The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-11-06

night when he opened cupboard door
and dragged out a box filled with black
bottles and marked in big letters
..soap." He smiled and wrenched off
part of the lid to get at it; then he put
the prongs carefully about its neck and
bent downward ON the handle. There
was a report. howl and an expletive
which, in justice to Mr.. McFadden,
must be omitted. The tempered steel
had snapped short of and pronged
hand struck him in the eye.
'.Now, by my halidom," said he,
when the bright light of day struggled
into his retina again, II can endure this
bachelors life no longer. must
change it for better"
And Archibald Mel adden was putting
this rash resolve into execution when
the reader formed his acquaintance.
For Mr.. McFadden was a man quick to
act. t Fl.
III. e.fl kr-.h g..
Fate steals along with silent tread.
Found oftenest in what least We dread
FrOwns in the storm with angry brow.
But in the sunshine strikes the blow.
-C0,cpcr.
As Archibald busted off the seat with
his palm-leaf fan and pulled himself
into it. he noticed a young lady stand
ing near the front door, talking very
earnestly with the driver. The mule
resumed operations suddenly, but that
only disconnected the conversation,
without breaking it of. ''What is the
matter?" said Archibald to vinegary
looking lady of uncertain age who sat
near him. The lady drew the folds of
her dress a little closer to her, twitched
her nose slightly but firmly, and re-
marked. with rather unnecessary vigor
that she was not in the habit of being
spoken to by strange men in the cars.
Then she relented little, If her feat
ures were any indication, and finally
told him that he might find out II he
listened. He thanked her-for he was
never deficient in politeness-struck
her off his list of possibilities and ad-
dressed his ear to the young lady's
story.
II thought that ticketwas alright, "
she said, taking one moment between
each word for an attractive blush, ''but
if you say not suppose | am mis-
taken"
.'Oh oh-h-hr' she shrieked, after .
long look through the glass box. ''It's
. Turkish bath ticket! thoughts pack
age only yesterday"
s.Indeed, y said the prim lady, with
her nose and infection rising at equal
angles: while the driver impaired the
information that neither he nor the
officers of the company were likely
to need such thing Ihave friend.
however," he was just going to say,
when the mule interrupted and the
balance of the proposition died within
him. s ar M s.
II guess you will have to put in an
other ticket" he said. when he had
recovered himself.
ssBut l haven't one," said the maid
en-, beginning to show the sparkle of
two tear-drops. Didn't 1 tell YOU /
picked up the wrong packagep'
swell, then, some money. Five cents,
please!'
II have none of that, either" she
said, TREMENDOUSLY.
WELL said the driver, finally-but
Archibald McFadden, as we have seen,
was a man quick to act.
..Never, sir,'' said he, glancing de-
fiance around the car; mo woman
shall be put out into the cold world
while Archibald McFadden has the
money to pay her car fare"
He had forgotten in his earnestness
about the temperature, but the senti-
ment was all right. Then he put his
honest hand into his pocket. He
flushed a little and then made the same
effort on the other side; then he tried
his vest; then his coat-tails, and then
the pockets where more sanguinary
men carry their revolvers. His hair
stood straight up as the search was
finished and the palm of his hand still
showed empty air. He would have
said nothing about the cold world if he
had spoken again. 1t was remarkably
warm on his side of the car.
swell, then, began the driver once
more. II was just going to say, when
that old codger interrupted me, that I
would let you ride free. You can pay
the fare some other time"
Archibald breathed harder than ever
and the young lady sat down. There
was something about her he liked. Tho
fair hair rippled back from her fore
head like the wavelets on sunny
brook. and her blue eyes beamed to-
ward him like the violets on its banks.
"She is better girl than the one I
am AFTER" said he, ''even if she has no
money, and, by Jove, I'll sacrifice my
self. I'll find out, however" he added,
prudently, ''before the thing goes too
far, whether she can sew on buttons or
not" And then he braced himself up
in his seat and patted his hair down
with his left hand.
sAhem, madame" said he. Elk
cuse me, but was just in the act of
helping you when that driver coarsely
interfered. Can l be of any further
servicep"
'.No, sir. thank you," said the fair
one, sinking back into the corner as if
she were glad to be through with the
adventure and conversation. IS
Archibald was discouraged but not
cast down. He moved a little nearer