The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-25
AN EXPLOSIVE AFFAIR.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.


One gloomy, sultry day in early fall
entered an elevated train to go from one
end of the metropolis to the other. A
long distance, else l should not have
spent so large part of my scanty means;
but was feeble from sickness, and, be-
sides, men always venture what they
have, be it great or small, in the hope of
getting more. My purpose was to take
some pen and ink sketches, carefully but
toned under my coat, to a downtown
dealer; for was and am an artist; then
an unsuccessful one, and, what is worse,
poverty-stricken and hungry one, too.
can't blame myself very seriously for
such an uncomfortable state OF affairs.
A young bachelor, with many friends and
luxurious tastes, is hardly to be con-
demned for living from hand TO mouth.
especially if that mouth was fecund with
smiles and the hand facile in cunning. l
had not anticipated that should be set
upon by footpads and beaten, that a slow
fever would thereafter waste my
strength, and that friends and tastes
would repudiate such unpleasant circum-
stances. Had / done so l should not have
fallen in love with the only child of prob
ably the richest and decidedly the mean
est man in the city; but, like the laborer
who forgot that the hole in the scaffold
had never been repaired, fell first and
reflected afterward.
There were but few passengers on board
the car, and readily found a vacant seat,
one, though, that had been recently oc-
cupied, for on the half next to the window
lay newspaper
Wandering thoughts, 1 am sure, are
merciful; otherwise the miserable would
brood into despair. My debility, my
penury, my dubious future, might sep
arately be we'll entitled to undivided at
tention. Yet scarcely was l settled when
my minds eye conferred on a sweet, tender
face-the face If my beloved, of course
of Annabelle Smithers, ever dear, ever
near, though we were parted by gulf as
deep as that between Lazarus and Dives.
My minds eye saw her face, my memory
reviewed those scenes, enhancing even
in their cruelty, since she was connected
with them.
1 recalled how we had met, and often
through the society OF common acquaint-
ances; how intimacy and confidence and
love had speedily followed in the train of
occasion; how dared address her father
and ask his consent to our marriage; how
he had repulsed me with words shameful
to be heard; how we had planned an
elopement and how, on my way to our
tryst, l had been waylaid and beaten.
A4du bLOoS Lucu D66l lOOGpduSE Wndb lu-
terest in such as me had men who took
such chances for gain? l seemed to see
that old mans cunning leer as he had
dismissed me; l seemed to realize that
his crafty will had impelled those
bludgeons. At least, he must have
suspected, for when but that very morn
ing | had asked at the house for Anna
belle, the servant had told me she had
gone away, and had slammed the door in
my face
All, we'll My nature is buoyant and
hopeful. l have French blood in my
veins, as my name, Paul Lenier at yodr
service, may indicate; and, as every
Frenchman knows, that brings with it an
unconquerable spirit. l would not per-
NIT myself to be depressed by circum-
stances after being so honored by them
would not hearken to the rumble of the
train reiterating 'Nevermorel !" "Never-
moreih AS diversion picked up the
newspaper by my side, and there, under
meath, discovered a small, square pack
age. l examined this with a curiosity
which changed into longing 1t was
wrapped in stir brown paper and tied
with string and contained some firm,
yet yielding substance. My mouth began
to water. What firm but yielding sub
stance would an intelligent workman be
apt to carry with him in the morning? l
say Intelligent workman advisedly:
for that newspaper was a farrago of So
cialistic nonsense, such as intelligent
workmen favor Why, his lunch, Of
course, and, oh, was so hungry
1 hadeyer considered myself an honest
man, and justly so, because, perhaps, nv
stomach had never been tempted. now
found that the conscience has no influence
below the heart Twas utterly incapable of
resisting the temptation to appropriate
this estray. Imagination whispered bread
and butter, at least and sandwiches.
very likely. Sandwiches Oh. what
solid sustenance in the very name to a
man who had been living for DAYS on
water and memory What possible good
could come from turning them over to the
guard to be preserved by the company
until they became as dry as the desert
from which they were namedl Desert
indeed they could make full meal for
me- they could, and they should!
The train was slackening in its APP
proach to the station where | proposed to
alight. tucked the parcel under my arm
and stood out in the aisle. l gazed down
into the narrow street, a thorough fare in
spite of its limitations. All, what a ruth
less giant was traffic. How it pushed for
ward its ceaseless procession Of horses
and vans and eager men, as if when the
goal of wealth was reached il were place
of rest and not another starting point. l
noticed, too, at lower corner, inclosed by
a high fence. a vast, deep, excavation, dug
for the foundation of some towering edi-
flee. Yet not a laborer was within its
area. Here and there were might piles
of materials and tools, scattered at hap
hazard as if panic had com manded fight.
Auditing on its eastern bank stood a Gu
rious relic Of olden days, low, gabled
cottage, a Rip Van Wrinkle, surrounded
by the strange signs of later civiliza-
ton.
Two men, acquaintance, stood in front
of me. My ear caught few of their com
ments regarding this deserted field of
labor.
"A strike. hey2" said one.
''Of course, 80 replied the other ''What !
else can that old curmudgeon expect}
There was nearly riot there the other |
day owing TO the discovery Of one of his |
mean tricks. And now they say he's in a |
blue funk about dynamite They've |
sent him all kinds Of threatening letters F"
We passed out into the station, but my
stomach cried halt TO my steps. / waited !
until the throng had gone on, and then | |
entered an ante room ltSgas vacant / |
sat down and opened the parcel. Alas |
and alas Every sensation, even my |
hunger coalesccd into an enthralling ter |
ror. / held In my hand a bomb, dyna- |
mite bomb There could be no doubt of |
IL. My intelligent workman had been |
some crazy anarchist. so crazy as 10 have /