The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-08-25
TOMPKINS.
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F Den.:rg. lf At.&..t.e HoEi..Y
 He was small wiry man. about forty years of age. with brish, young face dark eyes and ron gray hair. We were recln.ng III | field. under d clump oi plnes. on ! neigh; overlooking Lake Champlain. Near by were the dull rei brieS buildings oi the University of ' CT mont. Burlington. blooming with flow CTS. and embowerei Tn the trees the lake, a broad plain of li4lid blue slept in the June sunshine. and ia the farther distance lowered the picturesque Adtoa- daoks
 ." |, Is certainly ;rae. sad Tompkins turning upon his s!de so as to face me, and ptoppins his head with his hand. while his elbow rested on the ground q Don't you remember. used ;o insist that they were peculiar. when we were here in college
 remembered it very distinctly. and so informed my old classmate.
 :. always said he continued. !" that could not do my bes, in New Eng land, because there Is no sen,imen, Tn the atmosphere, and the people are so peculiar"
 You have been living in Chicago:" remarked. inauiringly.
 That has been my residence ever since we graduated tha, is, for about seven teen years" he replied.
 You are in business there. believe ?" questioned.
 Tompkins admitted ,ha, he was, bu, did not name the particular line.
 Halloo,' he suddenly called out. rising 10 his feet and looking toward the little brown road near us. looked in the same direction, and saw plainly dressed elderly couple on foot, apparently ou, for Il walk. TompkinS went hastily toward them helped the lady over the fence the gentleman following. and momea, later WAS introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Penn Der. ot Chicago.
 Tompkins gathered some large stones. pulled boafd of the fence. IF rather l reckless manner. and tiNed a sea, for the couple where they could lean aga.ns: tree. When they were provided foy. re- chned again bat Tompkns stood before us. talking and ges,iculatins.
 This. sad he. "is the ldenic al place, Mrs. lember. Here you can see the beauties l have so often described. Before you are the town and the lake and beyond them .he mountains of north ern New York and If you will please |, 0 tufn your head that grea, blue Wal, be- hind you, twenty miles away. Is composed of the highest mountains in Vermont, The mountains in iron, of you are the Ad- ircndacks. and those behind you are the Green mountains. You are a, the cen tral poin, of this magnificent Champlain III ,t.Ars ,tNt here beneath the shade. on this the love Hest day oi summer. Dear friends. con- sratula,e you. and Mir. Tompkins shook hands with Mir and Mrs. rember.
 And there. Timo;hy" observed the old gentleman. pointing at the university buildings with his cane. "is actually where you wen, to college.
 :" IL was in those memorable and classic halls. as my classmaie here can testify. replied Tompkins. And here we roamed in Academus' sacred shade and q good deal beyoad 1t. We went fishing and boating during term time. ard made long trips to the mountains in the vaca. tons. In the mean tune. this wonderful valley was photographed upon the whit, and spotless sensorlam of my youthful soul.
 Going. going. going cried Mrs Pember, with light, rippling laugh glancing at me. Ina, Is the way stop MT. Tompkins when he gets to, flowey."
 Tompkins looked a, me and rediened '' own up.' he remarked. T am an quo tioneer in Chicago
 hassened to say that felt sure he wa good one. and added. in the kindes way could. that 1 had jus, been won dering how he had become such a goo, talker.
 "ls it good deal of come-down ? asked Tompkins with mixture of frank ness and embarrassment.
 1 replied that the world was not wha we had imagined in our college days. an, that the calling of an auctioneer wa honorable.
 A general conversation followed. in ,h, course of which it appeared tha, Tomp kins had boarded at the home of th, Pembers for several year. They evidentl, looked upon him almost as their own son They were travelling with him during hi. summer rest.
 :" This is a queer world," observeS Tompkins, dropping down beside me ans lying flat on his back. with his head. . came to college from back neigborhoos over in York state. and up to the day was graduated. and for long time after ward. thought 1 must be president o che United States, or a Presbyterian minister. or great poet, or something remarkable, and here l am an aue tioneer'
 Occasional remarks were made by tn.