The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-16
IY-PEaCE.

U-PEACE.
Lines" said the head o. the house 10
tavoEiie commercial traveller who had Jus,
returned from az extended tour. do you
know suythiue OF the sou;h7'
a little was The reply.
How far South have you been!"
Richmond"
'Ah!' exclaimed the head of the house;
long getting ,hereg'
Pretty near three years"
First time that ever heard that you
were N the late unpleasantness,' b" re-
turned his employer: never heard about
your adventures in that line"
Well" interrupted the salesman. you
see am the only man engaged in tho civil
war who IS not writing FOR the maya
zines"
"So,'
And as I did no. put down the rebellion
myself"
In many bastiesg" asked the managing
DA .ryn.
"wounded?"
"Twice-once in the leg. and the other
time in the heart"
Recovered from the effects Of both
wounds?"
Recovered from the shot in the leg:
Uni was the finale OF this running
conversation. "Ah. l understand; struck
by one Of Cupids arrows. uni"
The salesman nodded and then the con-
verse became strictly business" Tho de-
sire Of the firm Was concscly this TO re-
new southern trade previously heS by
the house. which had been Interrupted by
the civil war and never regained-neyer
regained because the house had never
made an effort TO resume business rela-
tions with that section.
coming familiar. we mu&: win all that
trade back again. not only want the city
houses. but those remote iltnfa;ioa sores
at tho CROSSROADS, which carry such big
stocks OF our very lines And as for the
salary and commissions. tho house Will
guarantee that your trial trip In the new
section shall be no loss to you
Walter Lines accepted the proposition In
a jlfy, and said:
Its a go. I'm your man"
When the day for the salesman's depart
ure for virginia came the head of the
house AT parting said:
Well you are advancing on Richmond
this time under somewhat different cir
cumstances."
not so very different" interrupted the
salesman with qulu chuckle. Il was \
drummer then, and I'm a drummer now"
OF course the first push was made for
Richmond. where fair trade WINS secured
orations. Tho representative OF the house
and tho firm itself were well satisfied
Equally successful visits 10 minor cities
were made and then our drummer began
a systematic tour OF the remote country
stores, making his trips overland In a
buggy.
Just at dusk one night he drove up to
the store OF the Clayton plantation, and
walking Into the establishment. announced
himself and his business by presenting his
card, es he said;
II want supper, feed and keep for my
horse. lodging for myself. and will talk
business later"
a young man behind the counter re-
piled:
"That'll be all right. Mr.. Lines The
proprietor will be hero in moment y
Then he ordered lounglng darkoy to. take
tho horse round TO the barn"
The drummer was just going TO ask the
condition OF trade. when \ woman en-
tered,
Miss Clayton, the proprietor" said the
clerk. introducing the newcomer.
Tho greeting OF tho two was so hearty
that the clerk almost fell over the coun-
ter.
why. walter,'
why. Gladys'"
THAT clerk was a 1owel-he knew his
husincss, He hurried out OF the store to
feed the drummeT's horse.
what are you doing heroY' -.
Same as before drumming. And your
"oh. am a New Woman OF the New
South How does Gladys Clayton. strike
you 10 n commercial report7 But how the
idea OF pufford- Clayton doing business
did strike poor mamma, The shock larry
made her sick. but sire lived through H.
You SEQ the truth Of II was after father's
death wc had to give up some OF our aFis-
tocratic notions"
And your inothor?
We'll but she never yet has known OF
yeur first visit to these parts: " mas peen
well kept secret"
"My oolored friends who cared for me
and saw me to the Federal lincs''
"Auntle Is still hale and hearty. II her
woolly head is white as snow she mas
Drummer hoy. Uncle died not Ions aNur
your departure Auntle said 'lie died
looking for freedom. but death got there
| first" --.a