The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-06-17
Soup and Trouble.


suit of storc-clothes and bearing heavy
look of trouble around his mouth and acros,
lhiS brow, went into restaurant and taking
Y a seat apart from all other diners, showed
his hat under the table, sighed deeply, and
called for soup.
Anything more!"
The hot liquiG was mpdc black with pep.
per, and then followed a swishing, gurgling
sound, at quick intervals, like the plashing
OF the tide. At the end of three minutes
the bowl was empty and the waiter again
summoned
'NIore soup"
1t was brought.
"Anything morc'"
emo"
Tears gathered in the eyes of the gloomy
man, but he brushed them away with his
napkin, and plunged his spoon again into
the steaming soup. The elbow crooked
and Strengthened with the regularity OF a
heartbeat, and presently the waiter was
beckoned once more. He stepped up with
visible irritation, hut catching an admonish-
ing look from the steward, bent forward
with suavity
'Nlorc SOUP" said the man with plain
tive voice brmmng over with emotion.
"Anythng clsc2"
"No."
"fIadn't better bring in the kettle this
trip" said the waiter
"You might" said the man, with sigh
that Jared the table T'vc got heaps of
trouble to drown"
"Wc've got cruel that will do more
with less bulk, " said the waiter. "It might
hit tho right spot sooner"
H've never found no balm for wounded
spirit that could walk around soup special
~ if it's hot and tocrably high seasoned.
l don't know whether it comes of being hot
ana fetching OH the sweat or not, but it
reaches for trouble every Ilnlc, and gets
away with hcartache quickcr'n anything
ever tried; so you may keep on with it
guess, till my mind gets easy enough to
tackle corn beef and cabbage"
The waiter was softencd by the humble
grief before him, and much regretted his
thoughtlcss chatting. He felt sympathetic,
and longcd to soothc the aching breast
"lourc in trouble them" he vcnturcd,
timidly.
81 am pardncr-ticep," said the man, rs
lie reached over for fresh pcppcr-box.
'Losc your property"
"No-no. Worse'n that"
"Fricnds--near kinfolks maybc2" qucried
tllc "hltcT, WIFI SODcr look.
"Worse'n that, a good deal"
"You don't say Pm real sorry, sir;
but maybe twas all for the best
'No, I'll be dad-thumpcd if it was!" cx-
claimed the stranger, choking on the soup,
and getting red in the face. "Docs it ever
do a man any good to be swindcd2"
"Why, no-surely not"
"Well. that's just what I've hncn, and
In the meancst, dog -gonest way that any
body ever was sold, too. Partlper, I'vo
been the victim of base dcceivin' one
eyed schcmer. | was married last Mon
day."
The waiter could only make big eyes,
and catch his breath. The sud man pro-
cccdcd
81 said married, but swindlcd was the
word mcant-took in shameful. | mar
ricd on spec,' with every prospect of get
ting both money and beauty, and here am
euchred blind. She was widow, living
in good style, in bunkum good house that
cvory body said belonged to her, and so [
thought there wasn't much risk. She was
ns pretty to look at as a ripe watermelon,
but turns out to be a bigger fraud than a
green pumpkin"
The poor victim broke down with emo
ton, and hadto pause and mop his eyes.
"Pardner, them shiny, dazzlin' teeth,
that wiltcd me the first time saw her grin,
turns out to be sham, shop-made, and not
even paid for yet and so help me Hcze-
kiah, one of her eyes Is glass, and she sleeps
with her hair on the back of chair; but
the worst Of it all is that the house was only
hor'n as long as she remained single, and
now the regular heirs have served notice on
her to vamoose, and she actually expects
me to find house and pay rent on it. I've
been to see a lawyer, and all the consolation
he gives me Is that I've got to grin and
bear 1t, cause the bargain was for better or
for worse. Fetch on another bowl of SOUP,
and have 1t Extra warm"
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