The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1891-10-06
A
How the Loss of a Purse led a Young
Man to Matrimony.

conductor, as he elbowed his way
through the passengers standing in a
car which was being drawn swiftly up
California street.
1t was about half-past five o'clock on
a Thursday afternoon that I found
myself inside a car filled with men
returning from business, scattered
among whom was a sprinkllng OF
members of the fair sex, who. In
numbered with their innumerable pur-
chases and wrapped up in cloaks,
allowed only the tips of their noses
to appear over their long boas OF u
or feathers. 1t was of those cold,
foggy evenings that make pedestrians
hurry along at top speed, while the
policemen at the corners of the streets
tramp up and down to keep themselves
warm. The ladies seemed to have great
difficulty in bringing their purses out
from their small muffs or from their
deep pockets, and a continuous string
of apologies was offered for involun-
tary elbOwings, caused by ..endeavors
of their benumbed hands to obtain
hold of the nickels for their fares.
"Why, where is my purse? You
haven't got it, have you EthelG' ex-
claimed a sw~eet-voiced lady of middle
age, after a hasty search in her muff
and a lengthy exploration of the mys-
terious depths of her handsome gown.
"NO, mamma"
Then some one must have stolen it,
or, perhaps, I have left it in some of
the shops-down at the White House,
probably"
All eyes were turned in the direction
of the lady who had spoken, and the
conductor began to look vey knowing.
Haven't you got any money!" he
demanded, in a gruff tone.
"No; l have lost my purse, which
contained all the money l have about
me. But my husband will pay for US
in the morning, or l will send to the
office at once on returning home"
Cant do it, ma'am," replied the
conductor; you've got to pay now or
get out and walk"
Here, conductor" l said, rendering
him a dime; and then turning to the,
elder lady, l added: 1T is the rule of
the company, madam. The conductor
can not give credit to passengers. l
hope you will permit me to spare you
the annoyance of having to get out at
this hour"
Il am very much obliged to you,
sir" replied the lady, land 1 accept
your kind offer willingly. Will you
be good enough to give me your ad-
dress, that l may discharge without
delay this small debt?'
ooh, it is a mere nothing, madam"
I said; Il shall be very well satisfied
if you will give the sum to the first
poor person you meet.
"Oh, no, not at all, sir, l must
insist"
Under such pressure, [ could hardly
refuse, and as the car was now ap-
preaching Hyde street, where l trans
ferred to the cross-town line, I took
the three transfers the conductor gave
me, and, confused by the deep interest
of the other passengers, now all eyes
and ears, l hastily drew out a card,
and, raising my hat, extended it with
two transfers to the lady. But it was
the young girl who, blushing deeply,
took them.
The following day 1 had almost for
gotten the incident, when among my
letters, [ found One-in an unknown
handwriting bearing the city post
mark. 1 opened it and saw, attached
to the top corner Of a visiting-card
inclosed, five two-cent postage stamps.
on the card was printed:
MR.. AND MRS. JOHN G. CARMAN
While underneath was written:
Mr.. and Mrs. Cdrman presents their compliments
and thanks to Mr.. Paul Barnard for his kindness
and courtesy.
Tuesdays. NO.-Pu1c street.
I put the card aside on my desk,
under a vase of v~iolets, and it was not
till one morning, nearly a week later,
that I came acoss it again.
Now, every day you meet people in
a ~street-car whom you look ct for an
instant with more or less attention;
but, in my case, 1 had hardly had a
glimpse of the mother or the daughter,
ard had not even the least idea if they
were pretty or otherwise, From their
accent and manner, however, there
could be no doubt they were of the
upper world-but, after all, of what
interest could they be to me?