The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-08

Tl sample grip was be-
side me on the seat, with my overcoat
thrown over it, / had become so inter-
ested in the article | was perusing that l
failed to notice a man who entered the
car IS the train stopped at station, and
stood beside me a moment as though
waiting tor me to remove my grip and Of
fer to share the seat with him. Seeing l
was so absorbed the man looked through
the car to assure himself that there was no
other unoccupied seat, then touching me
on the shoulder, said:
''Will you kindly"
NV sample case was on the floor in an
instant, for as l looked up | recognized an
old drummer friend whom | had not seen
for number of years, and lost no time in
making room for him.
My newspaper was forgotten.
After greetings had passed inquired
''Where the deuce have you been keep
ing yourself for the last five years, Jim?"
1--WE been doing the world, was the
laconic answer. yet 1t was uttered in
semi-serious tone.
''For business or pleasure?"
''Well, neither" with sigh.
looked at my companion wonderingly.
Jim Wallace had formerly been one of
the jolliest fellows / ever knew, but now
he seemed troubled and sad. / also no
ticed that his countenance had altered,
for an almost perpetual smile used to be
upon his face, and now l saw look of
deep detection there.
| offered him cigar, which he accepted
with q pleasant but brief acknowledge
ment.
n,,- IT, - i
consisted chiefly of questions on my part
and monosyllabic answers from Jim,
which were spoken in a pleasant though
sad tone of voice.
/ soon discovered that he did not wish
to talk about the past, so | changed my
tactics and began to recite good story
which / had heard few hours before,
hoping thus to divert his mind TO a more
pleasant channel, but my effort was a mis-
cradle failure; he only smiled in pitiful
manner and / desisted. | then began to
talk business, and in this had better sue
cess in causing him to forget his troubles,
for he seemed more anxious to dwell upon
this subject than any other
/ had learned before that he was travel
ing for hardware house, and he now said
that he was having indifferent luck. 1
statesmen in the country, but the cause of
his present poor success was plainly evil
dent; for the trouble which he was stag
gering under must necessarily have preyed
upon his mind so that he could not take as
much interest in his work as he formerly
had done. He said also that this was his
first business trip in five years, and that
he had concluded TO make il the last of his
life
In few moments Jim relapsed into
silence, and no effort of mine could arouse
him. 1t was plain that he did not wish 10
talk, so | concluded not TO disturb the
reyery into which he had fallen, and pick
ing up my paper found the article which
had SO quickly forgotten an hour before,
and tried to read. Vain effort: my mind
failed 90 comprehend that which was con-
veyed 10 il through the eyes, for | was
continually thinking of Jim and wonder
ing what was the cause OF. his sadness.
folded up the paper and looked out Of
the window, bat l saw nothing, for my
thoughts were not in unison with NV
eyes. Memory carried me back TO the
days when Jim and I had travelled to-
gether; TO the days when he had by his
pleasant smile and cheering words light
eued my heart when II was sad on account
81 4 poor days sales. How | used 10 envy
the cheerful, big-hearted fellow. but now
how he had changed l knew he could be
no more than - years old, but he might
now he mistaken for a man of -. | turned
my eyes toward him and noted the deem
lines of care on his face, and saw also that
his hair was tinged with gray Surely
some great misfortune must have befallen
him.
From the time first saw his face when
he sat down beside me had been wonder
ing what had caused the change in hum.
bat did not ike to ask him, since | knew
that il panied him TO refer TO the past.
lie had quickly smoked the cigar gave
him, and was now resting his head in his
hand with his elbow on the arm of the
seat.
Nearly an hour Of silence passed.
didn't have courage 10 speak 10 my
friend, Tor II seemed that Il would be
wrong to disturb his reyery.
looked ii him again and he raised his
head. Here was my chance 70 speak and
seized it.
'Jua, won't YOU tell an old friend of
your troubled Perhaps | can help YOU.
AMI surely / can symVathize With you"
An expression o: relief came into his
fac. Why bad not spoken thus before ?
YES, VIII. II, tell You. for know You
ar one of the best friends | have"
'N t1 may rest assured az that Jim and
anything yol may say % ne Ill hold in
che str3Ctest confidence"
IL believe y3u. Although the recital of
my troubles Will not interest You much,
ttinA IL vail make my mind easier 90 con-
hdp them - some one else. / had been
Studying Tor the .Sst hour whether had
better JVA gel nay story"
t'At Ane>- haa tal.v en- and the lights in the
car uNsaed ao2at As the average carlaLlps
do-gust enough 10 dispel the gloom, but