Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-02-01


!TaR DISE RERcE sArwfx J,
MEN.-I gave ron . quartsf.
said an elderly woman With d sd
smile last Saturday - she - id
through her glasses ak ~ Cd il
captain who had Just deposited ss
fare in the cash-box of 4 Nadiso
!, enne stage Hestarted - and u.
ed to the box just in time 10 - II
quarter disappe r. through the trap.
He turned around in confusiou sd
said that he didn't notice the nonav:
and that he thought il vas al u j.
Then she hammered 1t the glass 81
ing for the driver, and asked IT
twenty cents in change, but the S-
er wanted to know how - was il
ing TO get down into &he bon alAsIsvsa
OUT the !onartsss he was sure he
was not going to pay it ont Of his
own pocket and then trust to luck to
get it back from the company. Ii
the passenger wanted it she could 90
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 q picture of in
jured iRnocence. and asked another
passenger in q bitter tone of voice
if the one who had taken her quarter
was not connected with the company.
Me 7" exclaimed the honest old
blunderer, whose confusion was in
creasing because he could not End
his change. BLESS you, / don't be-
long on land. I'll pay You back this
money, though; but ! don't believe
I've got a cent.
he completed bis vain search, and,
picking out an old memorandum
book, asked her for her name and ad-
dress, saying that he would call there
that night and leave the money.
"Oh. never mind" said she in o
rnincing way, sit cnly teaches me a
lesson. Hereafter III pay my own
fare. rs. = s7Esg. - =. a...
"Oh, I'll bring you the money.
maam / just happen to be out Cf
It now, and he placed the memoran-
dunn book upon his knee and said
politely Whats the name I? I'll get
the money toyou.
"Ob. well, she said. "let it go.
It's all right. I've learned lesson.
Ill pay nay own fare hereafter
She repeated this several times with
an air Of one who knew she had been
swindleda and wanted others to know
it. The old captain, with flushed
cheeks, asked again for her name,
and she ut length gave il and, as 9
parting shot, repeated that she had
learned lesson.
We'll ma'am," be said, I'm ready
to make all amends, but / get les
son too; and while I'm not a saying
what it is SO much, I've got it all the
same"
A pretty young woman with eyes
that began to snap beneath the shade
of big fur hat could not repress her
delight ut this, and she said in the soft
est tone Of voice to the old captain !;
"lH tell you sir, what to do, Vel:
collect all the fares that come into
the stage now until we make up the
sum, and that viii 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 lockout. Here's one
coming" he said. The stage stopped,
and well-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 woman with an acid
smile. Fifteen cents more. now"
said the old captain shaking his head,
land we're safe. He sighted two
more passengers, and his glee in
creased. They both laughed heartily
in sympathy with the JOY Of the old
captain as he saw his debt decreased
five cents. The remainder was soon
collected from another passenger, and
finally the injured woman alighted
without 2 sottened glance or part
ing courtesy. The old captain look
ed after her and said "fhat wor a
stress of weather. I didu't 90 to do
it. but I'd got her money to her this
night. / didn't tell her the lesson /
learned. but / hope she'll remember
the one she learned
There was . laugh, and, as the
young woman who first suggested the
way out of the difficulty was about
to leave, she smiled q goodbye to
the hearty old mariner, and he took
off his hat and said: Thank you. .
Then he leaned over and said in q
hoarse voice TO . man sitting oppO-
site:
What . difference there is atwixt
women; wonderful. amt it?"