The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-05-08

The Story Told by An Old Man to
A Chance Acquaintance.

l
The train paused at every lonely sta
tion, sometimes permit nc a passcn-
ger to alight. but oftener gathering up
belated summer tourists the women
with g~olden-rod or astcrs in their belts
the men with fish baskets or gamc-bags
over their shoulders. The one passen-
rcr-car was old and small and low
&c led. the red plush seats were faded
the little paRes Of glass grimy. and y
was only after repeated efforts that
succeeded in raising the window 70 let
the soft wind of early autumn blow
against my face. II was with regret
that ! viewed the fields and woods. for
l was leaving them. and every tree
beckoncd to me, and whispered: "Stay
stay until the frost has turned our
leaves, until November gales have
stripped us bare, until we hide beneath
the III ok white snow. until the spring
comes slowly up our way won
dercd If | would stay If | could; whcth-
er. II all the world were before Inc. !
puld choose to p'.e'l my tent on some
solitary beach Oh y thin sound OF the
soughing p mes. Was not my longing
horn OF q comfortable contcntmcnt9
was | not in my heart Of hearts down
right clad 10 be going back 70 the town.
10 my friends. my work. my winter
pleasures A great clunp Of snmach
burnt red i'm a little hollow. and my
thoughts Jumped 10 the reading room OF
nv club. to 4 deep crimson arm CHAIR
by the open fire. and in an instant the
rumble Of the train sounded like the
laden omnibuse- toiling over the city
street. The conversation Of two stolid.
mid.le-ared men behind me called
me back from my dreams. and
was list ming to their dronne
account Of the evil doings o. sundrs
persons in S~aybrOok. when the train
stopped, and the brakeman called out
the place in an inqu ring one tina
matched his ~up-turncd nose and hlgf
circling eyebrows. From my window
saw on the platform two young 81
querulous- ook NJ III who regard
"a with anxious intercst a thtck-set
white haired old man. Evidently h
was about 10 start on n Journey. for IA
carried q Satchcl which was a new an
shining a. his tall silk hat. He sp-an,
from the platform. not lightly. but gay
". aud with a half-laughing half-frown
ing refusal 81 the aid eagerly tendcre'
him by 10Th the fus,y women. The
glanced a. each other significantly an
pursed up their liis.
Now, IA. you nave got TO take som
..-. - ~. ~ aafI ana m
them. in aggricyci tones. You va
git hurt If you 20 jumping about tha
way"
The other woman shook her hca
with n :orlorn air that was IN itself
prophc \ Of future mi-hap 10 the agil
old gentleman; and then she and d,
companion lifted their skirts very hig
and 4 ppcd down to the ground care
fully. rs il 10 show that they knc'
enough to be needed how they place
their precious feet. Then I cy gave n
old gentleman much dolcful good at
vice. aud he, declaring that he was
sight smarter than they thought, b
slowed a hearty kiss vi on each. an
wrcnchinr himself free from the
clutches, roi on the car Just a. n
train began to glide away. lie car
slowly down the aisle. looking RI
and left toward the wcil-fillcd seat
until he arrived opposite me. when
hate and glanced AZ the portmantei
that had % far been 4 defense again,
intrudcrs. ! made a place for him
once. for my heart warmed toward III
- hardly know why. unless il we
because he reminded me vaguely Of u
" whitc-haircd father, dead I'll
many a year.
..ThanN you, young man. he sal
"Got the window open. Ell? just LEI
me wa We my handkerchief "A Of II
the girls. win yon?
lie leaned he Willy on my knees a
waved his handkerchief merlly 70
two women. who shook theirs sadly
return. This ceremony over. my co
panion ! uarcd himself in the seat q
looked unnaturally grave. lie wore
new suit Of black broadcloth, cut
only Il country tailor can ri bla
broadcloth. the low vest displaying
great cxpansc OF white shirt that end
ut the neck in a high collar, abe
which was tied a soft black-silk sea