The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-04-16
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A CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE.

"A SI1A1NSh ASQOA1Nl AINCE.
The train on the Chiwassee Valley ex-
tension lurched uneasily round the
| curves in the new track of the branch
line, leaving a trail of sooty smoke
hanging in the foliage on the mountain
side and stipplirg the pools in the river
with showers of cinders from the en-
gine where the railway embankment
skirted the stream. The afternoon sun
had dropped behind the summit of
Johns mountain, but his oblique rays
still poured into the valley through oc-
casional gaps in the ridge, projecting
grotesquely heightened shadows of the
moving train half way across to the
western slope of Jubal mountain. A
cool breeze, fragrant with the breath of
wild honeysuckle and spicy with the
resinous smell of old-feld pines, blew in
at the open windows of the car; and
| Thorndyke, lying back in his seat with
| half-closed eyes, tried once more to set
i'll their proper order the events of the
last few days in New York. There was
no particular reason why they should
be assorted and labeled. save one; the
memory of them seemed to be slipping
away from him. There were times
when he could not be sure that he had
signed his will; when he could not re-
member what he had said to his mother
at parting. And as for that pathetic
little scene in the dimly-lighted draw
ing-room at the Morrissons', it might
! have happened ten years before. He
asked himself if it were possible that it
was only two days since he had choked
in trying to say good-by to Helen. 1t
was beyond belief; the miles of distance
had somehow become transmitted into
years of time, and the memory of that
evening, only two evenings ago, was al
! ready beginning to fade. Was it only
because the change of scene and of en-
compassment pushed the things of yes
-, tcrday aside to make room for newer
impressions, or did the reason lie in the
grim fact of irrevocability Thorn
| dyke pursued these reflections so far
! into the field of distractions that the
man in the next seat spoke twice before
he got an answer.
81 beg your pardon" Philip said,
coming back to actualities with re-
luctant effort. "What did you say?"
81 asked if you were going up to ALA
coochee," said the voice.
1t was an unpleasant voice, remind
ing one of the buzzing of bluebottles
and other annoying insects. Thorn
dyke looked around, and saw wiry
little man with keen eyes, thin beak-
like nose, scanty black side whiskers,
and struggling mustache dropped in
all evident but unsuccessful attempt to
cover the faulty teeth. Foreseeing
tcdium in the face, he answered vague
ly:
Eyes; believe my ticket reads to that
point"
The human fly was not to be silenced
| by any such mild encouragement. 81
supposed so," he buzzed. "My name
is Fench-Jenkins Fench,
Thorndyke a card which ingeniously
combined the name with a somewhat
ungrammatical advertisement of the
Allacoochee Land, Manufacturing and
Improvement company, Guaranty
| building. 422 Broadway "Drop around
to my Office when you get settled, and
I'll give you some pointers thatll put
you right in on the ground floor. What
name did I understand you to say?'
81 didn't say" contradicted Philip,
meekly, passing his card across to the
man of business.
"Ah, Thorndyke; glad to know you,
Mr.. Thorndyke. AS was saying, if
you'll come around"
81 hA ve no idea of investing in ALA
cooche0," Philip interrupted, hoping to
escape. I'm in Alabama for my health.
and l don't expect to stay in town very
long"
"Oho, yes; for your health, eh?-con-
sumption, 1 suppose. Well, we'll; in
life we're in the midst of death, and no
man knoweth the day or hour"
Mr.. Fench seemed nonplused for the
moment, but he rallied Immediately and
went on with increasing zeal.
"In that case, Mr.. Thorndyke, what
better legacy could man leave his
folks than few solid investments in
cur promising young city? Why, my
dear sir, as stranger, you can have
no idea of the vast and wonderful re-
sources of this marvellous region-abso-
lutely no idea at all. And Allacoochee
is the natural center for the whole coun-
try-the point where all the industries
within radius of 500 miles are bound
to cluster. Just run your eye over this
map; look at that for location! This
part that's plated off is as level as a
IVA