Oxford Democrat., 1902-08-05
The Release
Of No. 2OI
BY DAVID H. TALMADGE
Copyright. 1901. by d. II. Talmadge

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The accommodation train, No. POI of
the schedule on the branch road was
stuck in the SNOW. and there seemed to
be no relief for it. No provision had
been laade for such contingency be-
cause tie branch. sheltered by trees
and bluC's. hGd Ecen considered proof
against such misfortune. The engi-
necr, who had been OH the run for
twenty yc,.rs. WAS too astonished for
words when the small locomotive
failed to cut the drift into which it
had plunged so confidently. and he sat
on his seat staring dumbly at the con-
ductor, who swore shockingly and ges-
ticulated with his arms.
In the coach were two passengers,
both young men. One was the type of
commercial salesman sent out by small
jobbing houses, well dressed, self as
sertive, crudely philosophic; the other.
by appearance, plainly farmer. He
wore baggy. shiny black suit, and his
white collar was attached to ging-
hum shirt by white bone button.
sewed with black thread. His appear
ance was enhanced by a carefully
trimmed shock Of hair and whiskers.
The commercial salesman had arisen
when the train stopped and had walk
ed to the door.
II guess" he remarked after a min.
ute, that we're stalled"
He whistled popular melody as he
walked down the aisle and noted with
some amusement that the other man
was clutching the back of 4 seat, his
eyes filled with CONSERVATION.
Provoking, isn't it," the drummer
said as he lighted q cigar and drew a
paper covered book from his grip.
Y-yes-by-cat" the other stam-
mered. "Say. do you mean that were
stuck?"
That's it exactly. Here's the con-
ductor now"
The conductor slammed the door Vi
ciously and shook the snow from his
cap. We're up against it, gentlemen"
he announced in disgust. The con-
founded teakettle is dying like a sick
pig out there in drift no bigger'n II
washtub. We're two miles from Dix
port, and the SHOWS so thick you can't
see your hand before your face. Lucky
we've been to supper"
"Then we won't get out tonight?
asked the farmer anXiously. looking Mt
his watch.
here on this pea vine the section men
won't learn what's the matter with us
till tomorrow. We've got plenty of
COAL 1t might be worse"
"Yes," said the farmer. 81 s'pose It
might, but l don't see how it could be
much worse for me-"
He picked up an overshoe.
you see" he explained, fastening
the buckle, T've got particular en-
gagement tonight up at Dil!iport. and
if the train amt going I've got to hoof
it."
He put on the other shoe and rose,
reaching for the wolfskin coat which
danglec from one end Of the parcel
holder. The conductor and the sales
man contemplated him in astonish-
ment.
"But, man, you can't do 1t possibly"
said the conductor You'll fall through
q bridge or something, and then ysull
freeze to DEATH"
81 reckon it's bit risky" admitted
the farmer, "but I amt at all sure it
wouldn't be rislier not to. You see,
my wife's at Dilkport, and she's sick.
She may be dying. I've got to go to
her"
An expression Of sympathy came up
on the conductors face, and that of the
salesman took on sudden gravity.
"There are certain circumstances"
| the farmer continued in explanation,
(which make it more important that |
should see her than you might natural
ly think from the plain fact of her be-
ing sick. haven't treated her just
right, to tell the truth. I've been stu
pid and unreasonable. We were mar
ried only year ago. | won her away
from three or four other fellows. Any
one Of 'em would have made her n
better husband than me. Funny how
such things go. amt it,"
ITS blooming queer old world
said the conductor. nodding his head
sagely.
"And the lueerest things in 1t are
girls" added the salesman in the tone
of an authority.
ave were married at Dilliport where
she was raised. and we went to my
farm to live. We were happy as could
be for maybe six months. and then
noticed that something was wrong
with her. \ sort Of cloud come over
her. 1t was nothing but homesickness,
l s'pose. but couldn't see it any other
way than that she was sorry she'd
married me. And one day happened
to find a sheet Of paper-a part of
letter she'd been writing-that had
dropped from her portfolio, and read
It. There weren't many words on the
sheet. The first one was 'disappoint-
ed ending a sentence she'd begun on
the sheet that went before. And then
it said: 1T is not as had pictured 1t.
I wish to go home And right there
it ended. I said nothing to her. l
didn't think 1t was necessary to have
scene, as they call it. But was hurt
hurt clean to the core-and in trying
to cover up my feelings s'pose was
unkind, maybe cruel. After two or
three days Of brooding l got into
regular bad state. told her she'd
better 90 home to her folks; that I'd de-
cided we weren't made for each other.
When she tried to put her arms about
my neck, wouldn't let her. When
she asked for my reasons, l told her
she knew well enough and turned my
back. I was an unnatural, unrason-
able brute"
Correct" said the conductor frank
ly.
"Well, she went. For four months
I've been bachlng 1t on the farm. grow
ing crabbider every day, and this morn
ing 1 happened to meet young chap in
the store at Pepperdock that knows
my wife's folks. He lives at Dilkport
when he isn't travelling around the
country selling things.