Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-01-12
CHAPTER 1.

country people said, meaning that tn
hail, and sleet, and rain, and bitter cas-
winds were still in the ascendant, an
that there was not a glimpse of sunshin
from weeks end to weeks end. Time
were hard and business was bad, and pee
pie already croaked about the DANCE
to the harvest. 1t was world that shiv
cred by the fire still, and waited for
change. Weather-wise folks looked nj
at the leaden sky every day, shook thei
heads and said more wet"; and the we
came down as though they had asked fo
it, and washed out the energy from
three-fourths of the humankind in Wor
cester.
1t had been raining all day in the loya
city, just as it had rained the day before
and the day preceding that. 1t was II ain
ipg at ten o'clock in the evening in as Wig
orous and lively a fashion as though j,
had just. commenced, and the wind haG
turned out with extra strength to add tG
the dark nights discomfort. Worcester
had lost heart and given up and gone te
bed and at the railway station, where
by the ia ables. one could ascertain that q
train was behind time by three minutes
there was faint semblance of life, more
depressing than the elements. There was
one fly, with its driver asleep in the in
terror of his vehicle, and it's drabby horse
coughing like a man. There was wet
old gentleman, glittering like beetle in
his waterproof as he walked up and
down, under the dim gas lamps of the
station. There was a railway porter 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
youth, in tattered corduroys and a 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 spiritless con-
dition, as though the steam were low end
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,
ive and twenty years of age, bright
faced, brown-bearded man, stepped out,
dragged forth a portmanteau and a 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 melancholy wall, and toiled on
with it 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 fy-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 a sharp, clear voice
to the porter:
II expected a carriage for me tonight"
What sort of 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, 1 reckon"
DO you want anybody to carry your
luggage, sirT asked a weak voice, and
the lad who had been doing away time
manner into the conversation. The trav-
elerd glanced at him and said:
"It is too heavy for you, my man."
HNo II isn't ~ sold tho youth with
rity. I'm. very strong; I have been
waiting for job all night, sir-if you
don't mind. sir-for I'm very strong,
am, indeedw
The eagerness of the request, the reiter-
alton of his powers, the contrast which
his wsrds presented to his white cheeks,
and eager, dark eyes, attracted anew the
attention of the gentleman for whom no
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 Pm very strong, SIR" he urged
again: may I try? I'll carry it easily;
see nowp' So.
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 inquirinS-
". -.,s
Where to, sir?"
ITO sMuddleton's Hotel"
The geSth-strode 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
ng against the brick wall of house |
when he had turned after him.
(which way, sir?" he inquired.
(which way" echoed the stranger;
why, straight along there. Don't you
know the way?."
Cont say that I know much about
lotelsI haven't been at this kind Of
work great while, SIR"
How long?' inquired the traveller,
omewhat curiously.
Three hours and half"
Come, that's perseverance, II we take
he weather into consideration. You are
he lad to make your way In the world,
n good time. Three hours and half.