The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1902-05-31
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Il
| back on his head in true boyish fashion.
! He was an alert conductor, toe and
keenly alive to the responsibilities of his
place. He helped old ladies and children
| aboard, he made the passengers sit closer,
| he kept sharp supervision over all the
details. y o.. :, 5s..t tx .-@z =
I There was a tail man with gray hair
| and white mustache on the back plat
| form,3 very well-dreSsed man, who
| seemed deeply interested in the trip. He
had boarded the car while No. 3S1 was
! inside collecting fares, and, as this col
| lecttng process took some time, the gray
haired man had chance to make study
| of the roadbed as the car rumbled along.
| He was looking over the platform rail
| when No. 381 tapped him lightly on the
| shoulder. 7'f ~ S%@.-
| Fare, please = -.84 -.
The gray-haired man slipped his fingers
into his change pocket and drew out a
| half dollar, AS he pushed it toward No.
3S1 he slightly turned his head.
'George!' He couldn't repress little
start of surprise.
Hello, father" said No. 3S1, as he
thrust the coin into the proper pocket
''Tickets?"
| NO. replied the gray-haired man with
some sharpness. He stared hard at No.
| 3S1 as he counted out the change and
thrust 1t into his hand.
F. '"TranSfer?'
/ mo, Sndppeu the O1ue1 IHdI
"How are you, father?"
well enough. How is it with you?"
Fine" laughed No 381 Then he
| looked little wistfully at the gray
haired man. II wouldn't mind shaking
hands with you, father. It's four years,
| you know, since had the chance"
The old man slowly put out his hand,
| and No. 3S1 gave it a warm pressure.
| Getting down to the husks, George?'
"Husks, father? Oh, remember now.
You allude to the unfortunate young man
| in the Sunday school lesson, the young
man who lived on husks and tended
swine. Yes yes. But there have been no
husks on my menu, father, and the end
seat car hog is the nearest approach to
| the porkers. No, I get three good meals
a day, and carry home my $12 every Sat-
urday night" He laughed he said it,
his eye on the interior of the car:
But can't you get something better
than this?
Haven't tried. You see, this was the
best I could do after being thrown out
of a better job by the burning of the
bicycle factory, and l promised the troll
ley superintendent that I would stay in
the employ Of the road at least a year
If they'd take me on, and just six months
of it have passed. Change here for the
Ellingwood belt line
The old man followed No. 3S1 with his
keen gray eyes that were very much like
| the conductors, though deeper set, and
a new light came into them.
| You are married, George?' s-..sss. ..s...
/ 81 wrote you that was, father ~.
! There was a, little silence
And have little boy, father, three
| years old. I wish you could see him. Why
can't you? We live at No. 81 Cornwall
street, close to the end of this line. You'd
be very welcome, father
The face of the old man hardened, and
he shook his head
II have very little time" he said. Il
| am here on important business"
Very WE'LL" said No. 3s1 quietly
you'll be welcome any time Then he
added: Il, take the down car here. Good
by" He leaped off, caught the rail of the
| approa ching car, and was gone.
| The old man sighed as he turned back.
Somehow he seemed to have lost all in
terest in the condition of the roadbed
When the end, Of the line was reached
| he stepped from the car and looked
about him. Then he walked over to the
starters little station.
'Will you kindly direct me to No. 81
Cornwall street," he said. IT,.
Ten minutes later the gray-haired man
knocked at the door of the little cottage
on Cornwall street. A neat young woman
| responded. 1t was not a favorable hour
for calling, but the young woman bore
a trim appearance her hair was nicely
arranged and there was an air of refine
! ment in her greeting that the old man
liked. f.. Is *. .,,..i d Il. s.-., Il
.'Tnts is the home Of No. ss1, be-
| iieve," he said as he raised his hiatt
mean Of George Glazier.'''
Yes, sir, but he is not at home. He
will not be at home until g." -,
II have come some = distance to see
him." said the gray-haired man.
She looked at him with a new interest.
He was an old man, and she fancied he
looked tired.
Twill you come in and rest 2" she
asked in her. gentle voice. Perhaps you
can leave q message" = r. -, - ~ =
THANK you,' he said. and followed
her into the pleasant little. parlor. His
keen gray eyes travelled about the room
and returned to the woman. II beg
your pardon" he said, but would you
mind giving me little of your timer
She looked at him. wonderingly and
then seated herself. II
You can't really be happy here" he
said abruptly.
she started at the suddenness of the
remark
II do not know what you mean,'' she
said
IT mean that this little house, this
lonesome neighborhood the lack Of nice
clothes, the fact that your husband is
but a poorly paid employee the desire for
those things that just little money
would secure, must make you discomfort
ed at times.
Her color rose. She held her dimpled
chin little higher.
DO I look discontented?" she asked
could be disconnected with SO much
to be thankful for? We have our health,
we have cosy home, we have little
Stephen
"Eh! cried the old man. "You have
what?"
Our boy, our baby boy. His name is
Stephen"
His name IS Stephen" the old man
repeated, and was silent for moment
Then he gently added, MAY I see him?''
He is asleep" replied the young moth
err They she. looked at the gray-haired
man little severely. II trust" she said,
that you business with George Is not
planned to make him disconnected
think You will fail. We are both agreed
that George isn't appreciated at his true
Worth-at least have tried to make him
think so. But he is doing the best he can
What could he expect? He came out Of
college without the slightest knowledge
of what earning living meant, and then
we were young, and George braved his
father to marry me. Well, it was some
thing of a struggle, but we met it with
courage. and we rever despaired.'
She threw a defiant little look at him
AZ she uttered the last words.
II had no desire to hurt your PRIDE Z
laid the gray-haired stranger IF Z
grow peculiar, you know But here, Z
fancy I can explain little of the bust
ness that brought me to your home.
came to the city to buy a controlling in
terest In the company that employees your
husband. have been looking over the
property. and in doing SO ran across him.