Evening star., 1897-02-27
AN ODD EXPERIENCES.
A Salesman Who Almost Becomes
Food for an Emotional Romance.

Food for an Emotional Romance.
Nv. H. Atalie. New York." was the way
1t looked on the hotel register as The Star
reporter saw it, and beautiful work Of art
in clothes 1t looked as the reporter bowed
to It in response to an Introduction from
the clerk.
But it mustn't be called at" any longer.
The drummer, for drummer he was,
was representing a New York clothing
frm and It is putting it mildly to call him
q loo loo." He knew everybody, had been
every place and seen everything. and he
vas more brilliant and attractive than his
Clothes which is the very superlative of
compliments.
But the oldest experience I ever did
| have in the whole course of my long and
eventful career" he was saying sfter say
ing enough to fill a book. happened to me
down in the state of Kentucky. 1 had
stopped off train in the morning to see a
new man who had written for me to come,
as did not make his town, and, after SELL
ing him good bill, I was at the station to
catch a train at 5 o'clock 1t was pleas
ant afternoon in October, and was sitting
on truck on the platform waiting. as the
train was behind. when 1 noticed very
handsome young lady drive up to the plat
fern and get out Of stylish village cart.
she struck me particularly because I
had seen her In front Of my customer 8
place just as 1 was leaving, and l thought
L .
being modest man. passed on without
observing that part of it further
The clerk whistled long and low, like a
pirate. but the drummer never needed the
| irsinuation. ..,.
when she got out of her Cart he con-
tinued, "she came directly to me, smiling
| now in the friendliest way and extended
her hand. -.-
- thought you were the one when saw
you up town. she said. but l was not
sure. and while 1 was hesitating you es-
capped. You know papa Is expecting you
out to supper. and l have come for you
Il was knocked clear off my balance.
"1-I-I beg your pardon I stammered.
but think you are mistaken 1t must be
some other person you are expecting
"'You are Mr.. Atalie of New York, aren'
you?
"Yes-er-er-un-but
Then. of course. there can't be two OF
him in so small place, and you must go
with me-
"She laughed and led the way to the cart
and l had to go, though 1 did take time
enough to have my baggage looked after
till 1 got back, II I ever got back. for
didn't know what was up. But there wasn't
any sign of danger as we drove along a
beautiful turnpike through a rolling. blue
grass landscape that was like slice out Of
the promised land. and my companion was
delightfully."- hospitable and so charmingiy
chatty that l concluded there was no mis-
take and that some of my friends were
playing an elegant joke on me.
Arriving at last at a fine old place about
a quarter of mile back from the pike my
fair driver turned in the wide gate and
bowled up to the great old pillared portico
with a flourish of trumpets. so to speak. A
colored boy took away the horse and | was
ushered into the big hall and introduced to
the father, who seemed glad to see me and
bewildered me that much more by saying
he had been expecting me and that he was
afraid his daughter would not be able to
recognize me and. a lot more of the same
kind.
by this time 1 thought I had got into a
lunatic asylum or was a twin without
knowing it, and these people knew the
other one, but before 1 could get my wits
well into bearing the young lady excused
herself and disappeared up stairs. AS she
went out of sight and hearing l could see
by the fathers face that it was now my
time to explain. which did. and he in the
gentlest. incest way a man could possibly
have done, told me that his daughter was
suffering with a peculiar form of dementia
and that she had on one or two other occa-
SiOns brought strangers home with her as
she had brought me. though as rule she
was always accompanied by an attendant,
who managed to explain the situation in
some way so as to prevent embarrassment.
In this instance she had escaped from her
attendant.
He insisted that now as had missed my
train l stay and take supper with them,
which l did. and remained until 10 o'clock
that evening, when l was sent back to
town in carriage. The daughter never
once showed the slightest sign of mental
as friend of the family, and an alienist
would not have been able to detect any,
thing wrong with her mind to have listened
to her talk and to have heard her play and
sing.
II am going back there in April he con-
cluded, Ito call on the family if nothing
had happened, and I'll bet fifty-dollar
suit of clothes the girl won't know me-"