Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-08-27

| hAu tueu banged tue uOOi suut dSdAu WIFI
force enough TO give any human being,
without cast-iron nerves, the headache for
a week.
just glared at that drummer a minute,
and then ejaculnted, mo" with an ear
nestness calculated to leave no doubt what
ever on the subject. He smiled little,
a comfortable, reconciled sort of smile,
which seemed to say he was at ease with
the whole world, and hoped every one else
was.
Pretty soon he happened to catch sight
of some fine brick buildings through the
window, and looked at them with show of
interest. "May ] ask you what those pub
| lie buildings are?" he asked, graciously.
Certainly" 1 replied.
"Well," after slight pause on both
sides, "What are they?"
81 do not know" Profound silence for
at least fifteen minutes.
At length he frightened up again and re-
marked that was rather young to be
travelling alone. l answered that I hoped
and believed was old enough to take care
of myself, without assistance from any
body.
"Ah!" he remarked, with slight eleva-
ton of the eyebrows.
"Then perhaps it would be as we'll for
you to be little more careful with your
pocket book. You have certainly heard
that there were such people as thieves" I
looked down at my pocket book. which was
one of those handy arrangements fastened
TO chain over my arm, and sure enough
there it was wide open. Several bills
which I had carelessly thrown in the
bottom were in plain sight and in imminent
danger of tumbling out. thanked him as
stiff1y as / could, under the circumstances,
and again addressed myself to my news
paper.
Then without any warning he broke out
again and began to tell some stories of
how young and green he had been when
he first started out in life and began to
look around. How he was "taken in" time
and again by thieves, and SO could
sympathize with children, or something to
that effect and this to me-who could
boast of my p years.
I just sat there and gritted my teeth in
silence. I had to. 1t was all could do.
I was firmly convinced by this time that
he merely took this course to punish me
for snubbing him so numerically.
Finally. he sweetly inquired where at
tended school, and whether I liked my
teacher.
This was the very last straw. 1t was
more than could stand, and I promptly
informed him with the most whitening look
could assume, that it was none of his
business.
If could only have had the pleasure of
seeing him look crest-fallen, would have
been quite happy, but I was denied that
satisfaction.
He began to whistle softly under his
breath, and actually looked pleased.
turned my back to him and looked indus
triously out of the window at the telegraph
poles, bitches, grazing COWS, and other alb
sorbing objects of interest. We finally,
after what seemed ages to me, reached the
city. With sigh of relief 1 arose to
escape. He also grabbed his hat and
prepared to leave. He courteously offered
to help me with my bundles and packages,
of which had number. elevated my
nose in the air and sailed out
without SO much as looking
at him. just as alighted on the platform,
some hurrying passenger knocked a pack
age from my hand, down between the
steps, directly under the ear-wheels.
Would you believe it, that exasperating
drummer jumped down and got it, placed
it in my hand with hooking bow, and
walked off.
would rather have lost the box dozen
times than to have that miserable upstart
rescue it, and felt strong inclination to
throw it at him, but desisted upon remem-
bering thatit contained caromels.
Cousin Sadie was there to meet me, and
as she lived in the city, and did not, ]
went home with her and staid to dinner.
In the evening we drove out to what was,
at that time, my home, about a mile from
the city. Sadie did not comein, but fastened
back to attend meeting of some kind. |
walked up the path, and as did so,
noticed that the parlor blinds were up.
Mother came running out TO meet me,
her race all 1glOW, ana SO excited, she
could hardly talk. "Oh, Gussie," she
painted, swhat do you think-your uncle
EliSer has come"
i Uncle Elmer. you see, was mothers
youngest brother from Texas. He was
quite small boy when she had married
and come North.
He had only visited us once eight years
before, when had been away visiting al
cousins. "He is very anxious to see you,
said she; "hurry up and come in" [ few
up the stairs, three steps at time,
Strengthened my collar, combed down my
bangs, and walked into the parlor. Some
one was sitting on the sofa, aud turned
aro,Sad as entered, when 10 and behold
there sat-my drummer. I will con-
fess that for once I was completely
Illustrated.
"Why!" l gasped, utterly at loss TO,
words with which to express myself. He
stared at me little bit, and then burst into
an uncomfortable fit of laughter.