, being thus
appealed TO. sid like YOU" surveying mis- lit
tie head and his big body, "and such men as
you, to turn out and shoe the horses, and mend
the roads, and be blacksmtths ana teamsters,
and leave vacant the places you are not filling,
as doctors. or ministers, or lawyers, for the
same number of intelligent, needy, wide-awake
young women, and you could cling, unmoleSted,
to your congenial pastimes Of chewing, and
drinking, and swearing, to the endof your re-
Gnppfiyp chapfprS
He didn't like the suggestion. In fact, have
often noticed that opinions In regard to the
utility Of the rod depend upon the end that
says, 81 never could be brought to my fathers
mind upon that matter"
The conference meeting smiled audiblv,
which didn't please my professional friend,
who emphatically remarked:
like, well enough, to hear strong minded
woman talk, but I'd be mighty sorry to marry
one"
"Set your mind at ease upon that matter
sir. You have no need for anxiety. Be sure
that none but weak minded woman will ever
say yes to you"
a Fit him again" mumbled member of the
conference meeting, whose SympathieS had
been plainly manifested at the outset, on The
"otber side.' 1t is one Of the sure character
above all things he enjoys watching fight
and seeing somebody cracked"
"Oh,' growled M. D., you'd like to have your
wife support you, would you?"
"CertiD," answered the long legged fellow
assailed, firing his salute Of tobacco juice.
''Certin," he answered, meditatively, 'f was
such derned mean cusS as not to be able to
take care of myself"
At which the conference meeting smiled
again, and my professional friend retired to
his silence and left me TO mine.
"Never you m1nd,' said long legs, consol-
ingly and admiringly, and firing fresh salute
In honor OF the sentiment, yo,E'U get as many
husbands as you want that's dead sure" and
so retired to his silence, leaving me to won
dering meditation on human nature till /
reached Ann Arbor and content.
A LECTURE IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the
profound gloom without, perhaps it was not
strange the president Of the association was
anxious for something lively in the evening.
He was afraid the audience might not like
the lecture on ''Jo-ann," because 1--WE don't
read much in this town, and haven't no IL
brary, nor yet many books aud there amt
many OF us as has more than heard Of her."
i suggested that they should take some other
lecture that might be bit spicy and so suit
them better.
"No You're making that euery,chere, amt
you? Up TO Chicago, and down at st. Louis,
and all round?"
Even so'' confessed.
"Well, we are going to have first chop what
ever It Is, and JO-ann seems to I'LL the BILL
In spite OF his asSeyeratton however, my
friend was not satisfied with the "bill," for he
shook his head sadly and slow, and at last ven-
tured, ''Nothing brisk in 1t, eh?"
&c O q 7 ,nfro