Smyrna times., 1880-06-30
Only a Fare,
:. Fare, MAN, said the conductor.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

Faro, M am" said the conductor.
The passenger took no notice. She was
Il shabby looking old woman, in rather
rusty y-looling black, with fraycd lace
scarf around her neck, and an old. fashioned
heavily worked lace veil fastened about her
bonnet brim.
Fare /" repeated the conductor again
The passenger looked at him, dipped her
hand into her pocket, rummaged in queer
little riticule she carried, and after cx-
hausting all the patience OF which car
conductor is supposed TO be possessed,
slowly said:
81 haven't got Il penny. suppose I've
lost the change or else I've had my pocket
picked, and I'm going to - street, too"
There was a pause. The conductor
looked at the passenger and hesitated. 1t
was a damp, misty evening. The streets
were ankle deep with mire. 1T was three
miles to - street, and the car was not
half full. 1t seemed only common human.
ity to permit an old woman to ride to her
destination, whether she had her fare or
not. But there on the platform, staring
through the glass door our conductor saw
the face Of q car spy-a spotter, the men
called him--who was watching him with
eager, green eyes, anxious to catch him
tripping.
Poor as his place was, twenty men were
waiting for it. His receipts must tally with
the number Of passengers recorded on the
dial provided by the company for that pur-
pose, or of went his head on Saturday
night. Still he could not put the old wo,
man off his car; only one alternative re.
mained-he could pay her fare.
Now a fare on the -- road was only five
k,,,t O. o'rlonL ,.Ot,,ip,r MI bo
was hungry, and the supper he would have
lust time to snatch before his evening trips
began would cost him ten cents-fYc cents
for bread and cheese, and five cents for a
cup Of coffee. lie gave up one of these if
he paid that old woman's fare. You see
there was another old woman whom he
called Granny and cared for, and clothes Of
some sort must be worn, and there were no
pennies to spare. But it was the memory
Of old Granny that arose in his heart as he
dropped in the coin, touched the bell and
nodded " all right to his passenger; and,
as he stepped from his car to take his brief
rest he handed the old woman to the curb
and saw her safe on her way.
No, don't want anything but the cof.
fee" he said, waving away the restaurant
Keepers boy, as he pressed the basket OF
rolls and sandwiches upon him. Take
that stuff away"
The bread was out Of reach before he felt
quite safe, and he was SO very, very hungry
At that moment an old woman touched
the car-starter upon the arcl.
"Tell me the name of the conductor on
car number five ?" she said. "Fhere he sits
under the shed, drinking some cetlce."
"That's Narham--Tom Varham," replied
the starter rather eagerly, for he had rela
tive waiting for place. = If you have any
complaint to make, there's the Office
But lhe old woman toddled away.
:. Oh. the long, cold Winter, cold and crue
"A Winter full Of TERRIBLE storms Of snow
and sleet. Two drivers Gu the - line
were badly frozen Manydied of lung com
plants. The conductors suffered, too
though not so terribly, and Granny haC
been sick, and there was money to be spen
for medicine and nourishing luXuries, anC
Tom Varpham's old great coat was stoleI
one night by thieR who made his way int
the crowded lodging house.
After that he went without X, and h,
often wondered what it would be to be warn
and sit at a satisfying meal. Life seemeC
very hard, but to give up that poor situa
ton and seek for better was not to b
thought of with Granny on his hands.
The passepg who rode in car numbe
FIVE often snpbbed the,r conductor, tool
him to task for the iDcopVepience9 thoy sui
fered, and abused him at their Dime
tables, or as they sat before their warn
CRATES, toasting their toes, while he shiVere
on the car platform. Perhaps the shabb
old woman with the worked lace veil ma
. have done it, also, for She rode in their ca
very often, though she never found herseI
again without fare.
Whats the matter ?" asked a passer
ger.
"Three cars ahead stopped-some on
hurt" replied the other. What is it col
q ductor?"
"Conductor of number FIVE droppe
down." was the response. "Some say he
dead"
Tom Varham lay in the midst of littl
crowd quite senseless and very pale.
. The men were talking about him.
"IIe has been starving himself and free
ing too" said one. {" A sick old granC
mother on bis hands; and he was cler
or something, never used to out.ofdoC
q work have seen this coming for days
You are the doctor, sir" asked shabt
old woman, laying her hand on the arm
the gentleman who knelt beside poor Ton
The gentleman looked up.
"You said last week that ! did N
deserve to be called one, Madam Hover
he said demurely.
"Ohl DIR. Jones Well, that was whe
you couldn't cure me of neuralgia, reptile
the cid lady. "But T>want you to do som
thing for nae. Have this young ma
brought to my house; he did me fav,
once, and do your best for him, and ser
the bill to me-"
The doctor nodded, and when To
Varnham came to himself he lay in grea
old fashioned feather bed, in q room he hs
never seen, and the old woman whose ga
he had paid, rocked to and fro beside
bed.
"You are not to talk" she said, waving
black fan at him, "but everything is
right. Your grandmother's board is pa
to that rapacious old woman, and you ne,
4 not trouble your mind about anything.
u to sleep. You went without your brei
and butter to give me ride once, aud
shan't forget it, though happen to be
rich old woman instead of poor one,
you'd thought me-"
Tom listened, found himself incapable
making any remark, and fell asleep agai
But hard times were over for the poor fello
When he was able to work again there W
w a fine position open for him in a gre
wholesale hopse, and he was able to keep
pretty suite OF rooDls and seEyant for o
Granny, and to live With her, 10 her gre
Joy. And. moreover, it is well known tn
old Madam Hover, who has neither reIati
nor hobby, has made her will, leaving
her great fortune to Tom Varnham.
"Don't ask me Why" she said to I
laUUar 90 parhapa uoIl tvouldpft fhinlr