Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-09-27
THOUGHT 1T WAS FATE.
i'm This Tale Did Not Take
His Train.


fatalist," remarked a Detroiter tn
other day, relates the Free Press. II
even believes ia dreams and mas hallu
einations of the wild and impossible
kind. Well, he visited me a couple 0
weeks ago, and during that time h
dreamed of the deaths of severa
friends, the marriages Of several other
and various kindred mishaps to others
all of which were given an interpreta
ton.
"A week ago he left for the east, ant
! accompanied him to the train. Tn,
attempts to catch the train were more
or less amusing. We arrived at tn,
depot in plenty of time, and then my
friend decided he would go uptown
and bid friend good-by. We went
The friend was not in and we had Il
wait a considerable time. This cut oui
time very short, and we found ourselve,
hustling for a street car. OF course We
missed a swift one by sixteenth Of d
block. The next one seemed an inter
minably long time coming, and when il
did reach the corner it was going like
they do in Toronto. Oh, the suspense Of
that ridel
AT Wayne street we gave il up as a
hopeless case. The depot clock pointed
to the time of the trains departure.
"'The train may be late, remarked
as we entered the depot.
"The train was late-50 minutes be
hind time. SO the ticket agent said, and
SO il read on the call board.
$50, as il was very necessary that he
should get to his destination upon Ger
tain day, we congratulated ourselves
and sat down TO have a good smoke
Forty Of the 50 minutes had gone by
when the man that calls the trains
gave his little exhibition. What he
said sounded strangely like the mean.
tation of an Indian at a native dance.
II went something like this:
'Allboard ms mmm-mzoo-town-
shun-yum!
His senseless humble caused us
much amusement and reminded my
friend of a story which, when he had
finished it, brought us within five min
utes of the time designated. Then we
sauntered out TO the gates only to see
the rear end of the train retreating
in the distance Indignant No name
for il. And TO think that while we
were laughing at the train announcer
he was calling my friends train.
THE gateman told us we had 40 min
utes TO catch the same train in Windsor.
as il would take that time to load the
cars on and off the boat and to make
the trip on the river. OF course there
wasn't a street car in sight. We trotted
along the river front streets, cutting
across lots wherever we could. The
bell of the ferry boat was ringing its
hurry up signal when we reached
Woodward avenue. We dashed down
the incline like pair of hungry horses
going toward their barn. Too late!
The gang plank was drawn up and the
gate clattered in our faces as we passed
by the ticket Office.
THE next boat arrived in the course
of time, and as we rode across the river
we anxiously watched the progress Of
the car ferry. Yes, we could beat her
time easily, if the ferry boat would only
hurry up. But she seemed to be ahead
Of her schedule and not at all disposed
to speed Finally, we reached the dock
a considerable time before the car boat
made her landing But here the min
ions of the customs service stepped in
to delay us. My friend had yalise, and
he was politely requested TO step into
the office.
"But we're hurrying TO catch a
train he protested.
Cant help il f, was the curt answer
"Of course we had to wait until all
the passengers had passed scrutiny,
and then the official very slowly and de-
liberately proceeded TO examine the
contents OF the valise. Ny friend was
now thoroughly exasperated, and he
expressed his opinion of the interna-
tional laws in terms more emphatic
than elegant At length he suddenly
cooled down and his face became grave
and serious.
"'Ah.' he said, 4 see il all now. The
finger Of fate is in this. III not go on
that train, because something is going
10 happen 10 Il. I'm fatalist, you
know
"Well, we came back TO Detroit and
waited for the next train"
"And he caught il and got through
all right this time. presume?'
"Wen, he caught the train all right
but il was wrecked en- route and my
friend had three teeth knocked out, his
nose fattened. leg broken and eye al
most put out"