The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-02-19
THE TICKET AGENT.

Western trains gone, madam, said
Farmer Brown, coming into the waiting 6
room of the little depot.
"The train I was to takef" I said,
gasping.
"Yes, madam too bad, but can't be
helped. Harness will give out some
times, you know" said he sympathjzing-
"When is the next Weste n train
due ?"
"Not till six o'clock you've got five
hours to wait. Be dreadful tiresome.
But there's a nice family that lives in
t'other part of the house s'pose I tote
you in there? I know Mrs. Holly1l
give you q bite of suthin' to eat, and
she'll be proud to let you rest on her
spare bed. Fine woman, Mrs. Holly is
Il knowher. Won't you go in and see
her?"
"No, thank you, sir ; dare say that
I'll be quite comfortable here"
"Waal jes as you please. But now I
must be goin'. Hope you'll git to your
journeys end sefe. Goodbye"
And Farmer Brown left the room, got
into his wagon and soon disappeared
down the dusty road.
had been visiting friend who lived
in country settlement, some five or
six miles from tue solitary building dig
nified by the name of depot, and when
the time came for mo to return homo,
she placed me in care OF neighboring
farmer who was going to distant vii
lage and would pass the station.
During our ride we met with an acci-
dent. Part of the harness gave way, and
we were detained such a length of time
that, as the reader knows, I was too late
for the train.
After Farmer Brown left me amused
myself by reading newspaper which
some one had left lying on the seat.
Finishing this, I studied the design OF
the wallpaper, counted the panes OF
glass in the little window, and wondered
at the tidiness of the whole apartment.
Then a thought struck me. ooh.
probably the place is kept clean by Mrs.
Holly, over whose virtues Farmer Brown
was 80 enthusiastic Wonder if this
same worthy female would give me q
glass of water?''
And tapped on the door communi-
eating with the other apartments.
"Come in" said a CHEEKY voice, and
entering, I found myself in one of the
prettiest, cosiest rooms had ever seen.
The most delicious tint of buff was on
the walls; cool mating covered the
floor, muslin curtains, festooned with
ivy, hung at the windows, pictures and
flowers and NIL the dainty belongings
that make room look 80 homely and
pleasant.
And, most charming of all, there lay
in white .draped cradle q rosy baby,
fast asleep, with rings of golden hair fall
ing over b; g white brow, and a great red
velvet rose clasped in his di:npled hand.
Over him bent woman OF twenty-five
or three years-a little mite OF a
woman, with bright, dark face, wildly
colored big black eyes, and wondrous
dark hair wound in heavy braids about
her stately head.
She arose, with a smile, when I en-
tered.
"Excuse me; but may I trouble you
for glass of water ?" I said.
"No trouble at all. Pray be seated.
Excuse mo-" and she left the room.
Presently she returned, bearing a
salver, covered with snow-white nap
kin, containing glass of water, q glass
of creamy milk, saucer of luscious
strawberries and plate of ge-cake,
light as yellow foam.
Pardon me-" she said, smiling, "if
I take too great liberty; but, you see,
Farmer Brown told me OF your being
obliged to wait so long, and I thought
you might be hungry"
"Why, how very kind you are y I
exclaimed, in pleased surprise.
"Not at all; it is a pleasure to me.
If you are hot and dusty, perhaps you'd
like to bathe your face. If so. just step
in here"
And she led the way into little white
bedroom-the very heart OF cleanliness
and purity.
In q little while was very different
being from the cross, dusty, hungry
mortal who had sat in the hot waiting
room. I found Mrs. Holly perfect
title gem of woman, md, after the
manner OF our sex, we soon became rs
we'll acquainted as if we had known each
other for years. And while l was lying
languidly upon the comfortable sofa, and
she seated in hcr low chair stitching
away at her baby's dress, she told me
the one romance of her life.
81 have lived in this little depot all
my days" she began. Ny father was
agent here; and he served the company
40 long and so we'll that when he died
they kindly allowed me to remain in his
place with the same wages, too! For,
you see, was seventeen, and my father
had long before taught me telegraphing
and all tho other work. About year
after my fathers death I became &C.
quainted with Jack-Jack Holly, my
husband" and Mrs. Holly looked up
and smiled.
Jack was one of the best engineers on
the road (and is now, too), and every
body considers him an honest, likely
young fellow. He thought the world Of
me, and we became engaged. But you
know how girls are The weakest OF
them make strong man tremble."
GA weak girl held all his heart strings
in her small, white hand ?" I said.
eyes; and I dare say often pulled
| Ta,k,a bnork strin on rather hard. but he