Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-03
Copyright, 1851

for the winter was now long past was struck
by the air OF eXaSperating sameness that had
settled on everything. My friends were accus-
toned To say that ''old Chester had a heap OF
taste and plenty vi cash ~ make beautiful his
den witna' but now the pictures the bric-a-
br.Ic and all my familiar belongings had taken
look of age. Their infinite variety had
withered. Even my beloved books were in
eXpresSihly wearisome to behold. I hated the
place. And. as lifted my eyes to an effigy of
tine piuUs Coniucius. in old blue, the venerable
sac srinned down on me from his shelf as if
u say: Human joys are like tine skippings of
sparrow.
with only vague notion of what I was
about. rose from the easy-chair into which
had sunk in entering and mechanically began
10 pack a travelling bag. Then hesitated and
asked myself why should L pack a travelling
ba.. IL seemed utterly absurd. did not pro
pose journey. Ny hand struck a big pile of
letters that had accum uJted during the day.
Without perusing them. read them, dimly
comprehen1ing what saw. They were of the
regulation type of social correspondence; in
vitation~. requests for autographs, appli cations
for letters OF introduction and recomm enda-
ton. notices of my election to places of barren
honor. tickets for charitable raree-shows, beg
glng letters, notifications OF social obligations
failing due. and SO
why can't they leave me alone?" cried an
grily. lien, with smile at my own petu-
lance. / flung the mass into a waste-basket and
went ON packing my Portmanteau.
Money? Certainly / should need money.
Luckily, had Il considerable sum that should
have deposited, that day. had been too dis
Iirited. L took il all in wad of notes and
crammed ii into the bag. Then turned OFF the
gas. threw Inv latch-key in the direction of old
blue Confucius grinning his lonely shelf,
slammed the door behind Inc and walked de-
Hberately down the stairs and out into the
deserted streets.
My impression is that for the next few hours
j rode up and down the elevated railway.
Prom Harlem to the Battery, and from the Bat
terry To Harlem by rail- Is not "a wholly monoto-
nous journey. / have often travelled the route
when sore distraught in time OF trouble.
Then l crossed the ferry and bought through
ticket Tor ~. Louis Why st. Louis, cannot
tell. The name printed on a billboard in large
letters seemed 10 me Il Holy Catholic name,
more or less suggestive OF monasterIes and rest
fulness. The train moved out of the station,
and We sped westward, ever westward with
whlriing wheels. 1 felt as if 1 had been pur-
sued and had eluded my rursuers. n feeling of
tlation grew upon me as We darted onward.
locked at the matter-Of-act and commonplace
people about me. and Rugged myself with the
thought that they could not possibly guess that
was running away. that was fugitive who
had committed no crime, but for whom there
would presently be a hue-and-cry. was ready
10 rise up in my place and propose some ex-
travagance, just as l have seen some club tel
low. flown with wine, dare his comrades TO
/ took no note of time; but the day was far
spent and had Knitted on the travelled edge of
a nights WEAKNESS with sundry maps in INV
chair, when at way station. among the pas
kengerS that entered the train, to my great
vexation. recognized Manning / mad con-
graduated myself, ON looking around. that. of
all The thousands of people whom knew, not
one was on the train with me. And here was
one who not only knew me, but would carry
the tidings that he had met me. 1t was impos-
sible TO avoid him. Entering the ear he made
straight for me, just as il he had expected to
me- sitting down beside me he began an easy
conversation, as if our meeting was the most
natural timing in the world.
wondered why he did not ask me where
was going until / reflected that my ticket,
stuck IN the strap oil my portmanteau, suffi-
ciently advertised my destination. There was
nothing mysterious about Manning. He was
commonplace IN looks; was short, thick-set.
with 1uil and fOrid face, kindly beaming blue
eyes, no beard, and a slight and sandy NOUS
tache. He spoke IN an eNquisIteiy moduIated
and low tone Of voice and there was a certain
flavor OF Boston in his speech the pronounced it
''BawstOn'l that always pleased me much
And so when ne began just where we left on in
OCr last conversation, IL seemed to me- |
was very glad he had become my fellow tray-
eIer-
"Oh, yes, he was saying social life in a big
guy hlust DC very wearing on a mans vitality.
80 many calls on his time and attention Do
You know sometimes think that there can be
Very little genuine friendship among city men?
That Is, OF course among those who are In the
swim, as they call H.
As ior NE, said, with tinge of sadness IN
my heart, line best lnan-friend had in New
York was poor OLD Crosby. He was no society
man. Not 50 MUCH as was
Was! repeated Manning, after me- "Waso
You speak a. il that were ali in the past Have
You fOTeSWOrn society? i know Won used tn
threaten YOU would
Mir Manning said with as much solern-
nifty as was capable %, 80 tar as consistent
Win my Obligations To my fellow men, shall
goIht" society as little ~ possible; and into the
swim, never Social dIssi patton and are cut
Manning smiled quietly, amt then reiapsed
into a long reverie, ii seemed to me- during
which / gaZed out oi the car windows in a
IaOCdy frame OF mind. Manning was disia-
chned 70 talk. rie appeared distracted. And.
without KNOWING why, islncied that he was
embarrassed.
Presently he reused himself with question:.
'tioins 10 stay long in st. LOUIS
IL was ny turn 10 be embarrassed But
laughed Lightly aud told him that / was loot
-pJ>. q fortnight SI,.al had decided tN
take hying trip into the west. | hated the
west the very ns'Ine was oiiOus: but had never
seen the country, and perhaps / might change
III! opinion OF II after had looked on the re-
glYn Oi wIlIch had heard 50 much anu seen SD
niue. 4fahkiy told hun that i travelling
10 set Tid OF myself and my old associations he
brishJeueo UP at this.
And see here, OLD fellow ! added eagerly
I'll You don't mind would like 10 bind YOU
over 70 Keep secret The fact That you Ialve met
I1e. mere are YOU gOius?''
on I'm going to East Tennessee have a
!'aiiii tLeft. ME place Il East Tennessee. Ever
81 StiCIt. ~ course not, since You nave Ii :
been est Hadn't you better take ii AZ with
me now:
II vs. not a bad idea. 1 slept on it. and. next
MY. - -, az We NeIe rapidly approaching the
20 IL >ouInerly direction ManuIr,.. ,, .;.Itlce,
mat he Was JOINT tenant large -s.rtu sit
uateI III the heart OF 1ae inOU..t-ti uuIi., r..in
AC mac iAentIe ned, ana :L;lt =. short >t,ctlrn
there al LIE midst OF the sylvan soIi.Il,it.s and
New OF ne.
AL We have TO do is to take y s;opoT ticket
az cut tiUN,
Aiie i'ttlHahy fsaiirutG 70 lam C.tieuce
% wagon ROAD 10 our place Only - peasant
GfiNe Then bring you D:.cI. u iii.. t,st.J.Oo,;L
80 It@tiIsahS luAc'lo.ii NCi BY - t.cket for
-AI>s1pil DE tine " stJdsh and s--nitIitUW. Il road
1hdNc close connection " Ill t..e i}r.g.,fJur9
'-hd GTeat esLeIn al New Grant al q There. Won
are.
As hlr scenery, my new guide told me that
Lao on! 10 ieaG one ". Charles Eguert Grad
t~ch pages ana would lind IL ali set down.
Oi4At4iS suhbetins azure Cep.cs Wild tan
- Ol IlOtous wines, Inists blOsiIng out the
4ur'H ana moonlight gliding distant peaks
.4u ali mat sort vi thing, you know" he ex-
IAalned.
Any thing FOR a new sensation. I would 90
1-ilnbeFtEll!e was not ia very attractive place
LFen the gIamor oi the mingled sunshine and
mist could not soften TIE pitIIui bsrrenness and
equator OF the implanted and unkempt town.
- iau but one street which r:tInbied airnlessIy
'StWeen = double rOW OF pane sIis-lt.es and log
'%SlEs and then disappeared over the bluffy
bsAhh tl-at overlooked distant valley. A
siiachIN wagon was waiting Tor passengers for
-sAvorN lIe, the station where MaGning's own
team, - ne explained, was 10 take Us onward
10 OuI journey > end. Without ado, We clamb-
cred into the vehicle, and, driven by a silent
shu >u4!en coUntrynan were immediately lost
H. .i4e 0epth OF an alLno>: traciSless forest.
Ny spirits rose with every revolution OF the
SHABBY and creaking wheels L was Tree at last
Examining could not telegraph back to answer
Any hue-and-cry sent OUT Tor me. He would not
ANo" that tHeTe was any calling after me. Be-
lore We parted, would persuaoe him To keep
my movements a dead secret, for a while
longer. " il.st Inattered the morrow? To-day
"''s secure IN these healing airs, this unbroken