Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-29

could see what pleasant time we We're
having, and that we were able to en-
terrain SO old traveller as the stranger
appeared to be.
He had left his sachel in the other
ear, he told US, and every little while
he would excuse himself TO us and go
to see if it was safe. Jennie asked him
once why he did not bring it in there
and keep it by him, but he made some
evasive reply, and we thought no moro
about it.
"But as the day wore OH began to
be less pleased with our new acquaint-
ance. His visits to the other car be-
came moro frequent, and, although he
was as polite as ever, he began to
talk so loud and motion in such
an odd, excited manner that
noticed the other passengers
were listening to, and watching, him;
and once when he leaned against the
back of the seat and laughed loudly at
some remark of Jennie's, l fancied
his breath smelled of liquor, and be-
gan to feel sorry that we had talked
to him so much.
81 did not mention my thoughts to
Jennie | was afraid she would laugh
at me and say was old-fashioned and
foolish; but the next time he left the
ear asked her if she noticed how fast
and loud he talked
He does talk rather fast she
said, but he speaks loud on account
of the noise of the cars, guess. He
has travelled great deal, presume.
But just look at that old lady with the
holTid bonnet and shabby dress; she
looks half inclined to come over
and speak to us. | hope she don't
intend to crowd over here and try
to get acquainted, just because she
sees we are having good time.
+" i hope not, said |, looking at the
old lady, who certainly did sen rather
shabby beside the nicely-dressed people
around her. I'D be ashamed to talk
with her.
g so should !, . said Jennie, 'and I
don't intend to, even if she comes over
here | don't want all the folks in the
car to be making fun of us.
!" Perhaps we had better eat our
lunch now,n / suggested. If she sees
we are eating, she viii not BIO likely
to come to talk to us, and IL surely is
past dinner time. See quite a number
are getting out their lunch baskets
/" Perhaps we had better, said Jen-
ME, taking down the basket our lunch
was in. i hate to eat on the cars, but
when SO many are lunching it doesn't
seem so bad
1--WE were enjoying our lunch when
the talkative stranger came back.
" Having picnic are you?n he
asked as he sat down and turned
around so as to look over tho back of
the seat at us.
"'No, thank you, I'm not hungry
he added as Jennie said something
about his sharing our lunch.
81 see some one who Isl | said,
looking at an old gentleman a few seats
away who had spread the contents of
his basket out on paper he held in
his lap, and was just beginning to eat.
:" He doesn't mean to be hungry
long, laughed Jennie. just look at the
array Of eatables spread out on that
paper. He has some nicc-looking
cake, any way. / wish ! had a piece
of it,
"Of course she never meant it when
she said so, but our officious neighbor
heard her, and rose unsteadily to his
feet.
Get you some of it right off, he
said, with deep bow and wave of
his hand, and before either of us UNI
derstood or thought what he meant to
do, ne walked over to the portly old
gentleman, and in voice loud enough
to be heard half dozen seats away,
asked him for some of the cake.
"As long as ! live l shall never for
,ct the surprised expression of the old
gentlemans face, as he sat looking up,
while the other, with many gestures,
explained in a loud voice for whom he
wanted the cake.
"'You can have it, of course, he
said, us the other finished his explana-
ton, and, he added, sarc astically; ii
that doesn't make lunch enough for the
young ladies, don't be too bashful to
come back and get the rest Of my din
nerr
The train had stopped at a small
station while they were talking, and
every word Of the old gentleman's re-
ply could be plainly heard by the other
passengers, who were all beginning to
smile and laugh, and look at us girls.
Perhaps you can imagine our feel
ings. felt my face grow scarlet, and
would willingly have given up all
possessed, as well as the anticipated
visit, to have been safely back home
or anywhere, away from that car of
smiling people.
"I-I-don't want it, stammered
poor Jennie, her face the picture OF
shame and modification, as he came
back with the cake and held it out to
her Il
"'Dont be bashful, he urged, you
might as well eat it, and here, have
Z SOl1tt vi billS W WASH ~ uOWus uuOp
putting his hand in his pocket, he drew
out quite large black bottle and Of
fered it, first to Jennie and then to me.
There was a movement of surprised
! silence, then an indignant protest from
us both, and half smothered burst Of
laughter from the passengers, who all
seemed to enjoy the lesson we were
having.
"'You don't indulge, eh? p said our tor
mentor, as he put the bottle to his own
| lips. It's good, and I've got more in
the sleeping-car, so you might come
What more he would have said we
never knew, for just at that moment
the old lady, whom we had thought
beneath our notice, plying our en-
barrassment, rose and came to our
rescue.
{" My dears,' she said, in loud,
cheerful voice, you are both young
and spry, and it will not bother you to
walk if the train should start. think
a friend of mine has gone into the
other car; will you be so kind as to
help me carry my sachel, and bird
cage, and things in therep'
lyon can ouesS how thankful we