The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-03-03

CuuuBeu COuVuCtOTsp uuu, us MITE
Brickett leaned back in her corner,
with n veil over her face aud cam
phor-bottle at her nose, she could SEQ
the stalwsrt figure of the new con-
ductor gathering up the tickets right
and left.
'Just such n man ns Brickett used
to be-" thought the poor, solitary
wife. "Dear, dcnrl don't see what
keeps putting Brickett into my head
the whole timel" and she cried,
quietly, behind her veil. "It's because
the camphor is so strong" said she;
but she knew better all the while.
The conductor had taken up all his
tickets ut last He came and sat down
beside stout, geual-faccd man. in
the seat directly in front of her.
80 your going home, Wallis, 'said
he.
c'My goodness me, it is Brickettl"
gasped the weary traveller, ut the
familiar accents of the voice.
YES" the genial-faced man made
prompt reply. '1'm off duty until
Monday morning; aud haven't seen
my wife in n month-nor my home"
''It's great deal to have n home to
go to-" said Conductor Brickett, a
little huskily, "and wife. I've got
neither"
"Your wife is dead?"
al have lost-her," the conductor
replied, evasively.
al suppose you set deal 'of store
by her?" said tho stout man, SYM
pathizingly.
al did," answered the conductor;
81 do now. But I've lost her."
He rose abruptly from his seat, and
went to the glazed door at the end of
the cart wns tho Inst on the train
to look out at the wild landscape o
eternal flat samoness of tho prairics.
Presently, touch fell lightly on
his arm.
"Brickett," said soft. hesitating
voice, ''you nave lost me"
"Hester!" he cried out, with
start; ''it is never you! Here? and
alone?
"Pve behaved like fool, Brickett," ="
said the wife, trying her best to keep
down the hysterical lump in her throat.
"And won't say that you was nlto-
getber right"
81 was u brute. Hester!" no inter-
rupted.
"But, oh, Brickett! ! 1 haven't known
a happy moment since l went away
and left the old farm in the Unadilla
Valley!" pleaded tho wife.
"Nor II" he uttered, hoarscly.
"Hester-wife-shall we go back?"
"And how about Grandfather
Gums armchair?" she said, half
laughing, half crying.
"We'll split it up for kindling-
wood" said Brickett
"No. we won't, said Mrs. Brickett
"We'll varnish it up and recushion it,
and set it by the sitting-room fire.
just where you wanted it'll"
Mr.. and Mrs. Brickett went on to
the end of the journey, and then Mr..
Brickett resigned his conductors cap
aud badge.
'Isn't this rather sudden notion
of yours, Brickett?" said the superin-
tendent of the road.
"Well, yes, rather" said Brickett.
"But I've made up my mind to 60
back to farming"
SO Mr.. and Mrs. Brickett returned
once more to the old homestead.
Levi Cartwright. the incumbent,
was only too glad to leave the farm.
He was tired of the monotonous life.
':But there's ono thing I'd ought to
tell you. said he. ''rhe keepin'.room
ceilin' fell down one day last week
folks don't put up plaster now as they
did in my 'teens--and smashed that
there old armchair OF your'n into
splinters. Good thing no one chanced
to be settin' in it just then hut we
was all out at the back OF the house,
hivin' n swarm of bees Real nrovi-
dental, wasn't it?"
And Mr.. and Mrs. Brickett looked
at each other, and agreed that it was.
Saturday Night.
History of Steam Power.