, 1885-11-15
AT G|ALLIHoON.


'Calhhoon, rolton City and Gowanus
D. Npress, in bold, black. newly painted
letters
\ moro married and weather -Iettin
train a train whose engine was les
~resplendent, and the uniform Of whose
conductor had not new-looking creascs
down the trousers-would have been
ont of place in the Callihoon station
The station itself was a small, unhn.
ished structure, half painted, half
shingled. and redolent OF freshly hewn
pine the road which wound away from
il was newly cut, and bore the mar :
OF deeply sunk hoofs and wagon wheels
all down its Jagged length the skeletons
OF houses rose high, and the noise OF
falling hammers and gruff commands
mingled with the sound OF the rain.
livery thing bespoke the crude, new set
tlement.
The 3 O'Clock express pulled noisily
out of the station, having deposited but
one passenger on the wet, uncovered
platform; and the aspect OF the place
promptly changed A half-dozen loung
ers about the small stove in the waiting
room rose from their chairs simultan
eously, hurried out, unmindful of the
rain, and surrounded the newcomer;
the station master emerged from his
Office and oined the group; the work
men engaged on the unfinished roof
slid down their ladders and formed the
edge of it.
there was at once eager welcome and
h%esitating W in the faces turned TO
wards the man in their midst-a tall
and heavily built fellow of 80 or there
abouts, good looking in spite OF his
careless dress and the floridness Of his
face, against which his closely-cut
blonde hair looked white. Tho same
blooming tint. eloquent Of a free in
diligence of convivial tastes, character
lied in a greater or less degree the
group about him.
wei, | don't see as you're any diff
ferent, Vreeland," said the station
master, humorously putting into words
the apprehension which pervaded the
circle. The boys didn't know but what
coming into that forty thousand would
be the ruin of you-a thing of that sort 5
enough to spoil any man. But | told
iem | reckoned Nreeland wouldn't be
coming back and putting on any airs
over his old friends, if it was a hundred
thousand-not him.
Nreeland's reply to this appeal was
brief and conclusive. lie made a sweep
in the air which included the circle, and
ended with a Jerk of his thumb towards
the saloon across the strcet-one of
C%allihoons many.
The rain battered down a moment
later upon an empty platform, and the
saloon keeper opened his door TO a
promising crowd-cold and damp, but
in high spirits and a thirsty condition.
The hero Of the occasion was intro
duced to the new bartender, in accord
ance with O%allihoon's democratic Gus.
toms; aud then the chairs about the
stove were seized upon, and trays were
passed and glasses ratified, and the odor
of the place grew stronger.
Vreeland's sudden prosperity was the
common theme.
Forty thousand said the little bald
headed Chaunce McGill, in the mourn
full one which his fourth glass always
induced; I've got an uncle, Vreeland,
but he won't die"
If it's old Fanny you're waiting
for, said the station master, jovially,
he haint got enough to bury him when
he does die.
The sally was met with loud applause,
none of the gathering being in a state
favorable to a critical Judgment of the
brilliancy of the remark.
\ IRELAND himself did not JOIN in the
laugh. His face, grown somewhat pur
pie with his repeated potations, wore m
anxious look; his eyes roved uneasily
among his companions faces.
He set down his glass as the mirth
subsidized, and turned to little MoGill.
Flows Sammy been getting onf' he
said
There was an immediate silence,
which silence Mr.. Mciill did not see
fit to break. He gazed at his questioner
with an intre lsing gloom.
The station master spoke at last, with
at @ ort at lightness.
Sammy = he said. why, Sammy
doing fine. Sammy's getting an educa.
ton Started in at school, Sammy
has.
His listeners flushed face grew a
shade paler. He passed an unsteady
hand across IL, and half rose from his
chair.
WITTY, yes; reckoned you'd be glad to
hear, said the station master, sooth-
ingly, faltering a little over The state
ment. You see, its "a new teacher
a young m from Gowanus. She
opened up school the day you
started OF To take possession OF
your forty thousand. | don't know
as I've got it straight, but the story is
that Sammy was out chopping down the
gatepost when she was going by ont
day, and she took him right along, and
he's been ever since. They say Sammy
reforming; say he's let up on stonina
everybody that goes 10y, and left oil
killing cats. don't much believe it,
but
The station-master ceased with
startled abruptness. Nreeland, with
lowering eyes and set lips with a face
grown suddenly herce-had risen to his
feet. lie settled with the bartender
silently, and turned to the door. Lit
tie McGill covered his pink crown viii
his worn out hat, and followed hin
waveringly, IN bland unconsciousnes'
of his sudden change OF mood.
The group about the stove stared al
each other in feeble dlmay as the dooi
closed upon the two.
Hes bound for that school house, .
said the saloon-keeper solemnly.
He's very unreasonable, Nreeland
is" said the station-master, that 10y
OF his is going on ten, and its time h,
knew something besides de iltry.
Young to have a boy that age, ain
her said the new bartender, who hat
looked on uncomprehendingly, and wal
thirsting for enlightenment.
"He want more than twenty when h,
married Beth Lambert tallihoon wa,
just baekwoods then, the station mastel
responded, his lone implying that Cali
hoon WAS "a metropolis AT the presen.
moment she VA = much good, Betl