Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-06-04
ooh, certainly" she responded with

Ing TO an eyo-glaSS, ana the oVe-glaSS Tell
to the ground. Scamp had done this
playfully with his teeth. 1t was really
nothing to make fuss about, and why
should the gentleman look SO furious?
She assured the owner of the chain that
the dog didn't mean anything, and was
probably trying to kiss him. Mean
while the glasses had been broken under
somebody's foot.
After this the terrier slept a good
deal, and Mrs. Cantor read novel she
had brought with her She had just
reached the place in the story where
Nadrovine's mother had lovingly
punched him with her stockinged foot,
and he had again called her raptur-
ously, "my small one," when big man
in blue clothes began walking through
the room calling out in voice about as
articulate as the sound of a humble bee
in box:
Cars ready for Ror-n-n-n, Begun
m-m, Jelogni-tee-e, Var-d-ton and Ne
Yor-r-r-k Train number 4,012, track
Mrs. Cantor dropped her book, caught
up Scamp from sound slumber, and
hurried to the ticket-office.
"What did that man say ?" she asked.
"I couldn't understand word"
The ticket-seller answered that he
didn't know, he hadn't noticed. Then,
seeing the crowd streaming out of the
waiting-room, and noting that it was
! after 10 o'clock, she gathered her things,
with Scamp on his leash, and walked to
the place where the gate was open.
''This train for BoWside ?" she asked
of the man there.
He nodded and she passed through
So also did the dog, though he kept
dragging back on his cord and she had
to pull to get him along. When he did
come it was by sliding on all four of his
feet, with his leash very taut, and with
the most vigorous protest in his whole
aspect. 1t seemed to have just come to
his comprehension that he was going to
see his masters mother. Doubtless he
had evolved the conviction that she and
he would be antagonistic, and it would
be his duty to make things as uncom-
Portable as possible all around for every
body He snarled when his mistress
she slackened it. He was altogether SO
much like a modern child that every
one who saw his progress down the
platform longed to suffocate him.
There was a line of cars standing at
the left hand. Very soon Mrs. Cantor
came to car which had placard hung
upon it. She was near-sighted, and was
obliged to go close to the car to read up
on it these words.
sThis car don'tgo The moment she
read this announcement it did not seem
reasonable to her that it could be true.
Why did not that car go? Why should
it stand there with the train if it were
not going?
She didn't believe a word of it. 1t
was plain enough it was mistake of
- Al fol Il Il
termined to 90 to Bowside in that car.
She thought for an instant that she
would return and ask the ticket clerk
about it, and if it wasn't a mistake. The
remembrance of her bundles, and of
the difficulty of getting Scamp through
that gate again, made her give up this
idea.
People kept going past her, and the
terrier kept swapping at their skirts and
trousers. She could not relinquish her
belief about that car.
She turned to a young man who was
standing near. He was well dressed;
he had very grave face, and he was
leaning against post, smoking slowly,
and looking at Scamp.
Mrs. Cantor approached him. He
took his cigar from his mouth, but
glanced at it wistfully as it sent up
spiral of smoke from between his thumb
and finger.
"Can you tell me-" asked the lady,
''what this means?'' pointing to the
card.
''This car don't CO." read the young
man, aloud.
s'I know that it is what it says re-
marked Mrs. Cantor. "But this is the
the train, I'm sure, and there are so
many mistakes, you know, one can't be
too careful. Don't you think so ?''
The young man agreed with her. He
appeared to grow more and more
solemn.
at may be- he said, with great de-
liberation, "that it should read, This
car does 60
''That's just what I felt from the
first" joyfully exclaimed Mrs. Cantor.
''There amt anything but mistakes
when you begin to travel by railroad.
don't go very often, but when do go |
mean to be as sharp as any of them
I'll get right in"
The young man assisted her up the
steps. and lifted her bundles. Scamp,
with sudden approval, tried to lick his
face, and showed efusively that he be-
lieved in him.
When the stranger descended from
the car, he walked quickly back into
the station He did not laugh until he
had reached the newspaper stand, and
bought paper. Then he suddenly be-
came convulsed, and the. spectators
shrank back as if he were lunatic. He
was joined by friend for whom he had
been waiting.
"Oh, Lord' he cried, as soon as he
could speak, "what is the matter with
woman that, when she is travelling,
makes her think thing isn't SO if she is
told it is, and is SO if they tell her it is
not? Just as soon as a woman starts on
a journey she is convinced that every
body lies to her.
In Justice to this young man, the writer
of this must say that he had intended to
return and suggest to Mrs. Cantor that
the placard might be right after all. But
he forgot all about this intention until
he was halfway to Bowside, when he
cried out:
Jupiter and Moses! I wonder if she
has found out yet that that car doesn't
gor'
The lady settled herself very comfort
ably. There was plenty of room. She