Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-09-30
The Sturp Teller.
TRUE GRIT
BY REBECCA DAVIS.

BY REBECCA DAVIS.
One or two Young men came out of the
Academy of Music when the opera was over
and fingered in the lobby to watch the pass
ing of the crowd. Young Fred Saulter came
up to them while putting his pearl lorgpette
in its case.
"Nice house, ehl he said, lsnguidly
"Well dressed. See Fanny Swan. Wretch
ed taste for young girls to wear diamonds
What do you think Of the new tenor? Mis-
erable, said"
The older men answered him civilly and
walked on, leaving him with some lads of his
own age.
"What would Miss Swan say if she heard
that cub criticising her? p said DR.. Poneroy.
"The most insuferable creature in the world
to me is conceited boy, assuming the tone
of man of position when he has not yet
proved his right to be alive"
II thought young Saulter had money
said one Of the party. HE drives fine
horse, wears clothes made by better tailor
than I can afford, and lunches at the best
restaurant"
Money" said the doctor, angrily. "Why,
his father is head book keeper for Smiles 4
Son, with family of six. He strained ev'
cry nerve to educate this boy, who now looks
upon every practicable way of earning liv'
ing as plebeian. I'll warrant you the fellow
never had twenty cents in his pocket of his
own earning. His restaurant and livery sta
Bile bills come to his poor old father at the
end of every month"
Meanwhile, young Ssulter stood compla'
Gently twirling his operahat and watching
the pretty girls as they passed. He caught a
glimpse of his dapper little figure in great
mirror-the waxed moustache, lavender
glove, wired roses in his button -hole-and
looked pityingly after the doctor and his
friends.
"How those old fellows must envy us!' he
said, "wine with life in its sparkle, and dregs,
eh? Oh, by the way, saw curious thing
to day! Dick Knight-you remember Knight
in our class, who took the scientific course to
fit him for civil engineer? Well, it ap'
pears that times being so hard he could not
get any proper work to do, so we has taken
to improper. Instead of laying by as ! have
done, waiting quietly for an opening for an
educated man to step into, he actually isl
am ashamed to tell it!'
"What what is he?" asked his listeners
"Driving an engine on the Central Road !!
"Fact saw him, all grimy with smoke
in his little caboose to-day. Good heavens !!
| said, Knight, are you mad p"
"Not so mad as to starve," he said, laugh
ing.
I asked him why his father did not support
him and keep him from such degradation
Then he was mad.
"Do you think I, with my big, strong body
will be burden on an old man?' he said
and began to talk nonsense about laziness de-
grading man, and that no man was ever de-
graded by honest work, with more of the
same sort of bosh, all very ridiculous and
very disgraceful. You'll see him to night il
you take the II P. NJ. train"
"Tut, tut" the lads said and "poor
Knight he was good fellow precisely as
if he were dead.
Indeed, from the light and brilliancy Of
the scene about them-the music, the beauti
full low voiced women, themselves daintily
attired, that gay and happy part of the
world-there was gulf like death to the
grimy engine-driver in the dark depot-a
gulf which none but madman, they thought
would willingly cross.
They sauntered out of the opera. house
the depot in time for the train that rar
out to the suburban town where they lived
"There he is!'' whispered Saulter, HE
takes our train out; but the engine is not YET
put to it.
The engine was on a siding, putting anc
splitting little jets of steam, and Dick knight
tall, manly young fellow, was coming al
the moment down from the superintendent!
room. He caught sight of his old class
mates, laughed, hesitated, and raised his hanc
to his hat.
"Going to speak to him, hey" said little
Billy M MGee anxiously.
The young men grew red and embarrassed
Some of them nodded to Knight awkwardly
and seemed inclined to 60 and meet him.
Il say no !" said Saulter, peremptorily. 81
he chooses to leave the mpanionship of gen
tlemen, shall not follow him. l talk to me
chanics and that sort of people who neve
had chance to be anything better, bu
Knight is social suicide, sir!"
"That's true," said niece. "How vel
Saulter puts things" he added, aside. $50
cial suicide? Well, shall not bring hin
to life
Knight saw that the young men wished tt
avoid him, and turned aside with bow ant
heightened color, while they hurried into tn
train.
1t WAS yet five minutes until the time o
starting.
The train of passenger cars was on tn
main track (the engine still being detached)
and the people we're hurrying in, most of then
coming direct from the theatres and othe
places of amusement Inside of the cars ant
in the depot there was good deal of jestinl
and gaiety between acquaintance meeting ol
their way home, the train being local on
and running only through suburban villages
Just then, short distance up the tract
there was hiss and cry, and a voice shrieket
out in horror, "a runaway train on the mail
track! A runaway train on the main track
Passengers in the depot! Out of the cars!-
out of the cars"
A runaway freight train was on the track
The fireman had started it for the purpose o
taking it into the freight depot. By som