Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-29

John Boswell was eccentric. If he had
been poor, or in moderate circumstances
merely, he would, for some of his numerous
freaks have been called an egregious ass or
q fool by undiscerning persons But he was
neither poor nor afflicted with mental in
capacity. 1t was only "his way" his friends
said, and if he chose to be unconventional,
even 20 the point of shocking the proprie-
ties, that was his own affair. So, being
Young and foot-loose. with more money
than he knew what to do with, he INDUCED
his freakish tendencies to his hearts con-
tent.
He had always had his own way, anyhow,
even during his minority, when he was un-
der the charge of careless, indulgent old
bachelor uncle; so it is quite safe to say
that even had there been any one to ques-
tion or protest against some of his queer ac-
tions, 1t would have made no difference with
Jack. He had always had everything he
wanted, and had always done as he chose,
and firmly believed that money would do
anything; so had any one suggested the pos
sibility of defeat in anything he under
took, Jack would have been more than as.
tonished
AT Las P. NJ. one hot day in July, Jack,
who had made few flying visits to the
watering places and summer resorts and
tired OF this, had drifted back to town to
see who was there, took a notion to go and
see his deceased uncle's old gardener who
lived on a farm near little Pennsylvania
town. He took this notion semi-occasion-
ally; it was really enjoyable to go once in a
While-where there wasn't anybody"-to
get fresh-laid eggs and cream, and fresh
% I'D -, -
sweet-smelling, neat little room at o'clock,
and get up when old Sol did 1t was rest
full
AS / said, it was 1:45 P. NJ. when Jack
took it into his head that he would go and
visit the ancient Watts and his CHEEKY old
spouse; and 1t was ust three-quarters Of an
hour after this that he found himself in the
sleeper of a through train (Jack never
liked stuffy day coaches, and would not
travel in one if he had only ten miles to go),
bound for the Watts homestead, where he
was always sure of a hearty welcome.
He was very well satisfied with himself
this afternoon. He was not only irrepro-
achably dressed, but was comfortably
dressed, as well, which is much more to the
point, in July. He had had an excellent
lunch and a faultIess cigar after it. He
looked well, and knew it; he had always
considered himself little less than hand
some, and to-day, somehow he felt as though
he was completely so. And thus, with a
full stomach, full purse, and an extremely
good opinion of himself, Mr.. Jack Boswell,
despite the weather, felt satisfied and self
complacent, and at peace with all man.
kind.
1t was a dreamy kind of day. Jack looked
lazily at the scenes without-an occasional
herd of cattle, standing idly in the shallow
water of some sluggish little siream-a
flock of crows in full pursuit OF a fleeing
hawk-the pretty, snug farm houses, the
orchards and meadows, and the soft, fluffy
clouds on the horizon. But all this became
tiresome goOn-Jack was never interested
in anything for very lopg-and he turned
his attention, idly, to his fellow passengers.
There were only three or four of them.
The one across the aisle from him was fat,
bald-headed old gentleman who, with a
newspaper over his face, was trying to take
q nap. Once in while his gentle snore
would cease, and the old fellow would start
up with terrific snort and mutter about
the ''pesky fiies;" then he would drop off
again. Back in the corner was fussy in
dividual of Semitic cast of countenance,
who talked loud to the trainmen and who
retired to the wash-room every now and