The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-08-08
ONE PENNY.

Haillng a street car. hurried on
board. and. In another ten seconds was
being hauled, along with a carful OF
fellow suburbanites, over the gritty
rails that led from the city's limits to
Its busy centers.
People from the same suburbs usual
ly possess passing acquaintanceship
with those whom they meet daily in
the public conveyances, and had nod
ded to this that. and the other fellow
passengers and was about to open the
ball OF n subdued conversation with
my next neighbor when the driver.
just as we had entered the hither end
OF the long iron bridge that spans our
historic river, gave the brakes twist
and the car stopped In, order to permit
richly dressed woman TO enter and
become one OF us. We knew who the
newcomer was, every one of us. but rs
1t happened. we were mono OF us on
speaking terms with this fair neighbor
who had but recently made our
suburbs her home. As the car again
started on its way she settled her rich
and elegant draperies about her and
sank into seat vacated for her COM
fort by gentleman aboard.
A pocketbook OF soft leather was
opened by the perfectly gloved hands.
and. from among u goodly store OF gold
and silver coins, Il vulgar nickel was
extracted aud was about to be placed
In the hand OF a gentleman nearest the
fare-box, when there was u sound OF
dropped piece OF metal and a dingy
little penny was seen TO roll across the
floor OF the car, and, with that exas-
perating exhibition which cunning
things inanimate have so often been
known to manifest. hid itself quite
from view.
To our astonishment, down went my
lady's hands to grope for It upon the
dirty foor--to grope for 1t in vain.
With an expression upon her face that
surprised us who had seen that 1t was
but penny that had drop ped, and
Who knew that tho loser OF the coin
paid larger taxes than any other wo-
man in our pretty wealthy community,
that she possessed houses and lands
galore and that her income was q no.
toriously splendid one, she begged
that we would all stand up and allow
her to see II, by any chance. the miss
ing coin had rolled under our feet.
We women. with smiles that we took
no particular pains to conceal, arose
and, grasping the leathern straps above
our heads, stood swaying backward
and forward as tho car pitched down
the declivity leading from tho pier.
while the five gentlemen aboard assist
cd the fair bondholder to look for the
penny.
After lengthy search. humping
OF heads, n crushing OF hats and soil
ing OF clean digits in dusty corners,
the gentlemen, red-faced and perspir-
ing, conscious Of being slyly laughed
at by all the members OF the fair sex
nboard-save and except the looser OF
the penny-gave up tho search. and
we all. with signs of relief, resumed
our seats upon the cushions.
Never mind" said the cause OF all
our discomfort, Il shall go on to tho
car stables. and the driver can then
turn the Stats over. We shall be sure
to find 1t. Thank you all 80 much"
1t was difficult to reconcile the gen.
tle cultured voice speaking words OF
sincere courtesy with the evidence Of
so pitiful an exhibition OF avarice rs
that We lad just Witnessed. and more
than one OF us, after the polite words
wore spoken, and we, to all intents
and purposes. seemed to have been
forgotten altogether. stole furtive
glances ut our wealthy fellow passen-
ger. noting the elegance OF her jewell
cd bonnet the exquisite quality OF the
laces of her wrap. the beauty OF the
texture Of her gown. But, more than
all, we noticed the expressive features.
that told us her thoughts were fixed
upon the copper piece she had had the
misfortune to drop and since she ig-
nored Is utterly. smiles that were not
the pleasantest to look upon wreathed
the faces that her fellow passengers
now and again. turned toward her.
A disdainful uplifting OF the delicate
nostrils OF one the arching Of the
black brows OF another. the scornful
cur. OF a third persons lips, and
amused glances from all showed with
what contempt was held her exhibit
ion Of penuriousness
One by ono the passengers left the
car as It gained the uptown streets. ].
myself, being the last to leave our
vexed friend to go upon her pilgrim
age TO the car stables, yet good two
miles away. 1t CHANGED, upon return
ing home. that boarded the same car
that had taken me into the city, and
when we reached the bridge again and
started to recross it. found myself Its
solitary occupant.
Naturally | grew to dwelling upon
the lost penny, and, being intensely
feminine, my curiosity mastered my
every other emotion, and as the driver
entered the car to lower blind upon
the sunny side Of 1t, ventured. with
smile which had for Its ingredients