Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-08-18
THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER.

Drummer who Was Not the Gay and
Festive Creature Ho is Usually Thought
to BE.
lie was travcling-man. That fact
was conveyed to the other passengers
on the train by his good clothes and
comfortable air of well-to-do-atiyenes
as well as by his general bearing of
being accustomed to luXuric'. He had
the best fare at the best hotels, and his
employers money paid for it as an in
vestmcnt that would return sure divi-
dends. For the rest, he was absent
from his family nearly all the time,
travelling night and day in close, hot,
ill-vGntilated cars, worked like ma
chine at every town on his route, and
earned better salary than any profes.
sional man of his acquaintance. He
was the first to make up purse for
widow or stranded fellow-travel and
when he read the newspaper stories of
the gay and festive drummer he won
dcred why in the course of his travels
he never met any of the craft. The
men he knew were, like himself, OF
honorable record, often Inconvenience
ing themselves to help one another on
the way through.
There was stir at station, and two
pretty girls came aboard. They
laughed and gigglcd; threw kisses to
their friends at the depot; gave silly
messages and good-byes, and, as the
train started, they took a seat behind
the commercial traveller There were
other seats vacant, but they preferred
this, and rustled into it with a series OF
little shriekS and giggles
''Did you see Tom Barlow watching
rs, Nellie? Te-he-he."
Hell be there to meet us when we
20 back, see if he isn't, Kittie! Ha!
har'
Say, he's drummer" giggled
Nellie, launching her friend toward the
front seat.
Too awfully swell, amt hep Oh,
myw
The traveller did not make any
answer. His silk hat, as fine and pre-
tentiOuS Us the hat of man who does
his duty and owes no man anything has
a right to be, was pulled down over his
eyes; his lips were compressed. and he
replied by no look or motion to the
rude speech of the merry girls.
"Mnst be awfully stuck up"
whispered Nellie, but not so low but
that the man on the seat before her
could hear distinctly.
doesn't notice common peuRle,"
answered Kite, with toss Of her
head.
These were young ladies, dear
readers. Not hobble-de-hoy school
girls or coarse. ill-bred hoydens. They
moved in the best society, and their
respective fathers and mothers would
have been greatly astonished to learn
that their daughters llirted. But then.
fathers and mothers are usually the
last TO know what is going on among
thcir own Young people.
"W-would you be SO kind, sir, as to
tell us what time it isH asked Nellie.
in little, meek, far-away voice, while
her companion Uttered and looked out
Of the window.
Both the young ladies wore watches,
as was patent to an observer. but the
gentleman addressed could do nothing
less than answer so direct question.
This he did in brief manner. and
with voice that noticcably trcmbled. |
Poor thing, he was quite overcome"
whispered Kittie. audibly. "I'm 70
ing to want this window put up pretty |
soon"
ALLOW me-" said the travelling man
respectfully, and the Disconnected |
young lady blushed and simpercd, and |
sat in the draught without protest.
The next move was made by the gen
tlcman. He took from his pocket n |
photograph and inspected it long and |
sadly. Tears welled into his ewes. his |
face flushed. and he returned it to BIZ
pocket.
The two young ladies did not see the
photograph, at least not to recognize
whether it was man or woman. but
they te-he'd and simpered and even
speculated in low voice as to who i.
might be-wifc or sweetheart.
"Don't tell me he's married." cried
Kite in a loud whisper. He hasn't
the courage to pop the question:"
''That was his grandmothcr's pic
ture," chimcd in Nellie. Good boy!
carries it with him so that the old lady |
will hear of itand leave him something
in her will. >"
Then they giggled in chorus and tho
train drew up at station whore some
very anxious looking faces were press.
ing forward Us if in search OF some
one.
The commercial traveller caught up
his satchcl and slUng it over his shoul-
der then he took the photograph he
had been looking at out of his pocket.
and turned to the two young ladies who
began to feel little uncomfortable at
his manner.
THAT is the picture of my little
he said, holding up tho
counterfeit of lovely, smiling child
of SIX years; "she is very i'll, and am
summoned home, perhaps to see her
die. But let me tell you that would
rather thousand times know, at this
that the breath of life had
forever passed her sweet lips, than to
think she could ever grow up into
silly, dishonest woman, tempting and
toying with souls to feed her on wicked
vanity"
Almost the next moment they saw
him on the platform, and fair woman
hung on his arm, and his face lighted
with pleasure ut her words But the