Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-07
A WOMAN'S ODD CAPRICE
UNACCOUNTABlE, YET 1T MADE HEP
SUPREMELY HAPPY.

Started Visit to New York BIZ A
Circuitous Route-She Meets a Long
Lost Brother
M aunt, Mrs. O. p. Smith. of ST.
Louis. started east TO visit relatives Of her
husband in Dutchess county" said one
of those relatives, well known railroad
man. Her direct route was by the
New York Central's system to Fishkill.
and that was the way the trip had been
laid out. Half an hour before starting,
however, Mrs. Smith surprised her hus-
band by saying that she intended to go
by the Erie route.
That would necessitate roundabout
way by New York city or by Newburg
and across the Hudson, and her husband
tried to argue her out of her sudden and
unreasonable determination. She stoutly
insisted, however, that she must go by
the Erie
''I can't tell you why have such al
inclination to go that way she said:
but | have that feeling, and | do not be-
heye | could bring myself to go any
other way
"Of course her husband gave in to her
whim, and put it down to woman's ca
price. My aunt is a native of Rich
mond, Va, and during the war, being
about sixteen, her only sister died. and
her brother was killed in the defense of
Richmond. This left her without a
known relative, unless the Oldest one of
the family, brother, who had gone to
California in 1855, was living.
''She found home, however. with
a Richmond family, who moved west
after the 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 any
thing from him since the war broke out.
Although her father died when she was
but eight, she retained vivid remem-
brance of his face and manner.
A STRANGE MEETING
"At Meadville, Pa, the next morning
after leaving st. Louis, my aunt kept
her berth. While she was making her
toilet the porter had made up the sec
ton. When she returned and sat down
a 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 anyway
''My aunt opened her mouth to reply,
but she didn't speak. she simply fast
ened her eyes on the old man opposite.
He was tail and bright eyed, with a sill
yer gray mustache and goatee. the latter
long and pointed. He wore wide
brilnmed felt hat Ny aunt's manner
seemed to nettle him, and he exclaimed.
rising:
eff annoy you, madam, | will go 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 my aunt looked out of the
window, or at least she says she tried
to, but she felt herself drawn irresistibly
to look covertly at the gray bearded
stranger. When the porter had arranged
the strangers section, and he arose and
went to it, my aunt's eye followed him
She tried to speak to him as he went
from her seat, but she didn't 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 Mead
vile, and as the train drew nearer to it
my aunt says she could hardly brea the,
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 pre-
pared to leave his seat. The train be-
gan to slow up. The old man walked
toward the front end of the car He was
passing my aunt's section.
THE RECOGNITION.
''She pressed one hand on her humping
heart and, almost choking. she touched
the strangers arm and gasped:
/" Sir, isn't your name Allison?'
1.-THE man looked surprised and said,
Why. yes; my names Allison
SiI11 ICS y % pei AIlloOil6
YES said the stranger, looking still
more surprised.
Didn't your sister Carrie used to
call you Jass?
"'she didr he exclaimed. But
why
oh, Jassl I'm your sister Carrier
exclaimed my aunt, and her arms were
around the old mans neck and he was
holding her to his breast, while both of
them sobbeG like a couple of children.
1.-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 he was her brother Jass.
The brother is still Californian, an ex-
tensive vineyardist, and while in Chi
cage he suddenly remembered that an
old friend of his was in or near Union
City, and he resolved to visit him before
returning to the coast. This had occur
red about half an hour before the train
he was to take left Chicago, and he was
just able to catch it by an extra effort.
Suppose my aunt hadn't suddenly
taken that whim to travel by the Erie?
Or suppose her brother hadn't suddenly
bethought him of his old friend in Union
City? And how do you account for il
all, anyhow?'-New York Sun.
Derivation of Two Common Words.
Our common word abridge has no con-
nection with a bridge. 1t is modif-
cation of the Greek brachus, short.
through the French abreger, to shorten.
Nor has mildew anything to do either
with mill Or 1or- Tho r-or5 10 +bo ia