Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-05-30
make some?"


found letter from his wife, written
with lead pencil. She signed her
name at the end, Your affectionate
wife, Lizzie Parks" He rubbed out
the Parks" and wrote Hayward"
instead. He hadn't more than got it
done when back came the conductor.
Have you any other papers beside
what are in that satchel that would
prove who you wereg"
Il may have" said Parks.
He fumbled in his pockets awhile
and finally brought out his wife's let
ter.
The conductor took that letter and
he read it through twice and he
didn't know what TO make of it. He
saw we had him, and he just dropped
the letter and lit out without another
word. But he was about the maddest
man. OF course he knew Parks wasn't
HAYWARD, however much he might
prove that he was.
y
we'd just begun to breathe freely,
man in front, who'd been listening TO
what was going on, turns around and
says to me:
Excuse me, sir; but did | under
stand that your name was Wells, Hez-
ekiah Wells, of Branch county, Mich. y
Il guess that's about what you un
derstood, said l.
Il want to know says he. well,
I'm mighty glad to meet you. used
to know the Wellses in Syracuse, New
York State. Knew your folks as well
as / did my own. | don't suppose
you recall me. Ny names Bangs,
Orville Bangs SON"
pretended to recollect him, though
Of course never heard Of the Bangses.
He was a windy fellow, and talked so
loud everybody in the car heard him
and was listening.
No, | couldn't expect you to re-
member much about me, he went
on You went out to Michigan
about the time our folks moved to
Michigan. But / knew the rest Of
your family like book. / used to be
sweet to your sister Maria, used to
take her to singing school. Land !
how she could sing? She was a mighty
fine looking girl in those days. She
married, didn't she?"
Yes" says l, shes married and
she's well and happy now"
well and happy eXclaims he.
"Why, man alive. thought she died!
| know she did, for they sent me u
paper containing an account of the
funeral
why, yes, Maria died. ." says Parks,
looking hard at me. You know she
did, Wells
"Oh, yes, of course she did," says l.
"Yes, Maria's dead. She gone, poor
thing?" And | tried to look sad over
it.
What in thunder do you mean by
saying she was well and happy" de-
manded Bangs, suspiciously.
She's hetter off than if she was
here says l, solemnly. Wed all be
better Off"
Il am not so sure of that says he,
laughing. But, pethaps that's the
way you look at it"
About that time we changed our
seat on account of the draught, and
when we got away from that fellow
we had good laugh over it. For
DAYS after that Parks would have
spells of asking me how Maria was.
We didn't meet any more old friends
We went to New Orleans and looked
around awhile, then went up into
Georgia.
The Georgia people are right cor
dial folks. The conductor looked
quite impressed when we let on who
we were and pretty soon he came
back and said:
dent of this road and a couple of su
perintendents on this train going up
the road piece. They're out in the
smoking car. l told them there was
a president and secretary Of II North
ern road in car back here, and they
said they'd be right glad to meet you.
They'd like to have you come out and
smoke with them"
well, / don't smoke" says Parks.
There was a cigar sticking out Of
his pocket at that very minute. But
if you get ahead of Parks you've got
to get up early in the morning.
Perhaps Mr. Wells does, says the
conductor. Now | really don't, you
know. But they'd like to have
talk with you, any way. Our presi-
dent thinks he met Mr. Hayward once
up north"
That settled Parks.
I'm much obliged to the gentle
men for their politeness," he said,
"but the fact is | amt feeling real
well, and cigar smoke always makes
NE faint"
I'm sorry" says the conductor.
They'll be disappointed. You'll
come, Mr. Wells!'
l followed him out into the smok-
ing car, but tell you l felt shaky.
The conductor introduced NE to the
president and the superintendent.
They were prominent men from At
lanta. Any other time I'd have been
giad to meet them, but | didn't just
enjoy it them.
They wanted to know all about our
road, and they asked the most out
landish questions about things / didn't