The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-07
His Chance Acquaintance.
please let me assist youY'

'Please let me assist youf
There was no response to my request,
but know that in this case silence
gave co2sent.
The words were addressed to a pre-
possessing young woman as 1 was about
to get aboard a wo@t bound train at
Binghampton one morning. Her satchel
had slinped from her hand while she
was waiting to be helped up the car
steps by the attending porter. Its over
/ crowded condition caused its clasps to
give way and out rolled a half dozen
articles, combs, brush, drinking cup
/ and such things as ladies invariab bly,
! carry with them when travelling, and
which no unmarried man will attempt
to remember.
She scrambled after the things her
self, and did my share in a race after
a round box of tooth powder that rolled
along the platform like steam uni
cycle 1t did not get away, however,
and l GOT back with it in time to pick
up a gilt-edged volume of Whittier,
which. with th3 somewhat sOiled box Of
tooth polish, presented to the fair lady
with my most graceful bow. OF course
she said, THANK you" l can see her
nova handsome brunette, in plain but
tasteful attire. She did not shoot me
with that cold, hear tless, abbrevi-
ated and expressionloss expression,
"Thanksm Her reward was a modest
look of the eyes, faint blush on the
cheeks, and in sweet voice, "IhanB
you"
She packed the riotous articles back
into her satchcl, and relieved the smal
hands that endeavored to bring the two
sides together, graphing the bag with
sufficient muscle to close it and faster
the clasps firmly.
"Won't you let me carry it into the
car for you2 1t is very heavy"
There was another modest look, blush
I 'Thank you" When does man fee
happier that when contributing to the
comfort of an appreciative womanf If Il
is right in his way to be of assistance,
and the woman is oung and more thar
ordinarily attractive, so much the
) happier is he. Have you not seen mar
carry q woman's weighty satchel hal
dozen blocks when if it had been hi
own nm exDressman would have received
a quarter for the service2 There IS
deal of importance in the ownership o
a satchel The bag in my hand seemed
then as light as toy balloon, but nov
in my thoughtful moments 1 am sur
that there were in it several changes 0
attire in addition to the travelling out
fit already mentioned.
confess that l was pleased to find tn
car well occupied and only one seat en-
tirely vacant The experien ces ha
made acquain tance easy, and after Civ
e ing her the place next to the windo7
+ and depositing the bulky satchel at he
4 feet, I made inquiry if 1 would be il
3 truding if l took the remainder of th
i seat.
= "Oh, 10 sir. am all alone. sha
e not need it at all. You have been yer
:, kind.
4, How beautiful the September morr
ings are t" 1 said by way of opening
conversation.
d aren't they lovely! After the su
i has swept away the fog the SuSqu
;. hanna valley Is as picturesque as or
" could wish to have it. do dislike fog
r I think when find place where the
+, are no fogs 1 shall engage a buildlu
a. lot How far is it from EImira to Buff
IL lo2' she added.
"A hundred and forty six miles, "
.. replied with the celebrity of schoolp'
r who had learned it in his lesson. ga
iie5 you going so far?''
IS yes" she replied, 81 am going
5: visit a friend And you7'
IL ITO Buffalo also. Do you THU
" you can endure my company for SO To-
distance2