Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-21
81 MUST TAKE THE ERIEi"
That 10 What Mrs. Smith Said, and the r
suit Was Most Remarkable.


That 10 What Mrs. Smith Said, and the Re-
suit Was Most Remarkable.
From the New York Sun.
my aunt, Mrs. o. p Smith Of St. Louis,
started east few days ago to visit relatives of
her husbands in Duchess county," said one
of those relatives. well-known railroad man.
"Her direct route was by the New York Cen
trails system to Fishkill. and that was the way
the trip had been laid out. Half an hour before
starting, however. Mrs. Smith surprised her
husband by saying that she intended to go by
the Erie route That would necessitate round
about way by New York city or by Newburgh
and across the Hudson. and her husband tried
to argue her out of her sudden and unreasona-
BILE determination. She stoutly insisted, how
ever. that she must go by the Erie.
'''I can't tell you why have such an inclina-
ton to go that way she said, but have that
feeling and do not believe could bring myself
to go any other way
''Of course. her husband gave in to her within
and put it down to woman's caprice. NV amt
is a native Of Richmond, Va. and during the
war. being about sixteen. her only sister died.
and her brother killed in the defense of
Richmond This left her without a known rela-
tive. unless the Oldest one of the family,
brother, who had gone to California in 1855,
living. She found a home, however with
war, where the orphan girl, whose name was
Allison. subsequently met and married my
Uncle Smith. She was ten years old when her
brother went to California and he WAS then
twenty-five. She had never heard anything
from him since the war broke out Although
her father died when she was but eight she re-
tanned a vivid remembrance of his face and
manner.
AT Meadviile. Pa. tine next morning after
leaving St. Louis, my aunt kept her berth.
Whine she was making her toilet the porter had
made UP the section. When she returned and
sat down sprightly but elderly man sat down
in the other seat of her section and said:
Excuse me. madam. but I'll just drop down
here while the porter fixes up things in my
section. I'm only going to the next station,
any way
My aunt opened her mouth to reply, but
she didn't speak. She simply fastened her eyes
on the old man opposite. He was tall and
bright eyed, with silver-gray mustache and
goatee. the latter long and pointed. He wore
a wlde-brimmed felt hat. My aunt's manner
seemed to nettle him. and he exclaimed rising:
If L annoy you, madam, / will 60 to some
other seat
My aunt managed to loosen her tongue
then and putting out her hand begged him to
be seated. He sat down again and nv aunt
looked out of the window, or at least she SAYS
she tried to, but she felt herself drawn ire
sistlbly to look covertly at the gray-bearded
stranger. When the porter had arranged the
stranger s section and he arose and went to it
my aunts eye followed him. She tried to speak
to him as he went from her seat but she didn
seem to be able to get out the words she wanted
to say. The next station was Union City. 1t
was only half an hours ride from Meadville,
and as the train drew nearer to it my aunt says
she could hardly breathe, her heart beat so.
and she felt as If she must speak to the old man
or die. But somehow she could not. At last
the train whistled for Union City. The gray
bearded man took his valise and prepared to
leave his seat. The train began to slow up.
The old man walked toward the front end of
the car. He was passing my aunt's section.
She pressed one hand on her humping heart
and almost choking, she touched the strangers
arm and gasped:
- Sir. isnt your name AllisonY
''The man looked surprised and said: Why,
yes my names Allison.
:. Charles Jasper Allison?'
Yes said the stranger, looking still more
surprised.
Jass?
She did = he exclaimed; but why
oh, Jass! l m your sister CARRIE ex-
claimed my aunt, and her arms were around
the old mans neck and he was holdin,, her to
his breast, Will both of them sobbed like a
couple of children.
The long-lost brother did not get off at
Union City. He was the very image of her
father when he died, my aunt said. and that is
why she felt from the very first that lie was her
brother Jass. The brother is still Califor-
MAN, an extensive vineyardst, and while in
Chicago he suddenly remembered that old
friend of his was in or near Union City. and he
resolved to visit him before returning to the
coast This had occurred about half an hour
before the train he to take left Chicago
and he was just able to catch it by an extra
effort. The old man will stay east for some
time now and talk over old days with his
strangely found sister.
suppose my aunt hadn't suddenly taken
that whim to travel by the Erie? Or suppose
her brother hadn't suddenly bethought hinf of
his old friend in Union City, And how do you
account for it ALL anyhow"