The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-08-29

u
turing Co, j. johnson, Treasurer" And
M the stairs, two at TIM he went
The Office staggered Joe. lerk4 10 thu
right of him. clerks to the left Of him.
aud high railing TO keep cut common
folks like himself. Joe remembered that
in the army pfivates uncovered their
heads when they came into officers quart
ers, and oir went his shabby hat. "Can |
see Mr.. Johnson!" he asked, looking at
all the clerks in torn.
ole is busy just now, answered lit.
Tie man, peering over his big books
Take seat, and when he's at liberty III
tell him."
1t seemed hours TO Joe. and the per.
spiration stood In great beads over hi-
! face.
Now" said the man, come on, you
can 90 in;' and opening a door into an
inner Office he ushered In Joe.
| But one quick look was enough for
| him; there, seated at the desk anl flcina
Joe, sat the man with the yellow
wheels"
Come in," said the man kindly; but
Joe fairly grasped the doorknob for sup
port. "What can | do for YOU
Don't you know meT gasped Joe.
"a am sorry TO say | do not" replied
the man.
Flows them wheels?" moaned Joe ;
them yalleT wheels mashed up on the
avenue, and the hatf"
"Oh, are you the mani" inquired the
other.
81 was the man, but | amt no more.
you bet; and If you'll tell me what's the
damage I'd like to settle"
And you've come down for that
asked his enemy.
"oh, no ~ said Joe. conscious that he
hadn't cent in his pockets. Ave most
| forgotten what | have come for seeing
as It's you You could have overturned
Joe with feather, and the man with the
yellow wheels" wore a puzzled sort of
look.
81 see" said the man, getting up from
his desk ''but it seems to me you're lit
tie late. had almost forgotten the whole
thing; in fact, you not only made my
wheels look pretty badly, but you spoiled
my nat and you upset me for a long time y
Good Lord T. said Joe, II didn't see
you spilled out
81 was only mentally upset. rejoined
his enemy. II haven't been very strong,
and used to drive for exercise II
had your physique | would have annihila-
ted you then aud there"
III you'd a-had to pay for my
'physique,' said Joe, thinking of all the
doctors bills and the pateut medicines he
| mad bought for the little woman. of
you'd a-had to pay them bills you wouldn't
want my 'physique;' although it's the
woman as doses, not me-" he continued.
Something about Joe interested the
man, He looked at him and at his watch,
and, coming close to Joe, he sat down be-
side him, "Tell me, he began-'tell me
what brought YOU here"
And Joe began stammeringlv, haltinglv
at first, but growing more and more elo-
quent, more and more earnest AS he went
IA. the saA, white feee ef tie !it.iil!. Nom ~
pcerng into his thoughts and into his
words As If she stood beside him And
he told the homely story OF his life
81 hated them wheels !" said Joe. GIVE
tol you all. We're poor; she's always a.
wishing for that corner lot; she always
says, if she could have it she'd Just live
and be well; and every time had sort
of talk with her, every time she'd sorter
wish for that lot, and broke me all up, d
90 out, and allus, allus", said Joe, "meet
you, and them wheels, them yaller wheels.
And somehow | thought it was them
wheels that was a running over me, was
a travelling up and down my life all the
time. | didn't know who to hate, or wha,
TO hate, because, | didn't get nowhere
and you came the highest; YOU were the
handest, and so | hated you aud them
wheels. Amt there no yalleI wheels in
Your life, mister BE the only man that
hates something that he sao, every day
and never can haYe -kcd Joe
"Oh, mo-" said iaw man soberly aud
kindly; "you are mot tlA.~x'4 man Into
my life; yes, Into ever, afs- life, my
friend, come 'yailer wheels and for q
moment the rich man aui the poor man
met on equal terms.
'fou want to buy that lot, do you?" he
inquired. And have you money enough
to do it! Wait, )" he said, IL have plan.
And then he told Joe that he wanted some
one to make beginning on the property
Joe could buy the lot, and pay for it a.
he was able. He would lend him the
money to build his house, he wouldn't
even take mortgage; he would take his
own, Joc's own simple note and the
house and the lot should be in Joe's wife's
name-Joe Jelius began to cry. Great
strong Joe Jeflus cried like child and
the man with "yaller wheels" went out
and left him alone.
But the man kept his word. The lot
was bought, and slowly and steadily came
the old hight into the little tired, waiting
eyes, softly crept the girlish color into
the pallid checks, and the little woman
crept backward toward her golden youth
On the corner lot stands the yellowest
cottage you ever saw Before the door
stands the ycllowe-t baby.earriage you
ever saw, and nailed up before the front
door -uailed there for luck and for love
Is a little yellow wheel
Joe Jriius is foreman now of all the
coat teams but the man he hated, the
man he loved, is resting quietly, resting
IN the churchyard far from the busy town
Bat every spring-time when the jouquil>
| bloom, II man aud norman, with uncov-
cred heads lay them upon his grave; and
Joe Jeus's only faith, his only belief, rs
he watches the stars at night, is, that ~
among the angels, driving through the
skies, is his hero, his idol with the "yel-
low wheels. Tile independent.