The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-02-06
EHAPTNR j.

q III WHlcu our story opens was already TWO
weeks old. II was a 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 a
change. Weather-wise folks looked mp
at the leaden sky every day, shook their
heads and said "more wet; 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 Wig
orous and lively a fashion as though it
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
Dy the tables, one could ascertain that a
train was behind time by three minutes
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 a wet
old gentleman, glittering like beetle in
his waterproof as he walked I'D and
down, under the dim gas lamps of the
station. There was railway portcr's
head peering occasionally from a half
a nd inf, Ao I.
to come forward until the glaring eyes
or the engine were seen advancing
through the miseries of the night: and
there was a short, thin, haggard scrap of
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 a 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 1t arrived at last, it came into the
station noiselessly and in a spiritless con-
dition, as though the steam were low and
the englne-driver had just buried his
wife, and only one bespotted window was
slowly lowered in a third-cIass carriage.
AZ the train glided to the platform.
From this window an ungloved hand
and arm prOtruded and unattached the
door, and then a stalwart man of four or
hye and twenty years Of age, a bright
FACED, brown-bearded man, stepped out. |
dragged forth portmanteau and q 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
IN f-uh boI
to individuals who find themselves in
places that are new to them, or have
changed much since their last farewell. |
1he guard banged the door to, the engine
gave melancholy wall, and toiled on
with It burden; the youth in corduroys sat !
up on the barrow and stared at the mort
manteau and hat box rather than at their
owner; the fy-driver, who had reused
himself, called out Carriage, STRIP" 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 a sharp, clear voice
to the porter: |
II expected carriage for me tonight"
What sort Of a carriage?"
"a private carriage from Mr.. Gull
wick's, of Sedge Hill. Do you know Mr.,
Culwick by sight, or his coachman?"
"There has been nothing here but cabs
all day--and there's nothing likely to
come now, reckon"
do you want anybody to carry your
luggage, sir" asked weak voice, and
the lad who had been doing away time
on the barrow obtruded In an edgewise
manner into the conversation. The trav-
alerd glanced at him and said.
1T is too heavy for you, my man."
mo, it isn't" said the youth with alac-
rity. I'm very strong; l have been
waiting for job all night, sir---if Won
don't mind, sir-fcr I'm very strong, I
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 a sight too long al
ready" cried the porter, land 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 I try? I'll carry 1t easily:
see nowV
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 inuuiring-
".
Where to, sir?"
'To Muddleton's Hotel"
The youth strobe into the wind and
rain, and then the traveller, after giving
tug to his cap, put his hands in the
pockets of his coat and followed his
guide across and out of the station ward,
The youth turned a corner with the Ing
gage, and the proprietor found him lean
ing against the brick wall of a house
when he had turned after him.
(which way, STRIP he inquired.
(which way" echoed the stranger:
s'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"
fx,1 ~