The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-04-15
4 Seat In a Parlor Car.

q Seat In Pari0r Car.
As you go to Boston and Hartford by
way of Boston and Albany railroad, If
| you take the morning express there are
| two parlor cars attached thereunto, with
| all the appurtenances thereunto apper-
tanning, including porter with whisp
broom in one hand and place for q
quarter in the other. Now, the two par
lor cars are twins, differing only, as is
the case with twins, in their manners.
The last time went out that way, whic b
was only few weeks since ,one of these
Cars Governor Hawley, and the other
was '.T'other Gov'nor," don't remem-
Der who.
All went well nntill we reached
Springfield. There the usual halt of
five or fen minutes was made, the parlor
car was switched off to its proper train
and we went laundering on to Hartford.
Before we were well out of the depot en-
old gentleman confronted me. Round
faced, well-dressed, quick-spoken, lit.
tie crusty and general air of authority
about him.
young man." he said, sharply, "out
of that !"
"Out of which?" I said, in innocent
surprise.
"Out of that CHAIR" snapped the old
party. Come, be lively, want to sit
down."
was puzzled and annoyed and stam-
mered something about this being par
lor CAR
eyes, yes" he said, impatiently; II
know all about that; this is parlor car
and you've got my seat. Get up and get
out of it now without any more words.
Get seat of your own somewhere, and
don't go around appropriating other peo-
ple's chairs when they've gone to lunch.
Get out, young fellow"
1 am naturally very meek man, but
did make one more desperate effort to
retain my seat. I said I had occupied
that seat
Ever since got out of it at Spring
field, snarled the old man. 'I rode in
that seat all the way from Boston, and
the minute left it you jumped into it.
And now you jump ont of it,and no more
words about 1t, or I'll make the car full
of trouble for you."
It began to dawn on me then just how
matters stood. In fact, I knew, but /
was nettled. Everybody in the car was
laughing at me, and do hate to be
laughed at I determined to wait for
my sure revenge. / said: You'll be
sorry if you take this chair" He snorted
fiercely, and I abdicated without another
word in favor of the testy old jumper of
chairs who thus snmmarily elected me.
arose, gathered up my hat, oyercoat,
lap tablet, newspapers, book, big valise,
little valise and arctics, and thus bur-
dened, walked meekly to the rear of the
car and sat down on the meanest, poor
est, most uncopfortab seat in the
train, the upholstered bench under the
big mirror The wood box in the smok-
ing car is an easy chair in comparison
with that bench. BY and bv the old
chair grabber called out:
Young man, where is that little red
hand bag left here?"
meekly said 81 hadn't never touched
it. and he roared out that it was there
when I took his chair. But just then the
conductor came along and glanced at his
ticket while the old party explained how
I had made way with his little red hand
bag. ''That young man there" he ex-
planned, twas in nay chair when re-
turned, and my overshoes and little red
leather hand bag is"
The conductor, brisk, taciturn man,
full of his own business, here handed
back the old party's ticket.
Wrong train" he said, brusquely.
Sect off at next station. This train for
Hartford and New York"
The old gentleman's face was study.
"For Ha-Ha-wha-what he
shouted. ST know better! Told me at
Boston this car went through to
Albany"
Lem see parlor car ticket" said the
conductor, briefly. ''Yes, that's all
right, your on wrong car; this ticket for
the other car. Your baggage half wayt'
Albany by this time. Get off at Hart
ford"
"Well, when can get train back to
Springfield" walled the jumper of
chairs
Tonight" said the conductor, and
passed on to the next car.
Then I arose. I gathered up in my
weak and long-suffering arms my hat,
overcoat, lap tablet, newspapers, book.
big valise, little valise and arctics, and
walked back to that chair and stood be-
fore the most crest-fallen man the immor-
tai gods ever pitied. didn't say any
thing; I didn't make gesture. I just
stood up before him holding my goods,
personal effects and railway chatteis IN
my arms and looked at him. He arose
and vamosed the claim. And as set
tied down In my recovered possession 1
made only one remark. I said to the
poor old gentleman:
4'I told you you'd be sorry if you took
this chair"
And he marched back and took seat
on the upholstered bench. to the merry
laughter of the happy passengers. And
the last time / looked around ,ohi crown
ing woe, the conductor was making him
pay a quarter for his seat in the parlor
car.-[R J. Burdette in Burlington
Hawkeye.