Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-03-23
A STREET-CAR ROMANCE

on thursday afternoon JldJ L IOunu
myself inside a car filed with men
returning from business, scattered
among whom was a sprinkling Of
members of the fairer sex, who, in
cumbered with their innumerable
purchases and wrapped up in cloaks,
allowed only the tips Of their noses to
appear over their long bOas Of fur or
feathers. 1t was one 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 them
selves warm. The ladies seemed to
have great difficulty in bringing their
purses out from their small mufTs or
from their deep pockets, and con-
tinuOuS string of apologies was offered
for involuntary 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, Ethel?" eX-
claimed a sweet-vOiced lady of middle
age, after a hdsty search in her muT
and lengthy exploration of the mys-
teriOus depths of her handsome gown.
"NO, mamma"
"Theu some one must have stolen
it, or, perhaps, l have left it in some
OF the shops ps-down at The White
House, probably.
All eyes were turned in the direc-
tion of the lady who had spoken, and
the conductor began to look very
knowing.
Haven't you got any money!" he
demanded, in a grutf 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, OF l will send the
money TO the Office at once on return
ing home"
Cant do 1t, ma'am," replied ths
conductor; 'you've got to pay now
or get out and walk"
Here, conductor" " l said tender
ing him a dime; and then, turning to
the elder lady, l added: 1t is the
rule Of the company, madam. The
conductor cannot give credit to pas
sengers. l hope you will permit me
TO spare you the annoyance of having
TO get out at this hour"
II am very much obliged to you,
sir" replied the lady, "and 1 accept
your kind offer willingly. VIII you
be good enough to give me your ad7
dress, that l may discharge without
delay this small debit"
'Oh, it is a mere nothing, madam, 4"
! said; Il shall be very well satisfied
II you will give the sum 70 the first
poor person you meet
''Oh, no, not at all, sir, I must in
sist-"
Under such pressure, I could hardly
refuse, and as the car was now ap-
preaching Hyde street, where | trans
ferred to the crOss-town line, l took
the three transfers the conductor gave
me, and, confused by the deep interest
OF the other passengers, now all eyes
and ears, hastily drew out 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 l had almost for
gotten the incident, when among my
letters, l found One-in an UNKNOWN
writing-bearing the city post
mark. opened it and saw, attached
20 the top corner of the visiting card
inclosed, five 2-cent postage stamp.
On the card was printed:
MR.. AND MRS. JOHN G. CARMAN.
While underneath was written:
Mr.. and Mrs. Carman present their COM
pliments and thanks to Mr.. Paul Barnard
Tuesdays. No Pine Street.
Iput the card aside on my desk.
under a vase Of Yiolets, and it was
not till one morning, nearly week
later, that l came across it again.
Now, every day you meet people in
a street car who you look at for an
instant with more or less attentions;
but in my case, L had hardly a
glimpse of the mother or the daugh-
ter, and had not even the least idea
II they were pretty or otherwise.
From their accent and manner, how
ever, there could be no doubt they
were of the upper wOrld-but, after
all, of what interest could they be to
me?
Nevertheless, 1 did feel interested,
so why should l attempt to deny it?
Their address had been given to me,
and also their day at home. The ad
dress was printed, but 1.-The day. was
were taught thirty years ago. The
mother had certainly written them.
But who had written 1.-The day."
| became curious. How could find
out? Yes, there was a way. But
to call on people with whom l had
only exchanged a few words, almost
on the street, and who, in a week,
might have forgotten my name and
my face, was rather a delicate mat
ter. Then ] should have to undergo
the torture Of feeling myself an in
truder, as the servant would an
nounce me in the recept!on-roon
where. perhaps, half q dozen ladies,
unknown to me, would LOOK me over
from head to foot as 1 advanced, as if
to.ask: "WhO is this person, and
where does he come frOm?"
When 1 thought it well over, how,
ever, 1 reflected that there had been
occasion to talk Of me, and, at the
name of Paul Barnard, Mrs. Carman
would know very well who l was. At
all events, I determined to renew the
acquaintance, and so the following
Tuesday found meat the door Of No.
Pine street.
l must confess l did feel rather un-
easy when my inquiry "Mrs. Carman?"
brought the answer: Eyes, sir; shall
/ take your coat. sir?" and l was
presently ushered into handsomely
furnished room, where l proceeded to
pull myself together while awaiting
Mrs Carman.