West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-04-17
THE MASHER.
A Plan Which Docs Not Succeed
in All Gases.


have never been able TO solve althouob
II has always Interested mo somewhat.
never was able TO understand how a
man could have the cheek to strike mn
an acquaintance with lady, on "A train
lor instance, unless the lady gave him
some excuse on which to begin n con
Versation with. What puzzled me was
now he could begin such conversation.
believe might be able myself TO wor-
~ along with conversation with g.,
stranger II somebody started IL for mr
or II she asked something about the
country we were passing through, but
10 have that diplomacy necessary /,
break the fee and deliberately com
mence casual acquaintance is a feat
thaI have always felt is far beyond
me; have gone long and lonesome
railway Journeys just because of this
ueiect IN my character have seen a
Young man come into "A car in which
had ridden "a hundred miles and befor,.
We hau passed the next mile post he
was sitling beside the best looking Girl
IN ihe tram talking "a if they were old
friends. l have often wondered how
1t was done. ! wondered how be began
IT, mat was always what bothered
me. / never was on hand at Tho CON,
mencement Perhaps this is WHY /
nave such an unreasonable dislike of the
hasher have the hatred of him
that no doubt springs from the con
sclousneSs that ! am uureadv, awkward
uoh say the right thing at the RIGHT
tlihc' and also because he is SO much
peJter looking than ] am. Now, take
"h eUleriN ladY-a woman with bundles
ana uncertainties then YOU ought to
see my good qualities shine forth. / helm
hcr on the train, | run back TO the
waiting room to see if she really has
lost the box she misses, | find a seat for
her and give her all the information |
nave and ask the conductor for NOR,
but when it comes to the handsome 0irl
Ihe nasher gets ahead of me there. To
return TO my text, how is this sort of
chance acquaintance struck up?
found out how il was done i'm re-
cent trip ON the Grand Trunk To Port.
land, Me.
One Of the brakemen on our train
was u very handsome fellow He
shouted the names Of the stations i'm n
line bass voice, and between times he
admired himself and fixed his crayat nj
the looking glass set at an angle AT the
end of the car. At Gorham "A very
pretty girl came on and took scat
near the center of the car The two
brakemen generally met ut my end If
tue car and sat together on seat lust
before me. When the train began 10
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
uon we were approaching: then ne
went out, put his head i'm the forward
car, and we heard the fain. echo of th
name once moro. Before the train
stopped he was on the platform. his
right hand OIL the hand rail. trott,ng
along with the slowing train. Hc
helped out any passengers who required
assistance; sometimes danced ~ few
steps while the train waited, kent his
hands IN his pockets and let our car
pass him with that uncouccrn railway
man sees train move on while YOU or
would break our necks trying 10 catch
It, and finally swung himself on the rear
car with an easy. unruflicd motion thot
SHOWS perfect familiarity thatcan new
er be acquired by 70 man not on the
road
When the commonplace brakeman
add the mashcr sat down toVcther after
we left GOrham the fatter said. refer.
ring presume, to the now passenger
my eye, Jim, isn't she beautv2
Oh, see here, I'm going down there
IOuldn { stay away YOU know"
''tred, said jim. what would yor
wife say? think I'll have to let her
know"
That's all right, said Fred: .Tm
going 10 talk to- that girl "
Here was my long g-loOkcd-ior oppor-
tunity. TO listen to some one 6ise's
conversation is not generally lust the
thing, but on the cars and i'm tbo
quest Of information i'm The Interests of
science. J might say 30 was at least cN.
cusabic.
] changed my scat for the one inst
behind whore ine 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 up the aisle .
he looked at her with interest. and lu
expression Of pleased recognition came
over his face
II ] beg pardon, hc said "buf
haven / met YOU at GOrham? Wcreu'
YOU af the party the Mclean. Vaye
there last wcck?'
She looked up at him .No -bo
replied ~ have only been n Gorh.Im
two DAYS"
llc turned over ihc back Of tbp .ca
that faced her and sat down ON ihc arm
of TO-
Wen. now lhai singular Ihatrl
very good recollection for faces lua
sure YOU were with thn Mrlcal eir'.
that evening You know the Mclean
girls a. c0urp9''
II know very fcw people boz Gorham.
No J don't think / ever mot them
VERY nice family Boston p uYIp
originally Yes. the mouutain air
seemed to suit Mrs, Mclean, So ihe old
man settled down there She's rather
delicate
II should think would be rath.ra.-
VerStfere ina winter