Sharp County record., 1885-05-21
BY PARNA'S GRAVE.
The Story Told by An Old Man to
A Chance Acquaintance.

The train paused at every lonely sta
tion. sometimes permitting passen-
ger to alight, but oftener gathering up
belated summer tourists-the women
with golden-rod or asters in their belts,
the men with fish baskets or game-bags
over their shoulders. The one passen-
cer-car was old and small and low
celed, the red plush seats were faded
the little panes of glass grimy, and it
was only after repeated efforts that L
succeeded in raising the window to let
the soft wind of early autumn blow
against my face, 1t was with regret
that viewed the fields and woods, for
I Was leaving them, and every tree
beckoned to me, and whispered: "Stay
STAY until the frost has turned our
Hayes, until November gales have
.ttripped US bare, until we hide beneath
The thick white snow, until the spring
comes slowly up Our way" l won
dered if l would stay if | could; wheth-
er, If all the world were before me, l
would choose to pitch my tent on some
SOLITARY beach or within sound OF the
soughing pines. Was not my longing
born of a comfortable contentment?
Was | not in my heart of hearts down.
right glad to be going back to the town,
TO my friends, my work, my winter
pleasuresp A great clump of sumach
burnt red in little hollow, and my
thoughts jumped to the reading-room OF
my club to deep crimson armchair
by the open fire, and in an instant the
rumble of the train sounded like the
laden omnibuses toling over the city
street. The conversation of two stolid,
midCle-aged men behind me called
me back from my dreams, and
/ was list ming to their dronIng
account of the evil doings Of sundry
persons in Saybrook, when the train
stopped, and the brakeman called out
the place in an inqu ring tone that
matched his up-turned nose and high
circling eyebrows. From my window
/ saw on the platform two young sh,
querulous- ook ng women, who regard
ed with anxious interest thlck-set,
white haired old man. Evidently he
was about to start on a journey, for he
carried satchel which was as new and
Shining as his tall silk hat. He sprang
from the platform, not lightly, but gay
ly, and with half-laughing half-frown-
ing refusal OF the aid eagerly rendered
him by both the fus5y women. They
glanced at each other significantly and
pursed up their lips,
"Now, pa, you have got to take some
sort of care of yourself" said one of
them, in aggrieved tones. You will
git hurt if you 90 jumping about that
way"
The other woman shook her head
with forlorh air that was in itself
prophecy of future mi,hap to the agile
old gentleman; and then she and her
companion lifted their skirts very high
and stepped down to the ground care
fully, as if to show that they knew
enough to be needed how they placed
their precious feet Then icy gave the
old gentleman much doleful good ad-
vice, and he, declaring that he was q
sight smarter than they thought, be-
slowed hearty kiss upon each, and,
wrenching himself free from their
got on the car just as the
train began to glide away. He came
slowly down the aisle, looking right
and left toward the well-flled seats,
until he arrived opposite me, when he
halted and glanced at the portmanteau
that had SO far been defense against
lntruders | made place for him at
once, for my heart warmed toward him
i hardly know why, unless it were
b"cause he reminded me vaguely of my
own white-haired father, dead this
many year.
''Thank you, young man." he said
Got the window open, eh? Just lem
me wave my handKeTCnfGT out 0f f4t ~ee-
the girls, will you?
He leaned heavily on my knees and
waved his handkerchief merrly to the
two women, who shook theirs sadly in
return. This ceremony over, my COM
panion squared himself in the seat and
looked unnaturally grave. He wore
new suit of black broadcloth, cut as
only country tailor can cut black
broadcloth, the low vest displaying a
great eXpanse of white shirt that ended
at the neck in a high collar, about
which was tied soft black-silk scarf.