Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-05-07
ON THE ROAD.
"Pity tranpsi"

|
in Twas 10. Sister Rose, seven years old
er. had recently been married 90 a young
man employed by a New York firm, deal
ers I'm precious stones. Great was my grief
at the wedding, greater yet when two
! months after word came 10 was desired that
Roger should go for year TO South Africa
TO select and purchase diamonds. He loved
adventure. / knew at once he would go
and take Rosy with him.
They came TO make us a flying farewell
visit, left on Saturday TO spend goodby
Saturday with Rogers mother at the farm
In CRANKY, and Monday were to 90 to Bos-
| ton 10 embark.
Then a letter came saying that the
steamer was delayed, and that they would
still remain few days with Rogers
| friends.
"Dear Rosyl You at least must have
another glimpse OF her, " said my mother.
! "Granby Is off the railroad, but it Is only
two miles from Essex, and Rogers sister
| lives at Essex. She Is just a three min
utes' walk from the depot. You can have
no trouble In getting there and then see
Roger every day"
So the next morning, with my little
handbag and umbrella, my new boots and
my best hat, / started blithely forth
was going TO make Rosy a surprise visit.
was not sorry that must wait some
hours at c. 1t was n city that i had often
visited, and when reached 10 bought at
once my ticket for Essex at the station
and then fastened out 10 the stores TO
look about. ! wanted new gown and
thought would get some samples OF dress
goods 10 show 10 Rosy, and she would ad-
wise me what To buy when i should go
n - ....1 a.. shn lNaf
alone and felt greatly excited M handled
the soft cashmeres and bright plaids and
asked their prices all myself, but when one
clerk unfoldod light silver gray poplin
the color OF morning mist l was enchanted
with IL. How 10 gllstenedl 1t was like
having a dress from Maytime cloudl
as 10 very costly" asked, and when
he stated the price per yard communed
with my soul and my pocketbook and
found that had Just money enough 10
compass the price Of the dress. turned
away and looked back again and again,
and finally went out OF the store with
big bundle and only cents In my pocket
book would write home the next morn
ing, and my mother, In view OF NY stu
pendous bargain, would gladly send money
for my return ticket.
But could not buy lunch. dined on
two ginger cookies that were In my bag,
and flushed and hungry hurried TO the do
pot TO take the train.
Eyes, said a stout man OF whom
made inquiry on the station platform,
"that Is the car for Essex"
IL was full when entered, and ] took
my scat beside rosy checked Irish woman
with her baby How swiftly we movedl !
noticed that we passed several small sta
tions. without stopping, and IL was some
time before the conductor came TO look at
my ticket
said.
"Oh, am I on the wrong train"
asked, my heart sinking within me.
"You'r on a through train. We shan't
stop but once between here and Boston,"
he answered and hurried on.
He had a hard face, ! thought. ! was
used 70 being pitied and petted when !
was in trouble. / caught at his sleeve
when next he went by. "What can ] dot"
/ asked.
"You can go on TO Boston OF get out at
Browns Junction. That's all you can do"
he said gruflly, unheeding the tears In my
eyes.
Poor child He's a cr-a-ass mani" said
the Irish woman beside me.
never knew before how sweet Is SYM
phthy. / summoned all my poor little wits
and thought hard ! knew something Of
Browns Junction. When Roger used to
come 20 see Rose, he once spoke, / remem-
Der, OF walking over to Browns Junction
90 catch train. II could not be very far
from Granby-perhaps only a short dis
tance All ] could do was to get out there
and walk To the farm myself.
looked all around as / came down the
steps OF the car. Nobody seemed TO leave
the train but myself. There were only two
buildings In sight, one the small depot the
other IA large dingy white house, evident
ly an old time tavern. went up where a
fat old man and overgrown boy were sit
ting together on the wide piazza.
(which road leads to Granbyf" asked,
putting on, as / thought, business air.
The old man LOOKED ut me with n foolish
stare. The odor OY the tavern breathed all
around him. Innocent as was ! saw he
was hopelessly tipsy. With shaking hand
he pointed his chne TO the east. But you're
not going TO walki" he said "Timll go
right and hitch up team. He'll carry
you. 'Twon't cost you nothing either,
only S2-or, for a pretty girl like you, "a
~
cents 81 prefer walking" said, with
extreme dignity, and turned to the east
ward.
The road, / was sure, was the right one;
but oh, II 1 only knew just where and
how far was to gol / hurried on, walk.
ing faster and faster as l passed out OF
sight At the next house / would ask
again.
At last a weatherbeaten cottage ap
pearcd, and an old man with milkpai
was crossing che road. He did not loot
around till / was close to him, but his
wrinkled face was kind Surely he would
help mel "Oh, sir, how far is 1t to Gran.
byf" i asked
He smiled and nodded. "The women
folks are oil gone out--gone to the funer
AL" he said.
"How far of .s Granbyi" shrieked.
He smiled delighted "Oh, see now
I'm little hard FER hearing. Yes, you can
have some eggs They're 90 cents dos-
en-"
Ishook my head and hastened on. Glanc-
ing back, how low the sun was In the skyl
How fast It was sinking toward the black
cloud close 10 the hnrizonl There was a
house beyond. Perhaps some one would
take me 10 CRANKY. Perhaps they would
take me In. But l only had 3 centsl
could not apply as a beggar.