Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-03-22

IrOUl Mtdlu ulilS upon tnc piutloluu VI
| Oldtown station to see the last Of Il
party bound for the States.
Listlessly | sat watching and wait
Ing, when of sudden two yOkels broke
their WAY across the platform. wrench
ed open the door, blundered into my
carriage and took their places in the
farther corners. Their booriSh ways
netti:d me- The crash of hobnails upon
my fooi roused me- turned in wrath.
Permit me to say that you've come
To tn" wrong carriage, | said i'll With
ering tones This is third class, only
third Class. The firs,s are waiting for
you higher up"
No word came from the corners, not
a mov" or SIN. My blood thickened,
and | was proceeding with brutal ref
ercucp TO cattle trucks when right at
my elbow voice interrupted mine
through tiic open window.
Ned. | say. Ned, Is il ye! ie hear
me over there: Ned! | say, Ned
1t WAS bent old man, i'll gray frieze
and Il beaver hat. that spoke. Shrilly.
almost tiercely, he spoke and sent his
voice through mine across the carriage.
calling: Ned, l say, Ned"'
No answer came 10 him from either
corner. but silence might not battle his
imporiunity. Again and yet again he
called. his voice rising ticrcer and shrill-
er. and with that the youth in the OPP
poSitr corner To mine turned his heavy
face and spoke.
Cant yc see its me-" he growled,
his voice hard and sullen, his eyes
CHANGING furtively. What dye WANT
The old man craned farther into the
carriage. What are We doin' there.
Ned Brady" lie shrilled. What divil-
mcnt are We up TO now: Where are ye
goin': Answer me, sir,
"Ah. quit Yer talk an 30 home wi
ye," came back. What is it 10 yc what
I'm Gon':'
But it is to me. Isn't yer mother
wild about ye? Wouldn't she be here
this minute only for se;rchin' for ye:
What are yc doin', l say?" cried the
ancient. Then, no answer coming, he
clutched tighter at the window ami con-
tinued: Nv here were We all last night!
Why didn't We come home to us, wait
in Wonder an missin' our sleep! Shame
OH ye. Ned Brady, black shame Oh yc.
Ye've been up to no good. Yer up to no
good noN Yc blaggard. ye blassard!
Come out To Elc-cOne out, l say, be-
fore | bring the polls! Come OUT cried
the ancient in voice that blent It's
fierce trcJ!e most strangely with the
piteouS sound of the emigrantS' wall
inc lhat now came from the platform,
a heartbrcaking sound pierced through
by that passionate old voice. Come
out" it went come out, ye divil, be-
fore b.:ag the polls to yc.'
1t seemed To me. sitting there oD
servant. that ut the word the youths
face hlanchcd. Certainly lie shraAk i'll
to his corner. covered there Il moment,
then made as il 10 rise.
Hut even as Ee gathered in his feet
his con.pani0I bent forward, whisper'
cd 10 him Il woIG and turned his face.
l. was cruel face. with thin lips and
narrow black eyes. and, seeing it, the
ancient drew back and raised his
hands. "riul Cara" said he. Phil o
tine HuuHw. le too"
".Ayc-:n2 too. An what of that,
Miv,.y. IIc SOM The voice was thin
ana i;ud. cold and satiric. Sure its
not the first time ye've seen me i'll yel
life Why can't ye quit saoutin' there
like fool an 20 an bid aoodby!
"rhil q The Hollow! Goin' wi Linn!
The auc:eni drew back step, raised
hand and rubbed his eyes. Coin WI
HIM" ue repeated slowly. as If to his
inner self Coin wi him:
"Wcll. an what of that: Dye think
Iii ate Lin body an bones: BE tie
Lord. but " must be dotin' in yer QUO
age. Phil laughed harshly. "Ah
away wi sc an bid the people goodby.
Away HOW before
Comic out wi ye-come out, come
out" i..in the ancient clutched the
window and pushed i'll his face. again
broke into ShrilinesS. Yell not go
Nud Brady; ye'il not 20. There's som.
,..yl.lntnt OH foot. le've been ut dlvll'
msnl in thc night. Come home wi
me" Fiercely he drew back, turned
the door handle and made TO enter. and
Just then the whistle sounded, the ell
gine sEri2kcd. and the last glimpse
had OF liicky as the train moved away
showed him tight in the porter's arms,
with his hands raised and clinched
"Yc divil. We divil!" he cried. 'Ah. yt
divi!," His voice died out behind Il
pit;pUS Sound OF wailing. There came
Il wind rash of streaming faces alont
the platform, quick huddiinS OF OK
cited figures by the signal box, skirlS
cheers. Il mad waving of hats. then Il
sudden hush and the peace of the
brUodinS feds.
For awhile | sat humoring thought.
then settled back in my corner. brought
out Il book and across ii fell 10 oDserv
ing my companions. The two sat 81
lclt anu I'tSSiN'. ih'S "N'N e''''''N'
In peasant fashion. rough tweed coats.
corduroy trousers. heavy boots an''
peaked caps. cotton scarls. leathe.
belts: or hiE called Ned Il pair Of Knee
straps. on him called Pail pair OF
buttoned l2gaiGss. The clothes of both
were faded and worn. odorous also oil
stale peat smoke. but while Ncd's were
patcl,2d ana mud stained Phil's wert
sound and clean. nor had they altcgcth
or that quaint rusticity of cut and man
ufacture which STAMPED his companion.
as with the cry name of clodhopper.
In other ways also one differed from
the other. even in details of aspect
Nei's l.tnds We're rough and clumsy,
his stin hard and sun scorched. limbs
ungainly. face (as | had seen, and saw
even NOW. in paro heavy and boorish;
no light in Lis eyes. no animation in
voice or feature. Just Il yo:ol was Ned.
WHO hnd lot sic and wAose mind was
trochlad. With Phil. however. things