River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-09-04

4
done reasonably we'll, and were now
thankful enough to get back to New York.
AS the train gave its starting lunge,
the door fleS open, and in came tall,
old lady, in prodigious black bonnet
and fur cloak, surrounded by perfect
cheuaur de frise of squirrel cages, leather
bags, brown paper parcels, and sandwich
boxes She was followed closely by a
| Younger lady dressed in black, and close
~ veiled, ana paused hesitatingly in
front of our seat.
"Young man, said she, in a lew voice
as gruff as that OF a man, ais this seat
engaged2n
ayes said fairfield; ''it is"
"For your feet9'
mo matter what for" superciliously
replied the head clerk of jenkins, jun
perton s. Go. "Please to pass on, old
lady. You'll find seats enough beyond. "
But this was stretching of the truth.
There were no seats Geyond, as the old
lady could easily perceive. unless she
chose to sit directly opposite red-hot
coal fire or upon one OF those corner ar
rangements close to the door, which are
equivalent to no seat at all.
|
her heavy carpet-bag from one wearied
arm to the other. / thought Of my own
good Aunt Polly at home, ana rose at
once.
"Pay take this seat, ma am" said I.
"And let me put your parcels up in the
rack for you"
Clifton, what fool you are!n cried
Hatfield, IN an impatient sotto Uocs. why
couldn't you have sat still and minded
your own businessln
at Is my own business answered,
brusquely, "tO see that every lady Is
made as comfortable as il is in the nature
of things to be. Now the squirrel-cage,
maam-Itll go very comfortably under
the seat, think"
Hatfield uttered q contemptuous grunt,
but he never offered to trust his feet of
the opposite cushions, although the
Younger woman stood in the aisle, I'M
comfortably swaying backward and for
ward with the motion of the train, until
a woman beyond, observing the state of
affairs, drew q sleeping child in her lap,
and beckoned the other TO take the place
| thus vacated.
By this time my old lady had estab-
lished herself to entire satisfaction, and
opened her sandwich box.
"Much obliged to you, young man"
said she. ''It's easy to see that you've a
mother of ur own at home, and YOU'RE
in the habit of doing reverence to hei
gray hairs. As for this person"-wlth a
nod of her poke-bonnet IN the direction
If Mr.. Hatfield-"if he's got q mother,
can't say much for her bringing OF him
up. Perhaps he might be old himself
one day. and stand in need of little po-
likeness and consideration from the
young
wv. EN- I'm anxious for your good opin.
ion, ma'am, I'll let you know" returned
Mr. Hatfield, rather fippantly.
The old lady could only exl. ress herself
by vehement sniff And even | was Il
little annoyed at his manner.
Hatfield" said in a low tone, "you
might behave like a gentleman
$50 will, he retorted, with shrug,
''when I find myself in company that
calls tor such measurers."
said no more, but leaning against the
side of the doer, prepared 10 make myself
as comfortable as possible, until the train
should stop at Stamford, its first way
station, and some descending passengers
might make room for me.
Reader, did you ever stand in an ex-
press train in full motion: Did you ever
feel Yourself swayed backward and for
ward, humping one of your phrenological
Developments against one side of the car,
and bringing the base of your spinal col
umn against the top of seat at the OPP
poslte swerve of the trainl Did you ever
grasp blindly at nothing for support?
Did you ever execute an involuntary pas
seA, by way of keeping your balance, and
then grind your teeth to see the two pref
| ty Young ladies beyond laughing at your
antics2 If so, you will know how to pity
me during the hour and half between
B. and Stamford.
Hatfield went to sleep and snored; the
old lady in the gigantic bonnet ate sand
witches and drank from wicker fiasS of
excellent smelling sherry; the young lady
sat as noiseless as biack-yeiled statute {;
fretful babies whlmpered; old gentlemen
| uttered strange sounds in their sleep; the
lights fiared like slckly moons overhead,
and the shrek of the train, as it flew
through sleeping villages, sounded like
the yell of fiery throated demon.
"Stamford bawled the conductor.
At last l succeeded IN dropping my
weary and stiffened limbs into a seat,
| where slumber overlook me in just a
minute and quarter; or | had been
asleep in my legs once or twice, even IN
nv former disadvantageous attitude, and
| | could scarcely believe the evidence OF
my own senses when we finally Numbered
in.o the echoing vastness of the Grand
Central depot in New York.
Hatfield. alive to the necessity of catch
ing car before all the world of travellers
should crowd into 1t, stumbled over the
old lady's ankles with small ceremony.
40, take carel You've knocked the
squirreLcaee overt" cried she.
"Confound the squirrel-cagew shouted
| Hatfield, crashing bis teeth, as the
ancient dame placed herself directly IN
the aisle to set the furry pet up again
thereby completely blocking up his
egress.
"Serves you right, Hattield"' said l. as
| stopped to assist.
Just then the young companion of oui
lady advanced, fiinging back her veil.
"Grandma," said she, 1.-The carriage Is
waiting, I'll send Thomas for the par
cells. Mr.. Clifton, / am very much
obliged to you fer your politeness to my
GRANDMOTHER, who is unused 10 travelling
As to Mr.. Hattield-the less said about
his courage the better" And Beatrice
Hale's black eyes flashed disdainfully on
Clarence's cowad vIsage.
Miss Hale, !" he stammered, If I'd had
the least idea who you WERE
"You would have regulated your con-
duct accordingly impatiently interrupt
ed Miss Hale "Thanks-l prefer to see
people in their true liglt. Mr.. Clifton,
turning graciously to me you'll call and
see how grandma stands her journey, TO-
morrow, ~on't you2 o, thank yOu-the
carriage is close by"
And to this day that is the way | he
lieve won my if. for Clarence Hatfield
was brilliant, snowy sort Of fellow, who
far outshene me in general society, and
[ think Bee had been disposed rather to
fancy him until that night. But she was
disenchanted nov for good and all. And
Grandma Hale comes to see us every
Christmas with hamper of good things
from Hale Farm.
The Leopard Fish.
Fror, the Nau Haven palladium