Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-12-31

finds this trip much MOI H.esome than
common-positively wearisome, in fact.
Then in a fit of Impotence he throws up
his window and gazes vacantly out on
the barren landscape, takes off his hat,
tumbles his hair, and, at last, in an alb
sent-minded way, pulls out cigar,
lights match, and is on the point of
smoking when he remembers that he is
not in smoking-car, looks up to see if
any one has observed it, and, catching
her eye, forgets the match still burning
in his hand. The result is that the ends
of his beard come in contact with the
flame. There is sudden blaze, quick
shrek of alarm from the lady, and,
with quiet presence of mind, he smoth-
ers the flame with his travelling scarf.
To his surprise his neighbor is in the
aisle by his side, and says. earnestly:
''Oh, sir, / hope you are not
burnedp'
mo more than few weeks will re-
pair, believe" he replies, gayly; ''my
carelessness has cheated the barber out
of task-nothing more,'' and, taking
off the scarf, he discloses comical con-
dition of beard, one side of which
has been burned off within an inch of
his chin, while the other retains it's ma
tive luxuriance. II see by your eyes
that it is ridiculous" he says. Laugh
if you like, shall not mind"
81 am so glad that it is no worse"
says my lady, frankly. 81 have pair
of scissors in my satchel with which you
can trim it even, if you would like
them
81 don't like to trouble you," says he.
''Nay, but one good turn deserves an
other" she replies. "You see 1 have
not forgotten your---your kindness this
morning"
s'Oh, the shoer' he replies. "a small
kindness that---as small as shoe---but
will not be so chnrlish as to refuse your
kindly offer.'' The pretty little white
hands are dangerously close as she
brings him the scissors, and he can look
straight into her eyes, but he treats it as
an ordinary occurrence, and protects
her from embarrassment by being unem-
barrassed himself.
The English gentleman sees it, how
ever, and Immediately chronicles in his
notebook the interesting fact that in
America young ladies travelling alone
on the railway do not hesitate to help
any stranger make his toilet if he de-
sires it.
He retires with the scissors and pres
emily returns with the much abused
beard unevenly trimmed and ''notched''
at the Sides.
She laughs merrily, and he is on the
point of making a gallant speech, such
as expressing a willingness to burn his
beard every day for the sake of using
her scissors; but he feels that this girl S
righteousness is above cheap fiattery,
and he disdains to offer her such. So,
instead, he talks easily and pleasantly
asks her destination and is evidently
pleased when it corresponds with his
own---regrets that he doesn't know
s'Uncle Ned" if for nothing else but to
acknowledge his niece's kindness.
By this time the girl is thoroughly at
her ease, and, welcoming the change
from solitude, she talks freely and talks
well---well enough to fulfill his wish of
the previous evening, that she might
prove to him her emancipation from
long clothes.
'sDo you know" she says, naively, II
have been hoping that something might
occur by which we could become &C
quainted? 1 mean, of course, without
forwardness on my part or on yours. -
"And so have l." he replies. "With
me it arose from an humble desire to
comfort and console you yesterday, and
it has been growing ever since. Need l
say that 1 welcome the accident which
effected my wish?''
She laughed. 81 am afraid you
thought me a simpleton for crying,
but'-her voice grows graver-'I felt
so lonely and distressed about leaving
mamma. l have never travelled alone. "
81 understand" he says, simply; 81
can remember my first plunge into the
cold water of the world, and how hor-
ribly near crying came when my dear
old mother kissed me at the station.
That was some time before cultivated
this scarlet abomination'' the
which, wherever 60, earns me
the distinctive title of the 'red-bearded
man."
cit is rather like that of young Pen
dennis,' she says, roguishly. Il don't
like boards"
'.And I'll wager" he goes on, ''that
was the first thing about me you noticed.
By the way, we have not progressed far
enough in our new-found acquaintance
to know each others names. Suppose,
for the sake of novelty, we disclose and
call each other during the rest of the
trip by the names which each men,
tally bestowed on the other at first
sightP''
She looks little embarrassed. 81
am afraid you'll think mine imper-
tinent."
'.Not more SO than mine, am sure, -
he replies; "I'll agree to take it in good
part if you will. "
Every well,' says she. 81 am afraid
you were right, and my first impression
was Red Beard Now tell me my new
name"
at sounds very ridiculous, but when
/ saw you sitting there in tears / called
you Poor Little Cry Babyr"
"Such names!' says the Cry Baby,
laughing.
.sSuch nonsense!" says the Red Beard,
laughing too.
An hoatr later:
The Cry Baby-I have appointed my
self committee of one to invite you to
Join me in lunch-basket repast.
Mamma has provided as if for wilder
ness of daughters, and as 1 am but
one
Red Beard-Bewildern
The Cry Baby-No, daughter
should be glad to have your assistance.
Red Beard-Each hour you knit
stronger the bonds of my gratitude.
An eating house with its noise and dirt,
as compared with your kind ministra-
tons and-and lunch basket--'.Hyperion
to Satyr."
The Cry Baby-Tm sure you deserve
a breakfast for that painstaking speech.