Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-04-13
An Episode Of 8idweII's Bar.

All EuloVu0 VI 0tuWSu . ~$'
think it is Emerson who says
When you pay tor your ticket, and gel
inio the car, YOU have 10 guess what
good company you shall 6nd there
You buy much that is not rendered in
the bill. have found this remark emf
nently true on several occasions, par
licularly when my lifelong friend
Ruth bears me company.
Ruth is the most unconventional ol
women. She travels. as she does every
thug else, with whOle-sOul earnest
ness, and fDds bread where most peo-
pie could gather only stones. Thus,
recently being in the rear car OF the
long train, she preferred standing upon
the platform and drinking In at one
draught that magnificent valley through
which we seemed flying, than by tsnta-
lziug sips, as one has TO do from be-
hind narrow car window.
followed her: always do. And,
holding on to the narrow railing, we
felt somewhat like two lost comets
shnliDg through spice. Soon the door
behind US banged, and a gentleman in
the midsummer OF life, with face as
classlcally beautiful as Edwin Booth's,
and a waist Of Fals,afian dimensions,
ioiued US. He beamed Oa US almost
literally. From the dimple in his fair
sOtt chin 10 the riDg Of brown, silky
hair which lay upon his broad, smooth
forehead, the expression scintlllatt
with intelligent good nature. Wilhal'
there was such retrospective back
ground 10 the sunny brightness, that
ufler few commohplaces, Ruth, the
daring, honest. lmpudUnt creature, said.
looking up meanwhile into his face with
IA smile so honest and kindly that he
would have been Berserker not tC
have reflected it.
Sir, permit me to remark that yoI
are a ply sical lncOngruily.'
Not so bad as that, madam, l hope.
am merely a conductor, as by thi'
Time YOU have discovered, and pretty
we'll balanced one, independent Uf my
avoirdupOis.'
But your thoughtful face. sir sha
is what perplexes me. 1t should be
long TO a body but one.third the weigh
ofyours.' suggested Ruth, the wife dis
clple of Lavater.
MY face is all right he replied
strokiDg his cheeks and chin With a.
air Of marvellous selfcOmplacency. Il
stopped growing ten years ago, but it !
here, here touching the region Of bi
diaphragm with the tip ofhis front fore
finger, that conlentment and my rar
good luck shows itself. Once was a
hin as Peter Schemmel's shadow, and
he paused. looking into Ruth's clea
gray eyes as if be would sound be
souls depths-I am strongly tempte'
TO tell you my bit of fromance, for ther
is long stretch ahead, and you loo
like one Of the Kind to enjoy touch {
nature. Isn't it SOP
The conductor had struck the yer
key-bole ofour needs. We were Pinin
for a velitable California story, told
an unconventional way, outside th
well.read romauces Of Bret Harte an
the Arsonaut; 10 be told, too, undt
such peculiar circumstances would b
an added spice, and thus we besough
him 10 Immediately yield 10 temptation
1 am an old slager, he said, at lea
. as far back as the spring of 80. W.T.
a blanket etrapp-d upon roy baVk, til.
cents IN my pants-pocket aud Ih
biggest stock Of hope and untrisd eF
ersy that ever made lads heart
light as a balloon, tramped alon
here in my search for the gold diggings
Nv ambition WAS higher than tho'
!, buttes Souder by thousands of feet, &C
the TOD was TO be capped with soil
gold pointing as he spoke to the Ihrt
singular and isolated peaks we wer
B. lust then passing, known as the Mary
VILE Butles, whose volcanic heiyhl
Looked as inaccessible TO US as thei
peaks seemed brown and barren.
. IT appears 10 me-, said Ruth, mea
uring the almoet preclpitOu' sides {
those lofty and mysterious hills, 'th
n when a man aspires 10 touch the sky |
woubl want higher guerdon than mel
v gold, uoI. however, that l hold Il
g. metal in contempt
i Il had, madam, and that was II
st whole matter. I was desperately
'e loye-that was a solemn fact express'
= in as lew words as possible-and l b
lieved that she loved me, but the tc
/ ofMount Shasta was not more unattsi
y able 10 me than Jennie. Her falh'
an old Philadelphia druggist. had mon
and | had none. He was proud
: Luciler, and AS ambitious Tor his dsuU
ter as he was proud. l felt that col
, move a mountain If could had
imountsin to move, 80 Jennie and
said goodbye one afternoon under
old oak in Fairno cunt park, and IN
very depths Of my heart l believed :