Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-12-25


But that was what he did.
"
1t was month later, and Archy had not
gone back to his old position. Neither,
however, had he found regular work. If
he had gone to the right quarters, it may
be said, of course, he might have found it.
He might have been assisted to emigrate,
and Il dozen things. But, unluckily, the
poor are seldom conversant with the many
admirable schemes set on foot for their re-
lief, and Archy had a general idea that
philanthropic institutions only drove an
individual from one official to another, with
out really doing anything for him. 1t was a
mistake, of course, but one of the natural re-
suits Of the division of labor. Archy stood,
indeed, for moment outside the doors of
the general relief committees; but there the
beautiful probability of his story of hav
ing place as omnibus conductor that he
had not been dismissed from, and yet
could not go back to, owing to having
heard a white faced girl, through win
dow, singing the Meeting of the Waters"
as related to credulous relief commit
tee-struck him so forcibly that he broke
into a loud laugh as he turned away.
But it was not a CHEEKY laugh. Though
u
sleeping where he could, the few pence he
contrived to earn were not enough to keep
him, and for weeks he had not had
hearty meal. A dull despair was creeping
over him; bus he tramped bIindly on ask
ing for work, till he fancied that the Off
Gals at different establishments were look
ing on him with suspicion, as one whom
they had refused before. And all the time
he knew that he might go back to his old
place. Warner would give it up without
a murmur or grudge; he was that kind
of fellow. Then he fancied Warner going
home to tell his wife the news, and then
he fell to wondering how they were get
ting on. He fancied he would go and see.
That day when Warmers omnibus
stopped at the end of the route, at
o'clock, every passenger had left it. They
had quarter of an hour to wait, and the
driver slipped hastily across to his favorite
public house, which was conveniently sit
uated. Warner looked eagerly up and
down the street, as if expecting some one;
but it was almost deserted. There was a
policeman little way down; there was a
shabby looking fellow standing at the
corner against a lamppost with his hat
slouched over his eyes-no one else
Warmers face fell; but it lightened again
in moment, as a girlish figure emerged
from a street nearly opposite, and ran
lightly across to the omnibus. Warner
held out his hand, and she sprang in.
"Here it is" SIZE said proudly, unpack-
ing her small basket "Ycu can't guess
what I've made you for dinner today, and
if you eat it now do believe it will be
hot"
Meat pie, Janet!" said Warner. well,
you are cook and no mistake. I've twelve
minutes-blest if there amt that unfor-
tunate old lady who always comes quar-
ter of an hour before we're timed to start"
She's a long way off, said Janet, with
a look Of disappointment. $50 on with
your pie, Will; she won't be here yet
awhile"
But the old lady, having made various
frantic and far off signals, was increasing
her speed. which suggests to casual OBJ
server the inadvisability, in general way,
Of attempting to persuade woman that a
tram or train, which she literally sees be-
fore her with horses or an engine attached,
is not going to start till the time appointed.
Statistics are very well-she sees the time
table. Nothing has altered, it never started
before then; it never will. No-oh, no; but
the safest side is inside.
Every well, then," said Warner reluc-
family. "Hang the old girl-look at her
umbrellar'
They kissed each other hastily in the
omnibus, thinking that no one saw them.
Least Of all the aimless vagabond at the
corner with hat slouched over his eyes, who
was looking at nothing. He-ah, mol
Then Janet sprang down again: and pres
emily the old lady mounted the step, and
Warner ate hts pie furtively, between main
tanning conversation on the drink traffic,
subject in which his passenger seemed to
take an absorbing interest; but then she
had had her lunch before she started. Yet
Warner had also time to reflect pleasantly,
on how much better Janet was looking,
and what color she had, and wondered,
also, II the young man who had gone in the
country would be back tomorrow, and
couldn't help hoping not. Then more pas
sengers entered and the driver hurried
back at the last moment, stuffing large
fragment of bread and butter into his
pocket; and the omnibus rolled away
But that night, when Warner returned
to the small house in Dix street, he found
note thrust under the door that no one
had noticed. 1t ran thus:
he
passing, to say have given up my place as
conductor for good, and therefore hope you
will stick to it as long as it suits you. have
made up my mind to stay down in the country.
Yours, with best wishes,
ARCHY JOHNSTON.
May Kendall in Murray's Magazine.
Eccentric Diners in Paris Restaurants
The Paris restaurants have a wealth of
stories about eccentric diners. Prince
Soltykoff, according to the gossips, was
accustomed to consult the menus at two
of the most celebrated houses, choosing
that which had his favorite dishes. After
dining well he used to give the waiter in
structions to wake him in a couple of
hours, whereupon he would drop into
sound sleep, and hardly move until his
time was up.
The Duke of Brunswick was a frequent
customer at the house which often secured
the princes patronage. On one occasion,
it is said, Russian committed suicide at
a table near where he was dining The
nobleman consequently sent for the pro-
prietor and bitterly upbraided him for
allowing his digestion to be upset by 81.
tragic a scenei
It was in the same restaurant that
number of gentlemen dined daily for forty
five years. record which beats that of
the Grand hotel, Of Indianapolis, the pro
prietor of which says that he had boarder
who regularly paid his monthly bill for
sixteen years.-London Tit-Bits.
gepIdn't FIND the Lake.
A German, who wished to know the
geography of this country. fell into the
mistake so common with Europeans, Of
not approaching the rather large scale on
which nature has dealt with us in the mat
ter of area of land and water.
Near Concord, Mass, is Walden pond,
the little body of water near which Thoreau
lived alone in hut for about two years
His most famous book is entitSd "Wal
den" 1t purports to be an account of his
life in the hut. and ranks with the master
pieces of American literature.
Net long ago German professor, engaged
in studies of America, received from Wash
ington large map of the continent. Soon
afterward, in writing to an eminent Ameri
can professor and historian, the German
scholar said he had looked all over the map
without finding Walden pond. This
seemed to him an amazing OMISSION
Youths Companion.
An Aeronaut's Carrier Pigeon.
When an aeronaut left Vienna with his