Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-11-22

the Inevitable Faust" and Gounod's
lovely music still rang In our ears rs We
hurried up tho steps OF the elevated rail.
ruad station at Forty SECOND street on our
way home. We looked back for moment
at the eager crowd as we mounted the
long flight Then VIC werc pushed on by
a sudden movement Of the throng toward
the station platform There was rush.
kissing of steam. creaking of iron, .
clnnking OF gntcs swung wide, q hoarse
cry from the guard, and we found our
selvos swept by the flow Of bclated pleas
urc seekers irrcsistibly into car already
well filed. We were separated for min
ute, and when I looked back saw Janet
no,lding her thanks TO an odd figure Of .
man ~ she sank into . seat Perhaps
should not say odd, for nothing ID odd In
New York. where all nations and all
classes and conditions Of men meet In the
elevHtesi railroad train on an equal foot
Ing. But the figure was n little singular
In that 10 was not New York figure.
The rutidy health In the boyish face was
not the product OF New York air, tho
square cut, awkward coat and the shape
less felt hat were unmistakably bought Mt
o general store" where molAsses and
seed corn wcro leading commodities Tho
thick shinglcd hair might have boen cut b
the measure OF chopping bowl The fig
ure was bucolic-thcrc was no mistaking
L. made my way to Janct's side and
turned to thank her bcnefnctor. Just then
some ono left the adjoining scat vacant,
and, with the feeling that reciprocal kind
ness was the best evidence OF appreciation,
pressed the stranger into II, much
against his will And ns he protested
earnestly but nwkwarily Janet said to
Yorker. Our New York men do not give
their seats " women.
can $40 the 400 distinct looks Of disap
proyal which would have rested on Janet
II her social acquaintances had seen her
thus address total stranger" was
not shocked was simply amused. But
was mort interested In watching tho u
feet Of her spccch on her ncighbor than In
spcculatinR on Its possible effect on her
friends The sensitive rural nature too
often draws back pained at Its contrast
with what Is Of 1.-THE city" For mo-
ment it wns question whether the stran
ger would rrsent the suggestion, but the
tactful tone and the pleasant smile dis
armed resentment Tho youth went 10
the other extreme. The ruddy 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
q day or two I couldn't let n woman
stand up and ! sit here. Standings prct-
ty easy for man unless he's boon walk
ing all day
There was something personal In the
Inst sentence that led me 81 think that the
young countryman had been walking
great deal that day.
II never was In New York before, no
said II have come from little town In
the west to see II can learn u little moro
and do little more perhaps In big town
than can in our little one. We haven't
many chances there, and there's 81 much
here-the libraries and the schools and ev-
erything You'd think was pretty big
to 90 90 school, wouldn't your But l
think mans never too old To go TO
school II there's anything TO learn. 4"
He looked around to sce what effect his
little speech had had. Meeting look OF
pleasant interest, he plunged into deeper
condolences He told Of the little town
and the stagnation Of its almost insular
life. of the ambition that he had To see
and 20 learn. Of the lonely ilreside where
his mother and younger brother sat-his
one regret. II was not . conversation, IL
was recital IL came 10 nm end just b.
fore we reached our station.
"This IL where get of. said Janet.
I'm afraid I've been telling you lot
that doesn't interest you, said tho young
mnn. scarlet Of fnce agnin.
1T interests me very much. said ia
net with q sincere smile. II believe In
the fellowship Of man. hope that you
may find all that you hope for here.
Goodby." She turned and nodded smil'
ing TO him ~ We left the car. He wns
looking after Us, hat In hand, seemingly
forgetful Of his surroundings, rs glanced
back from the station platform.
Ine,er thought ~ sec the face or the
figure again. The encounter with them.
though, came very naturally. went 10
The Lenox library to consult AL authority