The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-01-07
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CHAPTER /.


In which our story opens was already two
weeks old 1t was late spring, the
country people said, meaning that the
hail, and sleet, and rain, and bitter east
winds were still in the ascendant, and
that there was not glimpse of sunshine
from weeks end to weeks end. Times
were hard and business was bad, and peo-
pie already crOaked about the danger
to the harvest 1t was world that shiv-
cred by the fire still, and waited for
change. Weather-wise folks looked up
at the leaden sky every day, shook their
heads and said more VET; and the wet
came down as though they had asked for
1t, and washed out the energy from
three-fourths of the humankind in Wor-
cester.
1t had been raining all day in the loyal
city, just as it had rained the day before,
and the day preceding that. 1t was rain
Ing at ten o'clock in the evening in as vig-
Orous and lively a fashion as though 1t
had just commenced, and the wind had
turned out with extra strength to add to
the dark nights discomfort. Worcester
had lost heart and given up and gone to
bed, and at the railway station, where,
by the tables, one could ascertain that a
train was behind time by three minutes,
there was a faint semblance of life, nore
depressing than the elements. There was
one fly, with its driver asleep in the in
terror of his vehicle, and its drabby horse
coughing like a man. There was n wet
old gentleman, glittering like a beetle in
his waterproof as he walked up and
down, under the dim gas lamps of the
station. There was a railway portcr's
head peering occasionally from half
open door, and declining to allow its body
to come forward until the glaring eyes
OF the engine were seen advancing
through the miseries of the night; and
there was short, thin, haggard scrap of
a youth, in tattered corduroys and red
comforter, curled up on a porter's truck,
and sleeping placidly.
The train that was overdue was not
calculated to rouse the officials into en-
ergy. 1t came from dull, dead branch
line, and was going on to Gloucester; it
was not likely to land many travellers or
take up many at that hour of the night
When it arrived at last, it came into the
station nOiselessly and in a spirtless con-
dition, as though the steam were low and
the engine-driver had just buried his
wife, and only one bespotted window was
slowly lowered in a third-class carriage,
as the train glided to the platform.
From this window an ungloved hand
and arm protruded and unlatched the
door, and then stalwart man of four or
FIVE. and twenty years of age, a bright
faced, brown-bearded man, stepped out,
dragged forth a portmanteau and hat
box, stood aside to allow of the brisk en-
trance Of the man In the shiny water
proof, and looked around him in that
half-sharp, half-vague manner common
to individuals who find themselves in |
places that are new to them, or have
changed much since their last farewell. |
The guard banged the door to, the engine |
gave a melancholy wall, and toiled ON |
with 1t burden; the youth in corduroys sat
up on the barrow and stared at the port
manteau and hat box rather than at their |
owner; the hy-driver, who had reused |
himself, called out Carriage, sir?" and |
not receiving response, cut the coughing |
horse viciously under the chin with his
whip and drove off at full speed.
The traveller, after a hasty glance at |
the sky, called out in sharp, clear voice |
to the porter:
II expected a carriage for me tonight"
"What sort of a carriageT
"a private carriage from Mr.. Cul- |
wick's, of Sedge Hill. Do you know Mr..
Culwick by sight, or his coachmanP
"There has been nothing here but cabs
all day-and there's nothing likely to
come now, l reckon"
''Do you want anybody to carry your
luggage, sir?" asked a weak voice, and
the lad who had been doing away time
on the barrow obtruded in an edgewise
manner into the conversation. The trav-
elerd glanced at him and said:
1T is too heavy for you, my man."
''No, it isn't" said the youth with alac-
rity. "I'm very strong; l have been
waiting for a job all night, sir--if you
don't mind, sir-for I'm very strong, l
am, indeedw
The eagerness of the request, the reiter-
alton of his powers, the contrast which
his words presented to his white cheeks.
and eager dark eyes, attracted anew the
attention of the gentleman for whom no
carriage had arrived, before the railway
porter turned upon the applicant.
"You get out of this, young shaver;
you've been here sight too long al
ready" criGS the porter, "and I've had
my hi on you these two hours. It's no
use your hanging about as if"
The boy covered for an instant, and
then turned quickly on the man.
And I'm very strong SIR" he urged
again; may l tryH III carry it easily;
see noww
The portmanteau was raised and flung
upon his shoulder, the other hand caught !
up the leather hat box and the white |
face looked round the burden inquiring-
ly.
Where to, sir9"
'To Muddleton's Hotel"
The youth strobe into the wind and |
rain, and then the traveller, after giving |
a tug to his cap, put his hands in the |
pockets of his coat and followed his |
guide across and out of the station yard. |
The youth turned a corner with the lug
gage and the proprietor found him lean |
ing against the brick wall of house |
when he had turned after him.
(which way, sirT" he inquired.
(which way" echoed the stranger;
"why, straight along there. Don't you
know the wayF
Cont say that | know much about |
hotels-I haven't been at this kind of |
work a great while, sir"
How long?" inquired the traveller,
somewhat curiously.
"Three hours and a half"
Come, that's perseverance, If we take |
the weather into consideration. You are |
the lad to make your way In the world. |
in good time. Three hours and a half /
What have you been doing before thisY'
Nothing particular"
The lad trudged on. He wavered more
in his gait, and splashed the legs Of his
companion with superfiuous mud and |
water; and the man walked by his side. /
studying the roadway and unObseryant of
the failing efforts Of the weak boy whom
he had intrusted with a heavy task.
who are you, boyT he said, without
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