The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-29
HIS LITTLE ROMANCE.
The Chair-Shover Reveals His
Heart in His Diary.
1t Was Not Intended for Profane Eyes to
See, But an Unkind Fate Gave 1t to
Not Cnsynpathctic
World.

OF the millions of people who have
visited the worlds fair there is not one
to whom the uniformed chair-shover
was not more or less familiar Yet
did 1t ever occur to any OF them or to
the thousands who have ridden through
the glittering streets of the wonderful
white city in wheeled chairs that the
chair-shovers have hearts as capable of
feeling as other human hearts are?
Have they ever thought as they rolled
about from place to place, pushed by
the tireless muscles of those gray
coated young men, that life had some
thing more for them than this daily
treadrnill? Perhaps not, for the thou
sands have been paying SO much an
hour for the service rendered and Dos
sibly their thoughts were confined
prin cipally to this additional expense
Whether they have ever thought or
not, the fact remains that those chair
showers do have hearts and those hearts
beat to the melody that moves US all.
But is there evidence?" asks a
doubling Thomas.
There is, and it is presented herewith
in the following extracts from the
stray leaves of the diary of one of them,
dropped probably as he moved about
with his burden, and picked up by &
visitor who saw it lying open before
him on one of the walks near the Ger
man building. Only portion of it
was found, but there is enough to tell
the story. Read it and end it as YOU
please:
September Another week OF the
treadmill. Lord. Lord, what mistake
l made in not being born a mule. |
think l must have hoofed it over forty
miles of gravel to-day and answered
yers in the country could ask in
month But there are some rays of
sunshine through the rifting clouds, /
don't know what her name is, but she
engaged me at four O'Clock this after
noon, and for an hour it was a blessed
rest to roll her chair around the
grounds. She might weigh one hun
dred and thirty on the scales. but I'm
sure she doesn't weigh a pound in the
chair. Then she spoke SO kindly, and
there was that in her eyes that made
me think the worlds fair wasn't the
''loveliest thing on earth" as silly
girl said in the morning She only
rode an hour, and when she smiled
and told me good-by she said she
might take the chair again tomorrow
for three hours. and would be ready
by ten o'clock? VIII l be ready2 l
will unless I'm dead. Her mother is a
charming woman, so Charlie says /
guess it must run in the family.
September 5.-I'm glad wasn't born
a mule. It's strange how one day can
change mans view of things
wouldn't be mule to-day for all the
gate receipts of the fair. was there
at ten O'Clock and had tied two pret-
ty bows of blue ribbon on the cbair
handles She was ten minutes late and
thought it was week. She smiled
and spoke to me SO pleasantly as she
came up that l almost fell over my
chair getting it out for her. She saw
the ribbon and said blue was her color
Pm sure if it had rained to-day and the
sun had shone. ] should have seen
blue rainbow. She didn't weigh as
much to-day as she did yesterday,
either. / wonder if she is growing thin
and is likely to die. She asked me q
great many questions, but they were
remarkably sensible, thought Some
women know how to ask questions.
She asked me a whole lot about myself.
guess she doesn't think I'm one of the
fair exhibits. told her a great deal,
though, and asked her some about her
self. She told me her name and where
she lived and I'm sure she is rich and
quite great lady" She said she was
only twenty, but would be twenty-one
on Thanksgiving day, and then would
never be any older than that Then
we both laughed, and as was in front
Of the chair fixing wheel, our eyes
met and ] felt my face burn. wonder
If l blushed? I wish had something
else to do besides pushing a gospel
chariot guess &c like TO be mil
lionaire. She might let me hire chair
and push her around | am TO take her
again tomorrow for two hours in the
and an hour from four
o'clock Some other things must have
to me to-day, but have for
gotten them.
September 6.-I understand it was a
warm day yesterday, but i hadn't no
ticed it She came promptly this morn
ng, with her father. don't like him
7ery much. He kept his chair rather
lose 10 her for an hour, and she talked
uch less. At twelve o'clock she |
stopped at the New York building and |
.aue out with a letter. I wonder why !
yirls want to get letters when they are |
ieeing the fair She read the letter as |
trundled her along. and she did not |
rave so much TO say TO me after that |
n the afternoon she told me she might |
Tot want me at all mex. day. ! guess /
lie climate of Chicago Is improving her |
sealth. for she seemed 70 weigh one
hundred AID fifty pounds al least. and /
before the hour had passed ! was quite
ired She smiled and chatted brightly /
IS she left the chair. though. and that /
'ested me great deal. am 20 wait /
lftcea minutes for her In the morning. !
md If she is not there. I'm 10 take Cd /
anyone who comes I'm TOO tired 70
write anymore
September IL wonder why I didn't
leep well last nighi2 Bat ! don't
Wonder why I'm 50 tired now p1shed
orr difcren. old ladies around for two
.ours each. and they weighed ton
lpicce I'm sure. She 6idn't come. znd /
strained NV eves all DAY IooxsnY for !