The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-23

Wllll0 UC1OIC t1d1u aAAhS, " AA1SAA, - =
remember correctly, was about 3 p.
m. Upon inquiry I learned that the
train was two hours late.
81 had no business back up town
and concluded to dispose of my
spare time at the depot. I went out
on the platform after awhile and
walked up and down, thinking of
various matters connected with my
trip. The depot was one of those
old fashioned structures with the
gents waiting room at one end and
the ladies' at the other, with the Of
fees between them. Very few peo-
ple were about the depot at the time.
and to them I gave little notice, but
later on my attention was attracted
to very prepossessing type of the
country girl standing in the door
way of the ladies' waiting room. Of
course, in those days, when a good
looking girl appeared on the scene
!. I at once became Interested, and
after passing her time or two /
drew near and remarked to her that
she seemed to be waiting for train
as well as myself. She replied in
the affirmative and desultory talk
followed regarding the weather, the
country. and go on, and 1 soon learn
ed that she was a student in the
Manhattan college and was going
out on my train for that place.
".But how are we to kill these
two hours7' remarked to her after
awhile; but of course she didn't
know.
"Just across the track from the
depot several coal mines were oper-
ated at that time, and I made some
remark about them and suggested
that believed that / would go over
and go down into one of them, as ]
had never been in mine of any kind.
She thought that,would be interest
ing, and said it in such manner
that politely introduced myself and
invited he1 to accompany me. She,
in turn told me her nameiand in a
very modest and becoming manner
thanked me for the invitation and
said that she would be glad TO 60 I
did something right here which !
cannot explain and which afterward
caused me untold embarrassment and
modification, but believe taught
me a very valuable lesson. / have
seen good deal of life, as you well
know, but this was the first time in
my experience. and the last, that !
ever sailed under false colors When
introducing myself, l gave her
fictitious name. I do not know why
/ did so, for ] knew enough of hu-
man nature to understand at a
glance that this young lady was
honest and upright, and I had no ul-
terror motive or design in my mind
when I told her that my name was
Harry McConkey.
1--WE went over to the nearest
shaft and soon obtained the neces-
sary permission of the boss to so
down into the dark chambers of the
earth below. Accompanied by
guide we got into one of the cages
and descended several hundred feet.
When the bottom was reached, we
were shown through various dark
lanes, where men and mules were at
work taking out the black diamonds.
Miss was very much interested
in what she saw, and when we
emerged from the mine she thanked
me again for my kindness in invit
ing her to accompany me- When we
got back to the depot, we learned to
our disappointment that the train
was an hour later than it was at first
reported. This would make it sup
per time and after. Isuggested sup
per, and invited the lady to go back
up town with me to get something
to eat She would go, she said, but
not as my guest, but on condition
that permit her topay for her own
supper, and she gave as her reason
for this our short acquaintance. Of
course / preferred to pay for the
suppers myself, but l appreciated
the fact that the young lady was
correct III the position she took, and
permitted her to have her way in
the matter,
1--WE went up town and into the
best restaurant the place afforded,
and while we were eating she told
me OF her home, her parents, broth
ers, sisters, her school life, how she
had taught school in her home dis
trict farther down in the state, all
the time so ladylike and modest and
calling me Mr.. McConkey' with
such frankness and simplicity that
my conscience wouId hardly stand
still and permit the imposition to so
on, but it did, a fact that I'll regret
the longest day live.
81 told her enough falsehools and
romances then and during the even
ing to make Il good sized book. Told
her how l had been in China and