The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-12-10
JOHNNY DRIVER.
A Thanksgiving Story.
BY j. D. ~DILLENBACK.

BY j. d. D~ILLENBACK.
The day before Thanksgiving. l was seated
In frst-class passenger coach, speeding away
at the rate of forty miles an hour, through the
fertile farms of northern Ohio. 1t was about
the middle of the afternoon when | reltn-
buished my occupation Of gazing out Of the
moist window upon the dull, fiat, and unproft-
able landscape, aud placing my ~oyercOat on
the back of the seat, reclined my head against
Il, covered my face with my hat, and pretended
10 be trying to sleep. But, in point
Of fact, l had no intention what
ever Of going to sleep, and sheltered by my
hat, amused myself with watching my fellow
passengers, sparsely scattered through the car.
Before recording the results of my observa-
ttons, it will be in place for me to introduce
myself to the reader, and state how | came to
be on that train at that time, from whence l
cam and whittier l was bound. My name is
Smith. Don't laugh-a great many good
people have borne the name of SMITH, and /
was Junior member of the wealthy firm of
Brown, Black IL Co, furniture manufacturers,
owners OF one of the largest and most profit
able factories In Cincinnati. A little more
than a year before we had hired a new fore
man, from Detroit, who proved a great acquisi-
tion, being a splendid workman, a reliable
manager, aud a perfect gentleman. He had
not been with US a month before he and l
were the warmest of friends, and l became a
frequent visitor at his house. where his hospi-
table attentions were cordially seconded by his
wife and sister.
But If my feelings for George Castle, for
such was his name, were those of the warmest
friendship, ! was still more strongly attracted
by his sister Ella, ayoung lady Of twenty sum
mers, ten years my junior, whose charms
boon led me a willing captive. Happily the
attraction was mutual, and / found no diff
fculty in persuading her TO appoint our we'd
ding day early in the next spring. Then,
when once fairly entrapped, she became sud
denly shy, and insisted on going to her fathers
for q long visit, and to make the necessary
preparations for our marriage. She started
for Detroit, where her parents resided, In Sep
TENDER, and George and his wife followed a
month latter, taking advantage of a lul in
business which led us to reduce our force of
Workmen till after New Years. Before they
left, however, 1t was arranged that / should
come to Detroit to spend Thanksgiving with
them, and make the acquaintance of the old
folks. Thus 1T happened that / broke loose
from business with some difficulty, only the day
before Thanksgiving, and eagerly FASTENED to
greet my betrothed at her own home.
But to resume. Ihad just come to the sage
conclusion that a big, showily-dressed man,
four seats la front of me. was either a pro-
~fessional gambler, an internal revenue officer,
or a detective, when two ladies, who had been
seated back OF me-, near the stove, were incon-
venieneed by the heat and CAME and took he
seat In front Of me, where they fell into a
lives chat. | soon learned from their con
Versstion that both resided In Detroit, and
were returning from q hasty and unpremedita-
ted visit to a sick and dying friend in Ohio.
1t did not take long to convince me that they
were women Of wealth and intelligence, who
occupied a high position in society, and
guessed by their appearance that both were
over forty years old.
| had become so much interested In their
conversation that ! failed to notice that the
train had come TO a standstill In a censt
forest, till one OF them paused In the midst
of sentence to ask the other, "What are we
waiting here fort ! don't see any station. :
This reused me, aud ! got up and went out
upon the platform, where | soon learned the
cause of our delay. In front of us was !
freight train of the track, with q disabled
engine.
Nv disappointment was most intense, and
for 4 few minutes stood Ike a man utterl,
Ing the evening In Mr.. Castles elegent parior,
In company with my charming Ella, as ] had
been picturing Ia day. dreams all that long
dismal day, there was, anchored In the
midst OF an mnOSpltab43 forest, With no i'm
mediate prospect Of release. Crying owe,
spilled milk is nor one OF my characteristics
however, and as soon as / had ascertained
from the conductor that he should not bach
the train TO the last station, some seven miles
distant, tin he had time to send a messenger
10 the station four miles ahead for instruc
lions, 4 started on a brisk walk along tho
track resolved TO find some supper, II ii were
possible. After walking over a mile, / came Il
clearing and q large farm house, not fai
from the railroad, where / met with Il hosplt
able reception On learning the situation 81
the train, the lady OF the house at once laid
aside her sewing and hustled about to fill 1
large basket with bread. dried meat, cheese
~uoaghnuts, pies, cakes, and various other
good things alWaYs to be found ia superabun.
dance In the pantry OF an Ohio housewife,
especially about Thanksgiving time. While
she was filing the basket, she was at the same
time making a large coffee pot full OF coffee
m the kitchen stove. She utterly refused ff
receive money, and cut short my thanks b,
directing me 70 divide my basket full with thS
ladies on the train, giving what was left to
the men, and TO leave the basket, and a tf
pail into which she poured The eoffec, at tho
next station. Her name was Smith, and n
made me proud to lear her say IL. Thus
tfnea back to the train, which I found Ia stafs
sso. But others of the gentlemen had beer
but foraGing, and the two ladies / have men
ttoned we're lks only ones not already supplied
They declared that / was . fitting herald 81
Thanksgiving, aud . genuine knight-errant 81
me n5nHfepnth century, and were lavish II
tnelf praises OF the lady whose name wal
&&Ka4#M u.