New-York tribune., 1889-12-22
BARKER.
A YOUNG GENTLEMAN FROM THE SOUTH

was she who said that the boy looked as II he had
,ust come out Of theatre. Although this remark
was as Indefinite II could well be, II was taken py
everybody being highly descriptive and sat sactory
IL was not a theatre, however, that he came from'
but from a frcight-car which had been switched of
on to the side track the little country station. And
he did not emerge from that retreat i It had stood
there over part Of day and whole night. II was
Miss Pelham herself who came down to hurry up the
agent about some furniture she had bought in Boston
and sent out surprise for the Pelham family at
Christmas. do not know why 1t IS, but there Is
nothing which appears to give much happiness to
freight handlers to let freight stand untouched until
the owners of 1t nearly crazy with mpatence and
anger But, Miss Pelham said II they meant to
do that way with ncr, she'd let them know they had
tackled the wrong person. Her goods camo one day,
and the next morning she down to the station to
inquire after them. OF she was told that.
though the stuff might possibly get there that day, 1t
would not probably arrive for week.
Miss Pelham did what Mr.. Tappertt used TO do
when he wished to annihilate opponent She
eyed over' the Snug official who gave her this IN
formation, and who made II he were so busy he
could not listen TO another word when she eyed
him he felt very uncomfortable, and kept putting
his pcnhOlder behind his and taking It out again.
Miss Pelham was tall. she forty years old, she
dressed with the utmost richness and becomingneSs
and II ever woman knew what could be done and
what could not be done, she knew 1t, and was un
erring In selecting tho things that could be done
This morning she used her usual good Judgment in
deciding that Mr.. Smithson had got to under in
regard to the goods she had sent out Therefore It
was in vain for Mr. smithson to put his penholder
behind his and then take Il out with such show
of haste. In vain that he murmured something about
the hurry there always was at Christmas time.
Miss Pelham said she would 90 and look into
that freightcar that the slde-track. Perhaps
Mr.. smlthson would come with herl He had to CO.
nd ha Lad 10
a good-humored expression ne flung his overcoat
about him, and they both stepped out from the hot
once into the sharp air outside. The was
locked ana 1t was some time before he could find the
man who knew whore the key was When he was
| found the man growled out the explanation that
"thcy want meanin to go at that till after
| New Years. On hearing this remark Miss Pelham
| laughed In such way that Mr. Smlthson told the
man to hold his Jaw, and what did he by such
! talk?
Finally the car-door was rolled back and the lady
stepped brskly In, peering here and there among the
uncouth forms Of freight humbly waiting to be moved
| Here's the easy chair" she said bending over
tall box that she might get sight of the tag on it.
She did not Shrek but she stepped back rather sud
denly and exclaimed, There's something in it,
Mr.. SmithsOn smiled indulgently at a female
who takes up notions Then he stepped forward and
looked the tall box. He also retreated and said
| foIcibly "There Is something In II 4"
At this stage boys head came in sight with hair
of kind of bay color standing about on it, cadaver
| Gus face and wild eyes
"what makes yo' rouse urp er feller that-a-way?"
asked a weak but decidedly belligerent voice. Il
| amt er gwine ter be pitched OFF m hyar. Pm gwfne
| to go till come ter her, ter my sister, yo' know
| Most folks has bon tOrable good ter me sence
| started.7
Mr. smlthson made a lunge toward the boy If
| be would pull him out by the hair of his head but
the boy suddenly stood upright In Miss Peham's easy
chair. and doubled up his fists behind his rampant
Of big box. This position revealed that his arms
were naked and his shoulders, save that over
them some very broad suspenders passed holding
up almost to his chin. pair of trousers which must
have been made for an extremely portly man. How
cray with dirt and blue with cold and bony those
arms and shoulders were!
"Yo jes look out :" cried the occupant Of the arm
chair.
Mr. smithson laughed in an embarrassed way. He
| turned to Miss Pelham and asked If that chap was
! part OF her freight The chap met the woman's gaze
| with defiant answering gaze In a moment ne
| began 10 shiver and bending back. without re-
leasing his vlgilant outlook, pulled UP an OLD piece
of sacking and huddled N round his shouidefS'
81 wish you'd that box, Mr.. Smithson."
yo sba,n,t touch men announced the boy. Folks
has ben good an lcmme ride Yo cyant stop me-
When the box was pushed one side there was
the boy standing in rubber boots and trousers. and
braclng himself II for fight
| marked Miss Pelham
rrta hollow ewes shosle but the owner of the eyes
| b.sitated then said that folks had chucked him
crackers an he reckoned he must stick BY thur car
so ter 20 when 1t went"
! lie was assured that there would be plenty OF
time to 90 home with Miss Pelham, stay over Christ
mas, have some jolly meds' anu s'ni 10 i'N' " o.
when that car went
yo, don't mean ter cheat fellerl' said the boy
bis gaunt face taking on a longing look Il be bout
starved | amt seen mite er grease sence
started r- ~.
Mr. smithson laughed aloud Miss Pelham felt
.oetbl,c in her throat that made t impossible for
- 80 Tnoak Immediately While she waiting
the words Yo' don't mean ter cheat er feier" were
repeated.
NO." said she
uo clambered down from the chair and stood there
h his strange clothes, not noticing Mr. smithson ln
- ~ Io,st looking only at Miss Pelham, who said
q Come right along with me- and who walked OIL
without saving anything more about her relshL
IN her way to her home Miss Pelham met several
.a,n,.nces one OF them she stopped and glancne
=, bor follower she asked her friend II he woudn [
sed right over her house one of his boys caStoH
suits Just as as l can do IT, was the
emphatic answer .,.-. ,....,,
lie looks like being out OF theaue' uoesh
he ~ asked Miss Pelham.
ho be.f aiincly but never in a theatre,
- orvwhere else a pair of pantaloonS as large as
~ .. naIr didn't know as pantaloonS could Dc made
as large that u.o,o, .o
Uhen the lady and her companion reached her
home she found unexpected obstacle IN Inc way oil
ao,,pg the article of apparel. she required that
io'" u.bo said his name Barker, should go
n, tho bathroom and there. with all the ad!unctS
80 hath should take good wash before he had a
. ,,,are meal lie hesitated, and when Miss Pelham
iamtsed that It should be the squarest meal ne ever
-. he rubbed his fists into his eyes, Whimpered a
little and said be war wlllin' to wash II she wal
, ter have him; though thur want no heed oi
; ~, ,,r he never had washed"
what are you hesitatng about then'" she asked
sharply