Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-03
THE INVENTORS ROMANCE

nome was unpretentious, though COM
Portable. My brothers and 1 were i'm
pressed with the idea that the height Of a
mans ambition was attained when he be-
came master mechanic
Having been graduated from school at
Ia, was ambitious to enter the Summer
vile academy, where the higher branches
were taught and young men were pre-
pared for college. My father could not
afford it, as he had six mouths to fill, and
very capactous mouths they were, to
judge by the rapidity with which they
emptied the -four barrel. was quite a
favorite with the principal of the village
school, and he recommended me to Mr..
kemble, principal Of the academy, who
wanted boy around the place to make
himself generally useful, for which he
would get tuition free. / was soon in
stalled as general utility at the academy.
Charley Rawson and formed the
primary Latin class, and we quickly be-
came fast friends. Charley and his sister
had been left orphans at a tender age, and
were adopted by childless uncle, whose
wealth was to revert to them. l envied
his advantage in having Judge Rawson to
assist him when he got stuck in his trans
lations. Night after night I plodded
along unaided - "Romulus Romulus)
primus first docuit taught Italos the
Italians) agriculturam agriculture" And
my solicitous ma often threatened to ap-
prentice me to an agriculturist if I didn't
get to bed. But 1 managed to keep pace
with my chum.
My holidays spent with Charley max
ing raids on his uncle's potato bin after
big tubers to roast on the river bank, or
in fishing, berrying or nutting. In these
latter excursions there was frequently
third party, my little friends sister Jen-
ME, joyous tomboy of Is, who could run
a race or jump fence with either of us.
After year of my academic experience I
was rapidly coming to understand the
breach that divided us socially, and raved
more or less at fate that had thrust me
upon the world without a silver spoon in
my mouth.
At the end of two years in the academy
/ concluded that it was time for me to go
to work. Before the close of the summer
vacation / applied to the foreman of the
machine shop for a situation, and sur
prised my father one day when 1 informed
him that should be off to the shop with
him next morning. Well, 1 put in five
years at the trade, and at 81 had a good
knowledge Of 1t. Meanwhile death had
been reaping harvest In the old home,
and it was now broken up. l came to
New York city and secured foremanship
in Munzell's shop.
now turned my attention to inventing
an improvement on the system of packing
boxes on the aXles of car wheels. With
that problem solved, ] knew that cool
800, 600 awaited me from a syndicate Of
leading railroads Of the country. For five
years / devoted all my spare time to
studying and experimenting. If possible.
j determined to find device that would
supplant the oil and cotton waste, and
that would overcome what engineers fear
in the ''hot box
While at the academy had been q well
come guest at Charley Rawson's. His
uncle and aunt were indulgent, and Jen-
ME and he and might turn the house
upside down for all they cared. Con-
stantly thrown in Jennie's company, the
result was that fell head over ears in
first love, and after had gone to work
hung around the place evenings like
specter, in the hope of encounterinR her.
We were good friends, and with my first
weeks wages l bought her box of per-
fumery-three little bottles of different
flsvors nesting in the blue silk lining.
Some months after l had left school
Charley informed nue. that his uncle had
decided to send him to Princeton, from
which institution, by the way, he was
graduated in time. He then entered the
law Office Of Pearson g. Co., in Philadel-
phia, became a successful lawyer, got
married, and was recently selected coun-
ty judge at Summerville.
The week following Charley's depart
ure Jennie was bundled off to a young
ladies' seminary near the Quaker City, to
get polished in French, music and paint
ing. Before her departure we bad a long
interview on the river bank, where we
had so often romped and played. Jennie
promised that she would write me long
letter every fortnight. For whole year
she wrote regularly, and as the time
rolled by her letters seemed to grow in
affectionate assurances. At the end OF
that time Jennie came home to spend
vacation | called on her. and was re-
ceived with the same artless, unaffected
greeting of year before.
1t is unnecessary to remark that Jennie
had other admirers in her own set, and
some of them treated the young fellow
from the machine shop in rather dis
dainful manner. / was over sensitive, l
suppose, but l swallowed my chagrin like
n soldier. Jennie's young lady friends
who had big brothers ambitious to ask
in her smiles, were not slow TO expras
their surprise st my temerity.
The aunt became alarmed, and on
cluded it was about time TO step IN and
prevent q mesalliance. Instead OF Jen-
ME, the aristoeratic old dame received me
in the parior one evening, and in mild
|, y,,y.,, vhnt oh
IN the future from the Rawson mansion
would be highly appreciated. / took the
hint, but met Jennie before she returned
TO school, Between her sobs she told me
that both her uncle and aunt had re-
minded her that she was young lady
now; that she should look among her |
own circle for young gentlemen acquaint-
ances, and, further, that unless she cut |
all communication with me they would |
cut her OFF with 81. As dutiful ward |
she had promised to obey. We exchanged |
little mementoes at parting, and l re-
turned to the lathe.
One year ago i perfected my device,
which has been tested on several roads. |
Competent critics pronounced il q success,
and six mouths ago, in q complimentary |
letter signed by several railroad presi- |
dents, l was informed that l would find a |
certified check payable to my order in the
trust company's Office, as they had de-
cided 70 adopt my Improvement
In the past seven or eight years have
met many charming and agreeable girls,
any one of whom would no doubt have |
suade an excellent wife; but the shadow
of the joyous, coquettish Jennie always
interviewed and seemed to whisper through
the mist, ''Wait for me, Tomr'
Having made profitable investment Of /