Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-08
srRncK rHE WRONG NAN.
The Mistake Made by q Very Fresh
Young Man.

as this seat engaged ~
"No, sir" was the answer, and the re-
.pectable-appearing old gentleman who
occupied one-half of it gathered up the
papers which he had thrown down beside
him and made room for the young man
who had asked the question.
1t was a suburban train, and the cars
were we'll crowded. Judging from the
number of opera-glasses which l saw in
the laps of the ladies-the sex was in the
majority in our car-the Boston theaters
were going to be we'll patronized that
evening.
The young man who sat down beside
the old gentleman with the respectable
and dignifed air was one of that class
which certainly cannot be numbered
among "the salt of the earth" l don't
like to say that he was "fresh"-it isn't a
refined word-but he undoubtedly was.
l judged, however, simply from his APP
pearance. He was also dude. OF that
there could be no doubt; he sucked the
head of his cane and wore a monocle.
The old gentleman paid no attention to
the young man, but looked steadily at the
lights outside as they flashed by the car
window The young man, however. seemed
anxious to draw his seatmate into CONVEX
satiou.
"Going up to the city? ~ he drawled
"Yesp' and the old man drummed upon
the window-pane and turned away to re-
sumo his occupation of watching the
lights.
s'So'm l % volunteered the young man.
No answer. Still he would not consider
himself frozen out.
'Going to the theater?" he ventured.
"No; are you?
This is where the old gentleman made
his mistake-that little question of his
gave the young man an opportunity to
start up the conversation.
"No," he said, Dim going up just for
fun. | think, however, if have time,
Pll call on young lady friend Of mine
who lives on Commonwealth avenue"
"Indeed?" queried the old gentleman.
Could believe my eyes? He was actually
growing interested Well, l supposed he
had perfect right to, but it seemed
strange that he should listen to the silly
prattling of that young man, when the de-
lightful occupation of watching the lights
and drumming on the window was open to
him.
"Yaas," responded the young man, "sort
of duty, you know. Her father wants
me to marry the daughter. Well, she's
not a bad girl, as girls go, you know, and
has lots of money, so | suppose FL have
to-iust to oblige them, doncherknow?" he
added.
"Yes, yes; see," replied the old gentle
| l,J nd
to say the young lady's name was?"
"Miss Amelia Richmondyke," replied
| the young man. Now, | am not a partic
ularl Y observant person, but if the young
man had had just one per cent. of my per-
spicacity, he would certainly have noticed
the very perceptible little jump that the
old gentleman gave, and the most apparent
frown that brought his snow-white eye
brows together for a moment. But-he
didn't. He just sat there and stared into
blank space, while the old gentleman
pulled himself together and continued:
"Miss Amelia Richmondyke, did you, er,
say|
"Yaas! Daughter of old Parker Rich
mondyke, the banker. Know him ?"
The old gentleman said "No" But
if ever word meant "yes," that "no" did.
| could not tell what was coming, nor
what the mystery was, but l determined to
await developments. Several other pas
sengers in the car were apparently as
deeply interested as l. for the young man
| was talking in voice audible to the occu-
pants of seats some distance away.
"Well old Rich-I call him Rich, we
are so familiar" continued the young
70 hipl- Hnal nf
Robert he says to me, Robert, want
Amelia to marry well, and | think you're
Just the man for her. | want you to take
her.
"Well, you see, l could hardly refuse
the old fellow, though | hardly knew
Amelia at all, but / went home to dinner
With him several times, and the girl and
become very well acquainted. l tell
you, she's dead gone on me, and / expect
the cards will be out in the spring. What
station is this ?'
81 don't know" said the old gentleman,
'but never mind--go on with your
| story"
| wish that | was an artist, or, at least,
| that | had had a camera, that | might
have preserved picture of the expression
which the old gentleman's face bore. l
cannot describe it, but it would have been
better for the young man had he allowed
his attention to turn from the brass knob
on the door of the car, to the old gen.
tleman's countenance. He would have been
spared much needless pain and trouble
| had he done so.
"Well," he resumed, in response to the
old gentleman's request to continue, 81
don't know that there's much more to say.
I'd rather stay down town with the boys
than 90 up to old Rich's, but suppose it's
my duty Ha hap
.sHa! har' laughed the old gentleman,
but it was forced laugh.
"South Boston," the brakeman said,
opening the door, and the passengers be-
gan to gather up their wraps, preparatory
to leaving the train, for we would soon be
at the end of our destination.
Il should be very glad to have you call
| on me at my Office" said the old gentle
man, reaching up to the rack and taking
down his hat.
"Yaas," responded the young man, as he
buttoned his Macintosh about his throat,
delighted, Pm sure. Your address ~
The old gentleman handed him card.
The young man looked at-dropped it to
the floor, and cried:
aye godsp
In one jump he hadTreached the door
and was on the platform. ] sprang for
ward to stop him in his mad act, for |
! thought he meant suicide. But before |
could reach him he had jumped. A mass
of checks, plaids and patent leather shoes,
rolling lump of something which COM
bined all these elements, a splash, and
he had landed in ditch. / knew he was
all right then, for water was insufficient to
kill him. We were not going very fast,
anyway.
| turned and re-entered the car. The
old gentleman had made all preparations
to leave, and was sitting in his seat, his
fat sides shaking with laug liter.