Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-27
An Entertaining Companion.

Once, during q tour III the Western
States. writes Mr.. Florence, the actor, an
an incident occurred in which / rather
think / played the victim. We were en-
ronte from Cleveland to Cincinnati, al
eight or ten hour journey. After seeiDgmy
wife comfortably seated, I walked for
ward to the smoking-ca and, taking the
only unoceupied place, pulled ont my
cigar-case and offeIad cigar to my next
neighbor. He was about so years o.
age, gentlemanly in appearance and q q
somewhat reserved and bashiul meln.
He gracefully accepted the cigar, and IN
q few minutes we were engaged IN con-
yersation.
care you going far west p enauiredl.
ssMerely 50 far as Columbus. Cox
nmbns, / may explain, IS the Capital q
Ohio. sAnd you, sir?" he added, inter-
negatively.
II am journeying toward Cincinnati.
I am d theatrical man, and play there to-
morrow night" ! was young man
then, and fond Of avowing my profess
sion.
.sOh. indeed! Your face seemed famil-
iar to me as you entered the car. ! am
confident sc have met before.
II have acted in almost every State III
the Unioa,' said /, half patronizing.
Mrs. Florence and I are pretty general
" known throughout the northwest.
BLESS met said the stranger, IN sur
prise, II have seen you act many times,
sir, and the recollection Of Ms. Flor
ences Yankee Girl, with her quaint
songs, ii still fresh in my memory"
'sDo you propose remaining long in
Columbus"
Yes, for seven years." replied my
companion.
THUS we chatted for on hour or two
AT length my attention was attracted 70
little red-faced man, with small, sharp
eyes, who sat Immediately opposite us,
aud amused himself by sucking the knob
Of i. large walling-stick, which he car
ried carsssingly III his hand. He had
more tlaa once glanced at me IN q know
ing manner. and now and then given q
sly wink and shake Of the head at me.
as much as to say, "Ah, old fellow, /
know yon. too
These attentions were so marked TINT
finally asked my companion If be had
noticed them.
'eThat man acts like n lunatic, +" said I,
soto roce
"a poor half-witted fellow, possibly, !"
replied my fellow-traveler. In your
travels through the country, however,
Mr.. Florence, you must lave often met
such strange characters.
We had now reached Crestline, the
dinner station, and, after thanking the
stranger for the agreeable way in which
| lie Lad 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 extraordinary series OF
grimaees and winks from the red-faced
part, aforesaid. The invitation to din
ner was politely declined
The repast over, our train sped on to-
yard Cincinnati. ! told my wife that ia
| tie smoking-car had met most en-
/ pertaining gentleman, who was web post
ed In theatrieals, and was on his way TO
Columbus She suggested that should
bring him into our car, and present him
| to her. [ returned to the smoking-car
and proposed that the gentleman should
accompany me to see Mrs. Florence
The proposal made the red-faced man
undergo species of spasnodic conynl-
1 5lpuSt Which, tsSb tt4S occupants VI tllc
ear info roars Of laughter,
'No, / thank you, said my friend,
II feel obliged to yoH for the courtesy,
but prefer the smoking car. Have yon
another cigar n
Eyes, said /, producing another Par
taga.
] again sat by his side, and once more
our conversation began and We became
qnite fraternal We talked about thea
tres and theaIicals, and then averted to
political economy, the state Of the coun-
try. finance and commerce in turn, our
intimacy evidently afTording intense
amusement to the foxed-eyed party near
U.S.
Finally the thrill 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.
'sCome, said the red-faced individual,
now rising from his seat and tapping 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 T
discovered that he was shackled, and
was prisoner in charge Of the Sheriff,
going for seven years to the State Prison
at Columbus.