Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-12

cars, Darely missing croWdeQ pa9eon. q ger trains whose bells struck clear and fthen flatted as the trains flew by; de- filing by narrow waterways, crowded | with small shipping; winding through streets lined with high, gloomy ware ' houses, amid the clang and chatter, the strangely sounding bells and whistles of a thousand industries, each sending up its just contribution of black smoke to the pail that lay always spread above; and steaming at last into a great roomy shed where all was sys- l tenn, and where the big engine trem- bled and panted as if ip relief at hav- ing run in safety gahtlet so hazard ous.
 I Anyway, I'd rather live in Montana City than Chicago" ventured Mrs. Zines.
 l Whatever pride you may feel in your discernment is amply justified, 2 replied her son, performing before the amazed lady bow that indicated the lowest depths of slavish deference. T am now" he continued, going out to pace the floor of this locomotive boudoir for few exhilarating breaths of smoke, and pretend to myself that I've got to live in Chicago forever. A little discipline like that is salutary to keep one from forgetting the great l blessing which a merciful Providence has conferred upon one"
 I'll walk bit with you" said his sister, donning her jacket and a cap.
 Lest my remarks have seemed in determinate, madam" sternly contin- ued Percival at the door of the car, permit me to add that if Chicago were Heaven should at once enter upon a life of crime. Do not anect to misun- derstand me, I beg of you. I should leave no avenue of salvation open to my precious soul should incur no risk of being numbered among the saved should be bad, and I should sit up nights to invent new ways of evil. If had any leisure left from being as wicked as I could be, should devote it to teaching those loved how to become abandoned. should doubt less issue pamphlet, How to Merit Perdition Without Master. Learn to | Be Wicked in Your Own Home in Ten Lessons. Instructions Sent Securely Sealed from Observation. Thousands of Testimonials from the Most Accom- plished Reprobates of the Day I trust that you will never again so far forget yourself as to utter that word Chi cago' in my presence. If you feel that you must give way to the evil impulse, go off by yourself and utter the name behind the protection of closed doors where this innocent girl cannot hear you. Come, sister Otherwise may behave in manner to be regretted in my calmer moments. Let us leave the woman alone, now. Besides, I've got to go out and help the hands make up that New York train. You never can tell. Some horrible accident might happen to delay us here 30 minutes. Cheer up, ma; it's always darkest just before leaving Chicago, you know"
 Thus flippantly do some of the younger sons of men blaspheme this metropolis of the mid-west-a city the creation of which is, by many persons of discrimination. held to be the chief romance and abiding miracle ot-, the nineteenth century. M ! Let us rejoice that one such partisan was now at hand to stem the torrent of abuse. As Percival held back the door for his sister to pass out, a stout little ruddy-faced man with trim gray sidewhiskers came quickly up the steps and barred their way with cheery az gressiveness.
 "Ah! Mir. Higbee-well, well!" ex- claimed Percival, cordially.
 Thought it might be some of you folks when I saw the car" said Hig- bee, shaking hands all around.
 And Mrs. Zines, too! and the girl, looking like a Delaware peach when the crops failed How's everybody, and bow long you going to be in the goodt told town?"
 "Ah! we were just speaking of Chi cago as you came in" said Percival, blandly. Isn't she great old town, though--a wonder!"
 My hoy" said Higbee. in low. sol emn tones that came straight from his heart, "she gets greater every day you live. You can see her at it, fairly. How long since you been here?"
 "I came through last June, you know, after I left your yacht at New port"
 Yes, yes; to be sure; so you did poor Daniel J.-but say, you wouldn't know the town now if you haven't seen it since then. Why, I run over from New York every 30 days or so and she grows out of my ken every time. like five-year-old boy. Say. I've got Mrs. Higbee up in the New York sleeper. but if you're going to be here spell we'll stop a few days longer and I'll drive you around-what say? packing houses-Lake Shore drive Lincoln park
 He waited, glowing confidently. as one submitting irresistible temptations. { Percival beamed upon him with moist eyes.
 By love, Mir. Higbeel that's clever of you-it's royal. Sis and I wosld like nothing better7but you see my roor mother here is Almost down with nervous prostration and we've got to hurry her to New York without an hours delay to consult a specialist We're afraid'-he glanced anxiously at