Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-01-16

of silence, in which he asks after YOU
And he read me the letter.
"What queer old boyl'' I exclaimed
"What does he mean9" for / did not ex
actly understand it.
"Mean," cried my father, excitedly
snatching the letter from me, and crush.
ing it in his pocket. "Why, to make you
his heir, Philip-his heirp'
"Whew!' said I, blushing; "that's g
good idea"
"You must apply for leave to 20 off al
once," said my father. "Strike while the
irons hot. It's splendid chance. Philip
splendid Use it we'll, and your fortune
is made"
So I thought, applied for leave, and sci
off for the Paddington Station soon after
with my ears ringing with legion of in.
structions TO, pleasing old men, given me
by my fellow-clerks. The only one
could clearely remember was, to rise
whenever he came into the room, and
then eschew every comfortable arm chair
for fear he should want it. felt burst.
ing with importance, and actually treated
myself to glass of hot whisky ana wa.
ter at the refreshment room.
"Hello, William!" suddenly cried a
voice.
"Why, Jack, what brings you here9" l
replied, recognizing friend, John Evans
II am going down to Gloucester" said
he. Where are you off too
"Oh, to such luck!" I cried. I am of
beyond Hereford, to humor an old gen.
tleman."
"What?" said Jack.
"Come along, and Ill tell you all
about it," said T. "Second class? Yes all
right. Here we are"
After we were settled in our places, an
old man got in. He was poorly dressed,
and wore a green shade over one eye,
while the other looked weak and droop.
ing. We grunted our disapproval at his
entrance, and made mutual grimaces, but
as his blind eye was toward us they were
lost to him. As the train moved of, l
Told Jack my story, which you know al
ready.
well done. Philip! Your bread is
buttered for you," he exclaimed, when he
mad heard me to the end. "What 8
glorious chance! Man alive, wish I were
in your shoes, that's ALL"
eyes, yes. my boy. All right" I ex.
claimed. "Well, it's shame if I DOM
secure a good smoke now, before the light
of my pipe goes out into obscurity. DE-
you object to smoke, sirS'
This latter question was addressed te
the old gentleman in the corner, who ap
peared curious mass of old coats, rail
way rugs, and newspapers.
II do object very much" was the
grumy-spoken reply.
VERY sorry, SIR said I. "l1l KEEP
my head out of the window, then.''
Shame seizes me when I recall this in.
cident. In lieu of attention to the ole
mans wishes, I coolly lit my pipe, anc
though l knew the wind would blow the
smoke right into his eyes--though
heard him growing with rage-I pufte6
on heedlsssly. should be sorry to bt
so rude now, but you see was young
and excited.
The short January afternoon was draw
ing to close, and very soon after w
were dependent for light on the lamp
that hung from the center of the carriage
roof.
Whether it was the old mons example
who had gone to sleep, or the monoton
Gus noise of the train as it sped along, o.
thatour powers of chatting were exhausted
l knew not, but anyhow we too began *
feel inclined for a nap. But we founi
the lamp an intolerable nuisance with it
necessarily Pickering light.
"Bother it! Can't we blow it out2'
exclaimed.
'Not if We cracked our cheeks. Blu
I've a notion" cried ever ready-wittec
Jack. "aand me the old boys hat"
"Whatever for9' as I handed him th,
article in question. It was worn ani
rusty. but we'll brushed and we'll shaped
"To make an extinguisher Of" replied
Jack; and so saying he fitted it on tn,
lamp, making the globe act like the bale
head of the owner of the hat. Fitted tx
a nicely, and SO tightly as to keep we'll il
its place. The arrangement answered
splendidly, and not glimmer of igh
was to be seen.
When the train stopped at Swindon W,
awoke, and rushed out Of the carriage tc
get refreshments, quite forgetting our fel
low-passenger and his hat. On returning
we found they had both flown. Til,
train started, and when we arrived a
Gloucester, Jack left me. I had cool
lonely journey to my destination, q it'll,
STATEN just below Hereford. When
arrived, it was nine o'clock; dark, raw
night; was very sleepy and tired. Fo
some moments L could not find my port
manteau; thon my hat-box was missing
and while I was searching, the guard wa
exclaiming about the delay of the train
At last 1t was all found, the guard whis
tied, the train moved of, and: I wa
standing on . little country platform, il
strange place. .@' - z2s ? .251f . :.
"Any cabs or dys to get herea" aske'
the station-master T. -
+, Dear me, no, sill, was the reply. "Bu
we can get you something, down in tn
town. Where is it to 60, sir2' '
II want to 90 to Mr.. Fosberry's, Q
Castle Hail." / replied 50: ssssa5., =.
Ifpaced the wretched little station til
the conveyance came, with my mind full
of the, coming meeting. : asked til
driver how far we had to go. avn a. Fl
How far, sira" said he. 'oh, abou
four miles," =zsE-yr rs =%ss>@ J.
I got in and we bowled along the dar
narrow lanes. After half an hours driv
We entered some handsome iron gate