The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-02-02

| dHOLHeI GTlp, IOuS Will Hcr cousin
Lucindy Parks, clear up to the city.
Purity soon she got to be known
to all the railroad folks along the line
and there was no end to the joke:
about her.
by gosh!" says old Mr.. Potter tc
one O the conductors, one day. ''I'm
thinking you'll hev to fix up II car fol
her speshal 'commodation, if it goes OIL
this way longer"
''Oh," answered he, a smiling. "it's
novelty to her at present, but we dom
objec'. Arter awhile. when hel
curiosity's gratified, she'll be conten
to settle down at home ag'in, and tall
over her travels"
Well, she did stay quite for a week
or two, and then took ag'in to riding
on the rail. First she went to Clover.
dale to buy tin kittle for 10 cents
which she said was a saving of D cents
from gitten it at Cross-Keys.
Then she left her gal at home and
tuck Lucindy Parks along, all the way
to the city to sell her eggs and buy a
| caliker gownd; and so it went all the
| Summer.
"Oh, never mind" says the con-
ductor, smiling hard kind of smile
She'll get tired of travelin' arter a
while"
But she didn't seem to get tired. On
the contrary she took to making
regular trips, taking along first one
person and then another, until the
conductors got to looking as grum
as bears: and even the firemen and
injineers scowled or laughed every
time she put in an appearance.
One injineer used to let off a fear
full schreech O. the b'iler whenever he
seed her coming; but, arter the first
scare, she got used to it and tuck no
notice.
And once when she was late, and
the conductor started the train
just as she and Lucindy Parks was
about climbing aboard, she threatened
to sue the company if it happened
agin.
They knew she'd keep her word, so
they was all obliged to be on their good
behavior to her.
So she kept it up all the first year or
two; Her way was to get aboard with
her female companion, whoever it
might be for the time, and Jest fix
herself comfortably near the stove or
at window, 'cording as it was Sum-
mer or Winter, and thar sit and knit
the whole journey through.
She'd carry one woman up may be,
and bring another down, and at last it
came out that she was maxim regular
business of it, with folks that wanted
to visit the town or country, they pay
ing her half and a quarter the regular
fare on what was passed off on the
railroad folks for free trip.
The company interfered then, and
said something about stopping it by
law; but she lowed they hadn't stiper-
lated bout any business matters ohern.
and she was keeping to the letter of
agreement.
Then they tried to buy her off, but
she said she was satisfied as things
was and wanted no change. Still, it
was clear that she was not only MAX
ing money for herself but keeping the
company out of it.
There was one injineer named Wells
on one of the trains, and bimeby, when
this lad been going on a matter of
four or five years, Betsey Ann Simcoe
noticed that he always fetched his cap
and looked at her in a soft, spooney
sort O. way whenever he seen her.
One day, when she was standing on
the bank, he flung a bokey of pinks
and der-buttons to her feet, and
another time pitched her a pound O.
candy.
Then he handed her a newspaper
with some verses in it marked with char
coal-something about his heart being
captivated by lady lover the way"
that he'd never spoken to; and at last
came letter saying as how he'd seen
her SO often on the cars, and he was
sure she would. make him the god,
clever, sensible wife he'd aIwavs
wanted, if she could only bring herself
to fancy him as he did her.
Well, she answered the letter, and a
meeting was fixed; but meantime one
O. the railroad chaps stepped in and
told her that Wells was getting so dis
sipated that the company talked of
discharging him, but she might be able
to save him only on condition that he'd
give up going to bar-rooms.
He considered of it and said he
would if she'd promise to give up her
railroad travelling and stay at home
and make it comfortable and agree
able for him and her.
and white, and got witnesses to it, and
took oath to keep their words, and
then they was married.
Of course Betsy Ann Wells stayed at
home now, and set about doing all she
could to make it pleasant for her hus-
band. She had plenty of time to do it
in, for he didn't make his appearance
there once month, skeersely; and at
last she found out that it was all put
up job of the company's who'd bribed
Wells with 5000 to marry her off the
road for good.
He was reckless sort of a chap,
but not bad, and had always been as
sober and free from bar-rooms as a
Judge.
Betsy Ann was awful cut up when
she found it out, for she'd set her heart
on him, as old maids are apt to set
their hearts on the first man that pur-
tends to keer for 'em.
She didn't say nothing, even to
Lucindy Parks, but went right along
doing the best she could to make it
pleasant for her husband whenever he
came to see her.
And at last, when he met with an
accident from a collision on the road,
and had to be laid up for weeks before
he got we'll again, she had him from
the hospital and nursed him as tender
and keerful as mother does her ailing
baby.
And would you believe it, that in
time she brought the man round to be
ashamed of the trick he'd played on
her, and to be just as steady and easy
going a husband as anV in CrOSS-KeVS?
Betsy Ann Wells never went on the
rails again, except once or twice with
her husband, paving her own fare.
And once she told the conductor that
spite of everything the company had
done. she'd got the best of the bargain,
good husband and money enough to
make him and her comfortable for
| life,-Susie ASter Watts.