Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-03
a STORY ORA QUARTER.
An OLD Sea Captain Who Found
a Wonderful Difference
.o. @Atwixt WOmea."



= | gave You quarter, sir, said an
elderly woman with an acid smile last
Saturday, as she glanced through her
glasses at an old sea captain who had
just deposited her iair in the cash b *
Of a Madison avenue stage. He started
up aud rushed to the boz just in time
70 see the quarter disappear through
the trap He turned around in con.
fusion and said that be didn't notice
the money, and that he thought it was
all right. Then he hammered at tho
glass opening tor the driver, and asked
for twenty cents in change, but the
driver wanted to know how be was
going to get down into the box and get
out The quarter He was sure he
WASH going to pay it out Of his own
pocket, and trust to luck TO get il
back IRON the company. If the pas.
senger wanted it she could go to the
ofIice and get It.
The old mariner said, BLAST your
eyes, ii you be SO mean, Iii pay for
my mistake, and he began to fish in
his pockets for the money, while the
woman locked like a picture Of in
lured innocence, and asked another
passenger in bitter tone of voice if
the one who had taken her quarter
was not connected with the company.
"Me?" exclaimed the honest old
blunderer, whose confusion was in
creasing because he could not 6nd his
change. BLESS you, | don't belong
on land. Ill pay you back tbIs money,
though but | dom believe I've got a
cent M Ie
He completed his vain Sc reh, and,
picking out an old memorandum book,
asked her for her name aud address,
saying that he would call there that
night and leave the money.
"Oh, never mia |, said she in
mincing way; lit only teaches re 3
lesson. Hereafter Ill pay my own
fare" l
rOh, I'll brinS you the money,
ma'am. | just happen to be out OF it
now" and he placed he memorandum
ooek upon his knee and said politely:
What 3 thepsme2 LII get the money
to you" q 800 5Edj
"0h, we'll, she said. pletit go. l''s
all right, I've learned a lesson. I'll
pay my own fare hereafter p
She repeated this several times with
an air OF one wh1 knew she had been
swindled, and wanted Others to know
It, The old Captain with flushed
cheeks, asked again for the nsme, and
she at length gave it, but as a parting
shot, repeated that she had learned a
lesson. l vh
well, ma'am,p he said, II am
ready to make all amends, but | get q
lesson, too; and while I'm not saying
what i is 50 much, I've got it all the
same bana fl
a pretty young woman, with eyes
that began 70 snap beneath the shade
Of a big ur hat, could not repress her
delight at this, and she said, ip the
soitest tone of voice, to the old Gap
tain; IN tell you sir, what to do
Wen collect all the fares that come
ieto the stage nov until we take up
this sum, and that will save you iurs
ther trouble The old Captain took
off his hat and looked volumes of
thanks. lie was too happy to speak,
and he kept an aSer lookout Here's
one cOmibg, he said. The stage
stopped and c we'll dressed woman got
in and opened a sealskin purse. The
young girl explained whaI had hap.
pened, and the new passenger said,
I"Why certainly" Five cents went
into the purse of the woman with an
acid smile. Fifteen cents more. now,
said the old Captain, shaking bis
head, land we're safe. lie sighted
two more passengers, and bis glee
increased. They both laughed heartily
in sympathy with the joy of the old
Captain, as he saw his debt decreased
to Eve cents. The remainder was soon
collected from another passenger, apd
finally the injured woman alighted
without a soItened glance OF a parting
courtesy. Tho old Captain looked
after her and said, That wor stress
of weather Ididn't | go to do il, but
I'd got her money to her this night. !
didn't tell her the lesson | learned, but
[ hope she'll remember tho one she
learned"
There was a laugh, and asthe young
woman who first suggested the way out
of the difficulty was about to leave,
she smiled good by at the hearty old
mariner and he took of his hat and
said, HThank you. Merry Chris mas,
miss" Then he leaned over and said
ia boarse voice to man sitting op
positei ~
sWhat 0 difference there is 'atwixt
women, wonderful, amt it2' iit
The Largest Hands EteF Read of