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

IN. : - :. -.
GURED OF FLIRTING.
/: The manager of the firm was an
old friend of mine. Notwithstanding
thafact that our acquaintance began
when was quite well to do and he
Iwas commercial traveller, the
Change which had taken place in our
kcrtunes. a change that had brought
Hnm to the head of one of the lead
ing mercantile establishments IN the
Iwest and reduced me to the necessity
pf earning my living with my pen
mad not strained our friendly rela-
ajons. I could approach him with
the same old freedom. Twas in neec
of q story, an incident OF romance Of
some kind, and waiting until I was
eertain that his business for the day
was completed ] went into his Office,
knowing that he would help me Out
lis possible, and after exchanging
the usual cordial greeting ! said:
"John, am looking for story,
and I want you to tell me one.
! My dear boy ''-he always called
me s'boy, . although I am his senior
81 i could not be of any service tc
you, ] am afraid y
"Well, I have an idea," I said,
f.and will ask you question by way
of a suggestion
500 ahead, - was the rejoinder.
4 sIwant you to tell me, if you will,
the incident or accident of your life
in which you suffered the greatest
hum;iiation.''
b. John laughed heartily at this, but
with blush that suggested some
Ithing romantic or sentimental, and
Igot out my notebook.
"I'll tell you story, but if you
should ever mention my name, ;"
said he, II might forgive you, but I
know a sweet little woman who
would be very slow to forgive me. !"
go on. / think you can trust
me, said, and he told me the fol-
lowing story:
{. "You are aware of the fact he
began, ''that ten years ago repre-
scented the firm of - of this city
on the road. travelled over western
missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. In
these days 1 was up early, worked
hard and late, but was Jolly and
quite a ladies' man.
Eyes" I said, 81 remember, es-
peeially about the latter phase OF
your character. And it was true.
John - was not q bad man, but ]
knew him in his younger days to be
an inveterate flirt and that the wo-
men all admired him. He was good
looking, wore smile that was full
of sunshine and carried a heart that
responded to the misfortunes OF
mankind wherever OF whenever
found. No one could truthful]y say
that John was ever unkind or self
ash, but for all that he was fiirt,
and many were his innocent esca-
pades. He thought of nothing out
side of his business but good times,
and if anybody had them he did.
But it did not enter his mind that
there was any harm in what he was
doing until he grew older and more
serious thoughts took the place of
his prankish ideas But to return to
the story.
eff you have never travelled over
the branch railroad running from
IBurlingame, Kan, on the Santa Fe,
to Manhattan, on the Union Pacific, y
said he, I'll explain the situation
so you will understand that and
what am going to tell you, for a
"trip over this road was the com.
mencement of an incident which led
to my greatest embarrassment and
forever cured me of the habit of
flirting with the fair sex.
"Burlingame is south of Topeka
about 40 miles, on the Santa Fe, and
Manhattan is west of the Kansas
capital OH the Union Pacific some GO
miles. Well, this short line connects
these two points, via Eskridge, Alma
and two or three minor stations. 1t
was in tho fall of the year 1889. l
visited Burlinglme on my regular
trip and was going from there to
Alma l had finished my business IN
Burlingame, Il good business at THAT.
and after settling my bill with mine
host Collins IF the principal hotel
and instTuc.ing him to send my
grips to the depot, l sauntered out
in town to XII the intervening hours
before train time. This short line
train did not leave the Buslinsalne
depot until after the Santa ie man
ao;,,<, CONT II Gonna in