The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-02-16

oGCuiieu IL Whlcn j rather think | played
the victim. We were en- route from Cleve-
land to Cincinnati, an eight or ten hours
journey. After seeing my wife comfortably
seated, | walked forward to the smoking car,
and, taking the only unoccupied place, pulled
out my cigar case and offered q cigar 10 my
next %neighbor. Re was about sixty years Of
age, gentleman1y in appearance, and of a
somewhat reserved and bashful mien. He
gracefully accepted the cigar, and in a few
minutes we were engaged ia conversation.
care you going far West ?" I inquired.
'MerelY 50 far as Columbus" columbus,
| may explain, is the Capital of Ohio .And
you, sir ~ he added, interrogatively.
Il am jo%urneying towards Cincinnati. /
am q theatrical man, and play there to-mor-
row." | was q young maj then, and fond
Of avowing my profession.
sob, indeed Your face seemed familiar
to me as you entered the car. I am conf
dent we have met before
II have acted in almost every State in the
Union, said ], half patronizingly. sMrs.
Florence and I are pretty generally known
throughout the Northwest"
"Bless me !" said the stranger in surprise,
81 have seen you act many times, sir, and the
recollection OF Mrs. Florence's Yankee
Girl with her quaint songs, is still fresh in
my memory" @..M-
"Do you purpose remaining long in Colum
bus p
Eyes, tor 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 knob Of a large walk
ing stick, which be carried carressingly in his
hand. He had more than once glanced at
me in a knowing manner, and now and then
giving a sly wink and shake Of his head at
me, as much as to say, sob, old fellow, [
know you, too"
These attentions were so marked that I
finally asked my companion if he had no.
ticed them.
''That man acts like a %lunatic," said I soto
U0ce.
"A poor, half-witted fellow, possibly" re-
piled my felloW-traveller. Gin your travels
through the country, Mr.. Florence, you must
have often met such strange characters
We had now reached Crestline, the dinner
station, and, after thanking the stranger for
the agreeable way in which he had enabled
me to pass the journey up to this point, /
asked him if he would join Mrs. Florence
and myself at dinner. This produced an ex-
traordinary series Of grimaces and winks
from the red-faced party aforesaid. The in
vitation to dinner was very politely declined.
The repast over, our train sped on towards
Cincinnati. / told my wife that in the smok-
ing car [ had met q most entertaining gentle
man, who was well posted in theatricals, and
was on his way to Columbus. She suggest
ed that I should bring him into our car and
present him to her. / returned to the smok.
ing car and proposed that the gentleman
should accompany me to see Mrs. Florence.
The proposal made the red-faced mar under
go a species of spasmodic commissions, which
set the occupants OF the car into roars of
No, | thank you," said my friend, II
feel obliged to you for the courtesy, but |
the smoking car. Have you another
eyes," said /, producing another Partaga.
I again sat BY his side, and once more our
conversation began and we became quite
We talked about theatres and
;heatricals, and then reverted to political
the state of the country, finance
and in turn, our intimacy evident
Y afording intense amusement to the fox
eyed party near us.
Finally the shrill sound Of the whistle and
he entrance Of the conductor indicated that
had arrived at Columbus, and the train
,oon stopped at the station.
ssCome," said the red-faced individual,
rising from his seat and tapping my
companion on the shoulder, this is your
old man,
NY friend rose with some difficulty, drag
ring bis hitherto concealed feet from under
he seat, when for the fret time I discovered
hat he was shackled, and was a prisoner in
, harg e of the sheriff, going for seven years
the State Prison at Columbus.
-aa
MI. Hayes Journey to Washington.
I shall never forget, says a correspondent
Of the Pittsburg Dispatch, Hayes reception
the Pennsylvania depot il Washington