The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-04-07
An Entertaining Companion.


Once, during q tour in the Western
States, writes Mr.. Florence, the actor,
an incident occurred in which I rather
think played the victim. We were en-
route from Cleveland to Cincinnati, an
eight or ten hour 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 a cigar to my
next neighbOr. He was about 60 years
of age, gentlemanly in appearance, and
of a somewhat reserved and bashful
mien. He gracefully accepted the ci-
gar, and in a few minutes we were en-
/ gagged in conversation.
''Are you going far West?' Inquired.
Merely so far as Columbus. (COl-
umbus, 1 may explain, is the Capital Of
Ohio. '.And you, sir?" he added, in
terTogatively.
Il am jOUrneying toward Cincinnati.
am a theatrical man, and play there
tomorrow night" was q young man
then, and fond Of avOwing my PrOfes-
sion.
"Oh, indeed! Your face seemed IA
miliar to me as yOu entered the car.
am confident we have met before.
Il have acted in almost every State
in the Union" said I, half patrOnizing-
". '.drs. Florence and I are pretty
generally known throughout the North
west -"
''BIess mer' said the stranger, in sur
prise, Il have seen you act many times,
sir, and the recollection of Mrs. Flor
ence's Yankee Girl, with her quaint
songs, is still fresh in my memory"
''Do you propose remaining long in
COlumbus?'
Eyes, for seven years" replied my
companion.
Thus we chatted for an hour OF two.
At length my attention was attracted
by q little red-faced man, with small,
sharp eyes, who sat Immediately oppo-
site us, and amused himself by sucking
the knob of a large walking-stick, which
he carried caressingly in his hand. He
had more than once glanced at me in a
knowing manner, and now and then
given a sly wink and shake of the head
at me, as much as to say, ''Ah, old fel-
low, know you, too"
These attentions were so marked that
finally asked my companion if he had
noticed them.
That man acts like a Iunatic," said
1, soto UOce.
ga poor half-witted fellow, possibly" :"
replied my fellOw-trayeler. ''In your
travels through the country, however,
Mr.. Florence, you must have often met
Cucb etrouOa characters -
We had now reached Cresline, the
dinner station, and I asked him if he
would join Mrs. Florence and myself at
dinner. This produced an eXtraordin-
ary series of grimaces and winks
from the red-faced party aforesaid.
The invitation to dinner was politely
declined.
The repast over, I returned to
the smOking-Car and proposed that
the gentleman should accompany me
to see Mrs. Florence. The pro-
posal made the red-faced man un-
dergo a species Of spasmOdic cOnYul-
sions, which set the occupants Of the
car into rOars Of laughter.
mo, thank you, " said my friend, II
feel obliged to you for the courtesy, but
l prefer the smOking-car. Have you
another cigar?n
YES" said I, producing another
Partaga.
I again sat by his side, and once more
our conversation began and we became
quite fraternal our intimacy evidently
affOrding intense amusement to the
fOxy-eyed party near us.
Finally the shrill sound of the whistle
and the entrance of the conductor indi-
Gated that we had arrived at Columbus,
and the train soon stopped at the sta
ton.
Come, said the red-faced individ-
ual, now rising from his seat and tap
ping my companion on the shoulder,
''this is your station, old man."
My friend rose with some difficulty,
dragging his hitherto concealed feet
from under the seat, when for the first
time I discovered that he was shackled,
and was a prisoner in charge of the
Sheriff, going for seven years to the
State Prison at Columbus.