The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-11-18

era mousse Jnab dIJ-
ernoon. 1t was
the inevitable Faust" and Gounod's
lovely music still rang in our ears as we
hurried up the steps of the elevated rail.
road station at Forty second street on our
way home We looked back for a moment
at the eager crowd as we mounted the
long flight. Then we were pushed on by
sudden movement of the throng toward
the station platform. There was a rush.
Kissing of steam, creaking of iron, a
clanking OF gates swung wide, hoarse
cry from the guard, and we found our
selves swept by the flow of belated pleas
ure seekers irresistibly into a car already
well filed. We were separated for min
ute, and when looked back saw Janet
nodding her thanks to an odd figure of q
man as she sank into a seat. Perhaps
should not say odd, for nothing is odd in
New York, where all nations and all
Glasses and conditions of men meet in the
elevated railroad train on an equal foot
Ing But the figure was little singular
In that 1t was not New York figure
The rudy health In the boyish face was
not the product of New York air, the
square cut, awkward coat and the shape
less felt hat were Enthusiastically bought at
a general store" where molasses and
seed corn were leading commodities The
thick shingled hair might have been cut to
the measure of a chopping bowl. The fig
ure was bucolic-there was no installing
1t. made my way to Janet's side and
turned to thank her benefactor. Just then
some one left the adjoining seat vacant,
and, with the feeling that reciprocal kind
ness was the best evidence of appreciation,
/ pressed the stranger into It, much
against his will. And as he protested
earnestly but awkwardly Janet said to
hun: II am sure that you are not a New
Yorker. Our New York men do not give
their seats to women"
/ can see the 400 distinct looks of disap.
prevail which would have rested on Janet
If her social acquaintance had seen her
thus address total stranger" / was
not shocked. / was simply amused. But
/ was more interested in watching the eff
feet of her speech on her neighbor than in
specializing on its possible effect on her
friends. The sensitive rural nature too
often draws back panied at its contrast
with what is of "the city" For mo-
ment 1t was question whether the stran-
ger would resent the suggestion, but the
tactful tone and the pleasant'smile dis
armed resentment. The youth went to
the other extreme. The rudy cheek flush.
ed deeper red, but not with embarrass-
ment
"No, I'm from the country" he said
frankly. Il haven't been here more than
a day or two. l couldn't let a woman
stand up and sit here. Standings pref
ty easy for man unless he's been walk
ing all day"
There was something personal in the
last sentence that led me to think that the
young countryman had been walking a
great deal that day.
II never was in New York BEFORE, he
said. II have come from little town in
the west to see if can learn little more
and do little more perhaps in "a big town
than can in our little one. We haven't
many chances there, and there's so much
here--the libraries and the schools and ev-
erything. You'd think / was pretty big
to go to school, wouldn't you? But l
think mans never too old to go to
school if there's anything to learn. "
He looked around to see what effect his
little speech had had. Meeting look of
pleasant interest, he plunged into deeper
condolences He told of the lutte town
and the stagnation of it's almost insular
life, of the ambition that he had to see
and to learn, of the lonely fireside where
his mother and younger brother sat-his
one regret. 1t was not a conversation, it
was a recital. It came to an end just be-
fore we reached our station.
"This is where get of, said Janet.
I'm afraid I've been telling you lot
that doesn't interest you, said the young
man, scarlet of face again.
1T interests me very much, said ia
net with sincere smile. II believe in
the fellowship Of man. l hope that you
may find all that you hope for here.
Goodby." She turned and nodded, smil-
ing to him as we left the car. He was
looking after us, hat in hand, seemingly
forgetfulof his surroundings, as glanced
back from the station platform.
1 never thought to see the face or the
figure again. The encounter with them,
though, came very naturally. went to
the Lenox library to consult an authority