The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-06
SELECTED STORY.
The Benevolent Gentleman,

Inc Benevolent Gentleman,
An evening express on the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern railroad
had just left Erie, Pennsylvania, on its
way east. 1t was getting little late;
passengers in the sleeping-car "Adri-
anople had some time since devoured
very comfortable dinner, or supper,
as some called it, in the dining-car; and
were half drowsily trying to manufsc-
ture resolution enough to order their
berths made up for the night.
The porter of the coach-a tall, trim
soldierly grandson of Africa-was lurk-
ing about with official smiles upon his
bronze face, hoping that some one
would set the example and call for a
berth, as there was considerable work
to do before everybody got slowed
away for the nights journey; but for
several miles no one did him the longed-
for favor, and he had always made it
rule never to push matters with his
" customers" as he called them.
His eye was finally fixed by that of
maiden lady, as everybody had men
tally designated her, who had evidently
worked and worried along through quite
a number of years past her prime.
snake it very carefully, sir, if you
please" she said, in a clear, rather
shrill voice that cut neatly through the
roaring of the train. "Place the pill
lows as far as possible from the loco
motive. See that they are we'll shaken.
Also aired. But before you do this
bring me glass of water. The fish at
dinner was very thirst-engendering.
The harmless beverage was brought,
nd ha rfar cd bic tni1-nnt
interruptedly; for, as is often the case
in sleeping-cars, mild panic to have
their herths made had now broken out
among the passengers, and he soon had
his head full in filling the different ap-
during the making of the maiden lady's
berth, no less than three times to the
ice-water fountain at the end of the car
for more glasses of water.
The travelling couch was finally made
ready for its destined occupant; but not
without more directions than the sable
chamberlain had received during his
last six previous trips. After having at
last arranged everything to the lady's
very uneasy satisfaction, he proceeded
to make up the next berth ordered,
which happened to be the one immedi
ately above.
"Who is to occupy that berth?" asked
the maiden, CURLY and theoretically.
"The gentleman over yonder in that
seat, lady," replied the porter, politely,
pointing very carefully and unostenta-
tiously toward a small, inoffensive,
elderly gentleman, with gray whiskers
and clean clerical upper lip.
ga MAN?" shrilled the maiden lady,
so that everyone in the car could hear
her-especially as the train had just
stopped at Dunkirk. ga MAN? 1t is
shame! The company ought to re-
serve sections in which ladies travel,
especially and exclusively for ladies'.
will not allow it! will report it! l
will stand on the platform all night, and
then sue the company for damages"
The sleeping car conductor here
came to an attempted rescue. He tried
to find some lady with whom the gray
bearded old gentleman could change.
But all the ladies in the " Adrianople !"
had lower berths, and probably pre-
ferred to keep them. He did not know
what to do, except TO say that the gen.
tleman had bought the berth, was en-
titled to it, and the train must continue
its course under that arrangement.
every well,' shouted the maiden
lady, decisively. 81 will get out here
and take the next train. Porter, gather
my appurtenances. Sleeping-car con-
ductor, call the train car conductor, so
that he may give me stop-over.
shall publish my wrongs in all the
papers. / shall sue the company"
AT this, a pleasant, intelligent-lookine
man, with kind but merry eye, added
his mite to the conversation. Il think
it can all be pleasantly arranged" he
said. 81 am small man. My friend
the owner of the upper berth, is not
afflicted with avoirdupois. My bed will
be wide enough for US both. He can
have half or two-thirds of it, and we
can still both be comfortable"
The maiden lady cast him kind
glance and a remark at the same time.
"There are a few gentlemen left in the
world" she said.
The gray-whiskered man, who had
during the proceedings looked about as
comfortable as if he were the prisoner
in murder case during its presenta
ton by the prosecution, consented tC
the arrangement with pathetic readi'
ness that made the kind-faced maj
smile alphabetically. Everybody wa