Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-26
THE AWKWARD MAN.
Human Nature a. Exhibited on q Trip
in Herdic.


He was one Of those awkward old men who
are always making mistakes and breaking
things. One could See at . glance, a. he
stumbled into the crowded herdic that rolled
down town the other morning, that he was quite
accustomed to blundering-had probably been
stumbling all his life, and that behind him,
could mis- career Be mapped, lay . wake Of
accidents and embarrassments caused BY his
awkwardness. Al usual in such persons his
extreme politeness, or rather his earnest de-
sire TO be polite. only accentuated his clumsi-
ness. An unconscious sigh Of relief permeated
the atmosphere Of the coach as he settled down
into the only vacant seat on the starboard side
and the people who were morally sure that he
was going to stumble felt better. He evidently
shared this feeling with them. for complacent
expression crept over his shaver upper lip that
showed IN an unfortunate contrast above his
gray chin whiskers. Then he began TO hunt
fof MS fare, and finally found it.
STARTING FoR THE BOX.
He was too polite to ask any one TO pass it to
the box. 90 he started of alone to do it. Just
as ne arose the herdio stopped suddenly at the
hail OF lady on the curb and the awkward old
man was precipitated upon the person Of his
nelghbor. Q stately female, who merely scowled
and waited for the encumbrance to move.
When he did II was with an abashed look and
ne stemmered an apology and tried to lift his
hat. in doing which he stumbled Just a little
more and stepped on the toes of Q man across
the way. Then he went up the aisle, clinging
with desperate grip to the strap rail, and de-
posted his fare in the box just as the new pas
,s pretty young girl, carrying a lead
and took the seat he had vacated.
HE GETS ANOTHER SEAT.
The inherent politeness of the poor man
showed itself when he looked around and dis
covered his loss. 1t weakened little as he
glanced somewhat impatiently at the port side
OF the coach. where the passengers had plenty
OF room: Two kindly disposed young women
pltled MIN and moved along sufficiently to give
the man seat, which he took with a sigh.
ny this time the newcomer had fished quarter
from the intricacies of her dress skirt and
passed it along the line with q murmured re-
guest for "change, please" The old man saw
1t coming and, evidently wishing to show the
young lady that he freely forgave her for TAX
ing his seat, he reached across the aisle with u
polite grin and took the coin. Leaning over
10 the front window in precarious attitude he
hauled down the little shutter Then he re-
seated himself and waited a second.
IT WAS BUNDLE OF TICKETS.
His next lunge produced a tap on the window
to attract the drivers attention and his third
one took the coin through the slot. Then,
steadying himself a moment, he put his hand
up to his mouth and in stage whisper told the
driver tickets" Complacently settling him.
self once more he was still until the white en-
velope appeared at the shutter. when he began
to bob up and down again. Every move
caused him to encrOach more and more on the
territory of his neighbor, bashful girl, who
was rapidly edging away from him AZ far as
possible. At last the transaction was done, he
put ticket into the box and gravely
returned the envelope of five tickets
down the line to the pretty young woman
with the pencil and tablet. His complacency was
somewhat disturbed when the elderly female,
on whom he had sat, sternly told HIM that 1.-The
lady wanted change. not tickets, "and he blushed
ne took back the envelope with one of his half
uttered apologies and counted the tickets.
Five! Then he dove into his trousers pocket
aud brought up small handful of material
Two nlckels, six pennies and watch key COM
prised the stock. He counted the coins and
then, smiling along the line for sympathy, he
dove into the other pocket and brought forth
nothing. A recount Of the coins produced no
better results and then he bobbed up and PARTED
with the driver. The latter, however, could
not help him, for the package was broken and
one ticket was in the box.
Never mind; I'll take the tickets" said the
pretty young woman, timidly.
Never mind" repeated the stern female;
''she will"
HE MAKES RESTITUTION.
"Thats all right, all right" stammered the
awkward old man. raising his hand in protest
'Tll fix IT." and he went to searching again.
Then he counted his coins once more and
finally produced his spectacles. These did not
multiply the money in the least, but they evil
IDENTIFY magnifed the coins, for relieved smile
illuminated the upper lip as the. old man began
to pick out some pieces-first the two nickels
and then some pennies, one, two, three, four,
five, and thrusting the sixteenth cent and the
watch key back into his pocket he passed the
remainder down to the stern female, who
glared at him second and turned the money
over to the young woman with an air of wash
ing her hands Of the whole affair. The young
lady. who had been somewhat embarra ssed by
the proceeding, poured the coins into her purse
without counting them, while the rest of the
passengers bit their lips and looked out of the
windows, and the old man pocketed the five
tickets.
Major John F. O'Brien, general manager of
the National railway Of Mexico has resigned.
He has been offered two good railroad positions