Wichita eagle., 1890-03-09

WL29AA mertown station on the
w Ill Natured line; it stood
for some minutes screaming and steam
ing In way that might have made one
think that it too had caught the tone and
manners of the line; but that could not
be the case, and it is uncharitable even
to suggest it. Most of the passengers
had got their tickets and taken their
places while il vet wanted three minutes
of the hour for starting, when there en-
tered the booking Office a girl flushed
from fast walking. She hurried to the
open shutter and said: Zone second class
ticket to Coldburgh, please" The man
stamped the ticket with the usual click
and threw it down on the counter. She
handed him one pound note He lifted
the ticket and said: I'VE don't give
change here tossing back the note to
her
Not give change? What am to do?'
1--WE don't give it, he reiterated.
Gould you noty she said in a tone of
entreaty.
mo; we are not compelled to do it,
and it is not convenient"
Have l time to go to Summertown
for it," she asked.
The train starts in three minutes"
She knew it would take five minutes
to run to the nearest place where she
could get change; she need not try that,
and she turned round, vexed and anx-
ious, TO see coming in at the door of the
office big, good natured looking wo-
man, accompanied by boy carrying a
basket. She addressed this woman, who
listened till she gathered her meaning
that she wanted the loan of shilling
the fare was one and fourpence, but she
had coppers-till they reached Cold
burgh; then she waved her off without
even word, as much as to say, What
is thereabout me that you should think
| can be SO easily imposed on"
Her son, seeing the blank lcok of dis
appointment in the girls face, said:
Mother, We might lend her the shilling"
''Laddie," said his mother, "by the
time ye've been as lang in the world as
I've been, yel ken no to giea shilling to
everybody that asks it, or yell come
easier By ye're shillings than I've done"
Yet she looked a good natured, moth
erly woman, but having probably had
her own tussle with circumstances. and
suspecting impo5ture, she did not relent
for q moment.
Next there came in two ladies, mother
and daughter, apparently. Our change
less passenger addressed the elder and
explained her circumstances.
"Well," said the lady, sit would be
nothing to me to lose shilling. but l
have been SO often imposed on that /
have made up my mind not to run .he
risk again; it's oaly encouraging disnon-
esty. It's ply, my poor girl. you
should tako TO such Z trade, and such az
you hinder honest people being helped"
The girl did not speak. but glanced at
the young lady. who, supposing she was
appealed To, looked at her mother and
said, Quite right, mamma. its becom-
ing regular dodge at al the railway
stations" Then to the girl, Cant you
go TO the town for change and wait till
the next train
IF do that shall not get home to-
night"
But the young lady was not to be made |
q fool of, either: she knew that it is quite |
as easy to tell a circumstantial lie as a |
single stupid one, and it must be very
much more interesting and amusing and |
stimulating 10 the artist, one would sup |
pose.
The next person TO enter the station !
was man. a young. pleasant looking
man; 10 him in desperation and breath
less haste the girl told her story once
more. ending with, VIII you lend me a
shiIiug?'
"Oh, yes" he said, I'm give you a
shilling"
III return it when we set to Cold
burgh."
I'm not going SO far as Coldburgh."
Then give me your address and I'll
send it,"
ITS hardly worth while" he said, "and
] have not a card
She whipped out little brass bound
note book and pencil from her pocket
and said: Write your address here; it is
worth while. don't want your shilling;
only want the loan of it till tomorrow
II don't get home tonight my mother
won't know what to think; she'll be
awfullv anxious
While he was writing his address in
the little note book he said; 1t would be
q pity to make her anxious"
1T would be more than a pity-it
would be sin.
In an instant she got her ticket ano
was out into the darkness and into one
of the carriages before the clerk could
stamp another ticket fer the last psSsen-
ger, and he was pretty quick at that busi-
ness The man who had thus invested
a shilling took things more leisurely. as
Il ne expected the train TO wait for him,
out he. too, got in, the guard shut all the
,loors with bang, and the engine. clear
ing lbs heavy breathing, took to the road
2 gain
III.
TIE young man wis had thus thrown |
IS silver coin on the wide world had got
Ito first class carriage in which were
ne two ladies who had been appealed TO
II vain 1t seemed they were his aunt
md cousin, and after expressing surprise