The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-15
The Release
Of No. 2OI
BY DAVID n. TAlMADGE
Copyright, 1901. by ID. H. Talmadge

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 made for such a contingency be-
cause the branch, sheltered by trees
and bluffs, had been considered proof
against such misfortune. The engi-
neer. who had been on the run for
twenty years. was too astonished for
words when the small locomotive
failed to cut the drift into which IL
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 a farmer. He
wore baggy. shiny black suit. and his
white collar was attached to a ging-
ham shirt by white bone button.
sewed with black thread. His appear
ance was enhanced by carefully
trimmed shock of hair and whiskers.
The commercial salesman had arisen
when the train stopped and had walk
ed to the door.
~ guess" he remarked after a min
ute, ''that we're stalled"
He whistled a popular melody as he
walked down the aisle and noted with
some amusement that the other man
was clutching the back OF 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-cntw the other stam-
mered. Say. do you mean that we're
stuckT
That's 1t exactly. Here's the con-
ductor now"
The conductor slammed the door vi.
ciously and shook the snow from his
cap. Were up against It, gentlemen"
he announced in disgust. 'The con-
founded teakettle is dying like a sick
pig out there I'm a drift no bigger'n q
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 tonightT'
asked the farmer anxiously. looking al
his watch.
That's the size of 1t. AS we're uI
here on this pea vine the section mer
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. Il s'pose Il
might. but don't see how II could be
much worse for me-"
He picked up an oyershoe.
you see." he explained. fastenin;
the buckle, "I've got IA particular en-
gagement tonight up at D:lkpcrt. ant
If the train amt going I've got to hoo
IT."
He put on the other shoe and rose
reaching for the wolfs.sin coat whicl
dangled from one end OF the parce
holder. The conductor and the siles
man contemplated him In astonish
ment.
L .
said the conductor. you'll fall througl
a bridge or something. and then you'l
freeze to DEATH"
81 reckon tits n bit risky" admitte
the farmer. but amt at all sure !
wouldn't be riskier not to. You see
my wife's mt Dilkport. and she's sicl
She may be dying. I've got to go I
her"
An expression of sympathy came uI
on the conductors face. and that of tn
salesman took on a sudden gravity.
"There are certain circumstances.
the farmer continued I'm explanation
: (which EREe 1t more important that
should see her than you might natura
! ly think from the plain fact OF her b,
ing sick. | haven't treated her ju.
right, to tell the truth. I've been stl
pid and unreasonable. We were maj
ried only a year ago. ] won her ava
from three or four other fellows. An
one of 'em would have made her
better husband than me. Funny ho'
such things go. amt it,"
II Its a blooming queer old world
said the conductor, nodding his hea
sagely.
"And the queerest things in IT al
girls" added the salesman in the tor
{ Of an authority.
I'VE We're married at Dilkport. whel
she was raised, and we went to m
farm to live. We were happy as cou
be for maybe six months. and then
, noticed that something was wroI
with her. A sort of cloud come ov,
{ her. 1t was nothing but homesicknes
. l s'pose but I couldn't see 1t any 9th
J. way than that she was sorry she
married me. And one day l happens
to find n sheet Of paper-a part Of
: letter she'd been writing-that hs
dropped from her portfolio, and l res
q il. There weren't many words on Il
sheet. The first one was 'disappoir
ed ending n sentence she'd begun {
>, the sheet that went before. And tn,
g il said: 1t Is not as I had pictured
o I wish to go home And right the
e il ended. said nothing to her.
didn't think IL was necessary to have
scene. rs they call 1t. But l was hurt
N hurt clean TO the core-and in tryil
,e TO cover up my feelings | s'pose | W
IL unkind. maybe cruel. After two
Is three days of brooding l got into
IN regular bal state. told her she
n. better go home to her folks: that I'd
cided we weren't made for each 9th,
When she tried TO put her arms abo
my neck. wouldn't let her. VIII
she asked for my reasons. l told
sbe knew well enough and turned 4