Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-06-16
THE WASHER.
A Plan Which Does Not Succeed
in All Cases.

have never been able to solve although
it has always interested me somewhat.
/ never was able to understand how q
man could have the check to strike up
an acquaintance with lady, on train
for instance, unless the lady gave him
some excuse on which to begin con-
versation with. What puzzled me was
how he could begin such conversation.
1 believe might be able myself to wor-
ry along with a conversation with a
stranger if somebody started it for me,
or if she asked something about the
country we were passing through, but
TO have that diplomacy necessary to
break the ice end deliberately COM
mence a casual acquaintance is a feat
that have always felt is far beyond
me. l have gone long and lonesome
railway journeys just because of this
defect in my character. have seen a
young man come into a car in which l
had ridden hundred miles and before
we had passed the next mile post he
was sitting beside the best looking girl |
in the train talking as if they were old |
friends. | have often wondered how |
it WAS done. wondered how he began
it. That was always what bothered
me. | never was on hand at the COM
mencement. Perhaps this is why |
have such an unreasonable dislike of the
''masher." have the hatred of him |
that no doubt springs from the con-
seriousness that | am unready, awkward,
don't say the right thing at the right
time, and also because he is so much
better looking than am. Now, take
an elderly lady-a woman with bundles
and uncertainties-the you ought to
see my good qualities shine forth. Ihelp
her on the train, | run back to the
waiting room 10 sec if she really has
lost the box she misses, l find seat for
her and give her all the information I
have and ask the conductor for more.
But when it comes to the handsome girl
the masher gets ahead of me there. To
return to my text, how is this sort of
''chance acquaintance struck up?
| found out how it was done in q re-
cent trip on the Grand Trunk to Port
land, Me.
One of the brakemen on our train
was very handsome fellow. He
shouted the names of the stations in a
fine bass voice, and between times he
admired himself and fixed his cravat at
the looking glass set at an angle at the
end of the car. At Gorham q very
pretty girl came on and took seat
near the center of the car The two
brakemen generally met at my end of
the car and sat together, on a seat Just
before me. When the train began to
slow up the commonplace brakeman
went to the rear car while the masher
walked gracefully down the long aisle
and twice shouted the name of the sta
ton we were approaching; then he
went out, put his head in the forward
car, and we heard the faint echo of the
name once more. Before the train
stopped he was on the platform. his
right hand on the hand rail, trotting
along with the slowing train. He
helped out any passengers who required
assistance; sometimes danced few
steps while the train waited, kept his
hands in his pockets and let our car
pass him with that unconcern railway
man sees train move on while you Oy
would break our necks trying to catch
it, and finally swung himself on the rear
car with an easy, unruflled motion that
shows perfect familiarity that can new
er be acquired by man not on the
road.
When the commonplace brakeman
and the masher sat down together after
we left Gorham the latter said, refer
ring, presume, to the new passenger:
"My eye, Jim, isn't she beauty
Oh, see here, I'm going down there.
Couldn't stay away, you know"
Erred" said Jim, ''what would your
wife sayP think I'll have to let her
know"
That's all right" said Fred; am
going to talk to that girl"
Here was my long-looked-tor oppor-
tunity. To listen to some one else's
conversation is not generally just the
thing but on the cars and in the
quest of information--in the interests OF
science, l might say-itwas at least ex.
cusable.
changed my seat for the one lust
behind where the girl sat. Her elbow
rested on the window-sill and she was
looking out at the beautiful scenery.
She was certainly very handsome.
When the brakeman came I'D the aisle
he looked at her with interest, and an
expression of pleased recognition came
over his face.
II beg pardon" he said, "but
haven't | met you at Gorhamp Weren't
you at the party the McLeanS gave
there last weekP"
She looked up at him. "No," she
replied; 81 have only been in Gorham
two days"
He turned over the back of the seat
that faced her and sat down on the arm
of it.
well, now that's singular. Ihave q
very good recollection for faces. 1 wa,
sure you We're with tho Mclean girls
that evening. You know the Mclean
girls, OF courseP' w..
81 know very few people in Gorham
No, don't think ever met thenn,ss
VERY nice family. Boston peopl,
originally. Yes, the mountain air
seemed to suit Mrs. Mclean, so the old
man settled down there. She's rather
delicate
81 should think it would be rather Sc.
we're there in winter"
ut is-it is, he answered, with an
air of candor, as if compelled to admit
that Gnrhom had ol;,,,at;o IL. L..
lagcs. "Yes, it's cold there in winter.
They're going South, they told me
that's why they gave the party. Sup
pose you vo been in Gorham in the sum
mer?''
"Oh, yes. It's delightful in summer
| like the early autumn best, though
think the trees look so nice when thu
leaves are turning"
''Now. do you know. that's nv opiu,