The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-02-17
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AN ENTERTAINING COMPANION.

AN ENTERTAINING COMPANION.
A First Rate story Told By Florence. the
Comedian. ::
From the London Era: p " -
Once, during tour in the Western States,
writes MIR. Florence, the actor, an incident
occurred in which I rather think r played
the victim. We were Ell route from Cleve.
land to Cincinnati, an eight or ten hour
journey. After seeing MY wife comfortably
seated, 1 walked forward to the smoking
car, and, taking the only unoccupied place,
pulled out my cigar case and offered O cigar
to my next neighbor. He was about sixty
Years of age, gentlemanly in appearance,
mien. He gracefully accepted the cigar,
and in few minutes we we're engaged in
conversation.
care you going far West? Il inquired:
Merely as far as Columbus columbus, I
may explain, is the capital of Ohio.) And
you, sir?" he added, interrogatively. -.
II am jou,neying toward Cincinnati, I
am a theatrical man, and play there to-mor-
row night" I was D young man then, and
fond of avowirg my profession. ]
ooh, indeed! Your face seemed familiar
to me as you entered the car. I am conf
dent we have met before" = ...<.: :.
Union" said I, half patronizingly.s Mrs
Florence and I. are pretty generally known
throughout the Northwest"
''Bless me!' said the stranger in surprise,
II have seen you act many times; sir, and
the recollection Of Mrs. Florences. Yankee
Girl with her quaint songs, is still fresh
in my memory ~..s,::
~Do you propose remaining long in CO.
lumbus?" .r...
Yes, for seven years. replied my COM
panion.
Thus we chatted for an hour or two. At
length my attention was attracted to a little
red faced man, with small sharp eyes,, who
sat Immediately opposite us and amused
himself by sucking the mob Of \ large walk
ing stick which he carried carelessly in his
hand He had more than once glanced at me
in knowing manner, and now and then
given sly wink and shake of the head at
me, as much as to say, "Ah, old fellow,
know you, too"
These attentions were 50 marked that
finally asked my companion if he had no.
ticed them.
THAT man acts like lunatic, said /, sot-
to voce. =
"A poor half witted fellow, possibly" re-
piled my fellow trainer In your travels
through the country, however, Mr.. Florence,
you must have often met such strange char
acters."
We ha,1 now reached Crestline, the din
ner station, and. after thanking the stranger
for the agreeable way in which he enabled
me to pass the journey up to this point, I
asked him if he would join Mrs. Florence
and myself at dinner. This produced an
extraordinary series of grimaces and wiGks
from the red faced party aforesaid. The
invitation to dinner was politely declined. :
The repast over, our train sped on toward
Cincinnati. told my wife that in the smok-
ing car had met most entertaining gen
tleman, who was well posted in theatricals
and was on his way to Columbus. She sug-
gested that I should bring, him into our car
and present him to her: I returned to the
smoking car and proposed that the gentle
Florence. The proposal made the red
faced man undergo Il species Of spasmodic
commissions which set the occupants of the
car into roars of laughter.
'"No, thank you, said my friend. feel
obliged to you for the courtesy, but l pre-
fer the smoking car. Have you another
cigar?' ~: =
Eyes" said I, producing another Partaga.
again sat by his side, and once more
our conversation began and we became
quite fraternal. We talked about theaters
and theatrlcals, and then: iaVerted TO p0hu-
cal economy, the: state of the: country
finance and commerce in turn, our init
macy evidently atfording intense amusement
to the foxy eyed party near us:
Finally the shrill sound of the whistle
and the entrance Of the conductor indicated
we had arrived at Columbus, and that the
train soon arrived at the station.
"Come," said the red face individual now
rising from his seat and tapping my COM
panion on the shoulder: this is your sta
ton, old man. =
M friend rose with some difficulty, drag
cling his hitherto concealed feet from4under
the seat, when for the first time discover
ed that he was shackeled, and was o prison
er in charge of the sheriff, going for seven
years to the state prison at Columbus.
.Ian0neSe LEGEND.