Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-01-04

81 gave you quarter, sir, !" said an elderl
woman with an acid smile last Saturday, a
she glanced through her glasses at an old Sc
captain who had just deposited her fare il
the cash box of q Madison avenue stage. HI
started up and rushed to the box just in tim
to see the quarter disappear through the trap
He turned around in confusion and said tina
he didn't notice the money, and that HI
thought it was all right. Then he hammered
at the glass opening for the driver. and asked
for twenty cents in change, but the driver
wanted to know how he was going to gel
down into the box and get out the quarter.
He was sure he wasn't going to pay it out OF
his own pocket, and trust to luck to get il
back from the company. If the passen-
ger wanted it she could go to the Office and
get it.
The old mariner said, "Blast your eyes, if
you be so mean, I'll pay for my mistake"
and he began to fish in his pockets for the
money, while the woman looked like the
picture of injured innocence, and asked an
other passenger in a bitter tone of voice if
the one who had taken her quarter was not
connected with the company.
s'Mep' exclaimed the honest old blunder-
er, whose confusion was increasing because
he could not find his change. "Bless you, l
don't belong on land. III pay you back this
money, though; but don't believe I've got
u cent"
He completed his vain search, and, pick
ing out an old memorandum book, asked her
for her name and address, saying that he
would call there that night and leave the
money.
'@Oh, never mind,n said she In a mincing
way; sit only teaches me lesson. Hereaft-
er I'll pay my own fare"
"Oh, I'll bring you the money, ma'am. i
just happen to be out of it now" and he
placed the memorandum book upon his knee
and said politely, "What's the name? I'll get
the money to you.'
"Oh, well," she said, ''let it go. It's all
right. I've learned lesson. I'll pay my
own fare hereafter"
She repeated this several times with an air
of one who knew she had been swindled, and
wanted others to know it. The old Captain,
with flushed cheeks, asked again for her
name, ahd she at length gave it, but as
parting shot, repeated that she had learned
q lesson.
"Well, ma'am," he said, 81 am ready to
make all amends, but get lesson too; and
while Pm not saying what it is so much, I've
got it all the same"
A pretty young woman, with eyes that be-
gan to snap beneath the shade of big fur
hat, could not repress her delight at this, and
she said, in the softest tone of voice, to the
old Captain: "I'll tell you, sir, what to do.
Wen collect all the fares that come into the
stage now until we n.ake up this sum, and
that will save you further trouble" The old
Captain took off his hat and looked volumes
of thanks. He was too happy to speak, and
he kept an eager lookout. "Here's one COM
ing" he said. The stage stopped, and we'll
dressed woman got in and opened sealskin
purse. The young girl explained what had
happened, and the new passenger said,
''Why, certainly" Five cents went into the
purse of the the woman with an acid smile.
81 Fifteen cents more, now, - said the old Cap
tain, shaking his head, and we're safe" He
sighted two more passengers, and his glee
increased. They both laughed heartily in
sympathy with the joy of the old Captain, as
he saw his debt decreased to five cents. The
remainder was soon collected from another
passenger, and finally the injured woman
alighted without softened glance or part
ing courtesy. The old Captain looked after
her and said, ''That wor stress Of weather.
! didn't go to do it, but I'd got her money to
her this night. / didn't tell her the lesson 1
learned, but hope she'll remember the one
she learned"
There was a laugh, and as the young wom- |
an who first suggested the way out of the
difficulty was about to leave, she smiled Il
good-by at the hearty old mariner, and he
took of his hat and said, "Thank you. Mer-
~ Christmas, miss" Then he leaned over |
and said in q hoarse voice to a man sitting |
opposite:
"What difference there Is 'atwixt wom-
en-; wonderful, aln't it:''-N. y. Sun.