Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-09-11
ONE PENNY.

DtdIi, anu, III dilolUtE ltu SECONDS was
being hauled, along with n cartul OF
fellow suburbaujtes, over the gritty
rails that led from the city's limits to
lis busy Ceuters.
People from the Same suburbs usual
ly possess passing acQuaintanCrship
with those whom they moot daily in
the public conveyauCos, and | had nod
ded to this, that and the other follow
passengers and was about to open the
ball Of n subducd conversation with
my next neighbOr when the driver
st as we had entered the hithor end
Of the long iron bridge that spans our
historic river, gave the brakes a twist
and the car stopped in order to permit
richly dressed woman to enter and
become one of us. We know who the
newcomer was, every one OF us, bat as
1t happened, we were mono OF us en-
pcoNing terms with this fair neighbor
Eho had but recently made our
suburbs her home AS tho car again
started on its way she settled her rich
ard ell, ant draportos about her, and
Sink into seat vacated for her COM
fort by gentleman aboard,
A pockethook of soft leather was
opened by the perfectly gloved hands.
and, from among ugoodly store Of gold
and silver coins, vulgar nickel was
extracted and was about to be placed
In the hand Of gentleman nearest the
faro-boX, when thore was II sound OF q
t,fA NJ NJ 4
little penny was seen TO roll across the
floor of the car and, with that oxas-
rerating exhibition which cunning
things iunnimate havo so often been
known to manifest hid itself quito
from view,
To our astonishment down went my
lady's hands TO grope for it upon tho
dirty lloor-to grope for it in vain.
With an expression upon her face that
surprised us who had seen that il 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 no.
toriously splendid one, she begged
that we would all stand up and allow
her to see If, 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 lcathern straps above
our heads, stood swaying backward
and forward as the car pitched down
the declivily Leading from the pior,
while the five gentlemen aboard assist
ed the fair bondhoIder to look for the
penny.
After a lengthy search n humping
OF heads, a crushing Of hats aud u soil
Ing Of clean digits in dusty corners,
the gentlemen, rcl.raccd and porspir-
Ing, conscious Of being slyly laughed
at by all the mcmbcrs OF the fair sex
aboard-savc and except the loOscr Of
the pcnny-gave up the search, and
we all, with si"hs of relief, resumed
our seats upon tho cushions.
Never mind, - said the cause OF all
our discomfort Il shah go on to the
car stables, and the driver can then
turn the Stats over We shall be sure
to find it, Thank you all so much"
IT was difficult TO reconcile the gem
'le, cultured voice speaking words OF
/ncere courtesy with the evidence OF
so pitiful an exhibition OF avarice as
hat we lad just Witnessed and more
han one o. us, after the polite words
were spoken and we, TO all intcnts
and purposes, seemed TO have been
forgotten a altogether, stole furtiye
glances at our wealthy fellow passen-
ger, noting the elegance Of her jewell
ed bonnet the exquisite quality Of, the
laces Of her wrap, the beauty Of the
texture OF her gown. But more than
ell, 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 us utterly, smiles that were not
the pleasantcst 20 look upon wrcathed
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 third persons lips, and
amused glances from all showed with
what contempt was held her exhibit
ton Of penuriousness.
One by one the passengers left the
car as 1t gained the uptown streets. !,
myself, being the last 10 leave our
vezed friend 20 20 upon her Pilgrim
age TO the car stables, yet a good two
miles away. II CHANGED, upon return
ing home, that / boarded the same car
hat had taken me into the city, and
when we reached the bridge again and
started TO recross 1t. ] found myself It's
solitary occupant.
Naturally / grew 10 dwelling upon
the lost penny, and. being intensely
feminine. my curiosity mastered my
every other emotion and as the driver
entered The car 10 lower a blind upon
the sunny side Of IL, | yentured, with