The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-06-30
WHEN BE CAME TO TOWN.


WHEN BE CAME TO TOWN.
"And you've been in the city two
weeks without knowing soul? Must
be mighty slow time you're hav-
ing?"
The keen eyed broker looked ques-
tioningly into the elder mans tanned
face.
"Yes-it isn't very exciting"
'How much more of it is there?"
"I'll get away next week, I guess.
The trials are about over"
Never before had Lawrence served
on Federal jury, and when the mar
shal's summons called him from the
farm it seemed a message of Joy.
Two or three weeks in the city and
be paid for it. Nothing to do after q
o'clock all the sights of the town at
his command-he had fairly chuckled
at the good fortune that allowed his
name to be drawn from the box. He
had not been to the city except on
flying trips with cattle, for fifteen
years.
Lawrence was easily nodded by
conditions. The round year on the
farm alternately exalted and depress-
ed him. 1t seemed that he had never
had vacation. In the local paper
he read of the banker going to the
mountains and of the physician spend
ing a month on the lakes, and now
had come his turn.
Since he left home he had been to
two shows and had ridden twenty
miles on the street cars. He had
gone up in an elevator to the top of
the highest building and had gazed
in awe at the wonders of museum.
Then he had watched the smoke roll
out over the lake front, and, as it hid
the ugly sky line, it formed for him,
instead of towering Office buildings
and 6gure-like chimneys long line
of haystacks, thrifty gabled barn, a
white farmhouse
Say, how would you like to take
in the town. s-----
1t was the broker back at his side,
peering into his face. ''It would
cheer you up and do you good. Might
as we'll have little fun in the world,
as you go along, you know"
Take in the town, the expression
was familiar. He had heard men tell
about it, but into his own sheltered
life no such experience had come. At
times, in the presence of more expert
enced companions he had known
curious shame that he was ignorant
of so much in which they seemed to
have found delight. He. was as if
outside their fraternity, an alien in
worldliness.
"A chance of lifetime, the broker
was saying. We'll do it right. Be
one of the boys once"
A chance practically the only
"chance" Lawrence ever had, for he
was diffident in seeking pleasure. Of
course, he had rioted in imagination,
he had mutinied in dreams, he had
rebelled in moments of mental restive-
ness, but in the daily walk of his busy
life he had been altogether an upright
citizen, though protesting no especial
perfection.
'I' II call for you at-where are you
stopping ?" the broker continued as
they left the cafe. "What-at that
swell place? Your taste in hotels is
all right-see you later
Lawrence was again alone in the
thronged street, knowing not one face
among the eager thousands that he
met. He had learned the city walk
he elbowed, lodged, hurried, some
how he felt more like a man of the
world already; he was about to be
initiated into the mysteries that had
come to his fellows. He halted before
his image in a mirror it showed
vigorous, athletic figure, strong with
the strength of middle youth. An,
yes-it staggered little. Zone of
the boys" that was it. The very
porter at the hotel must recognize his
bearing and understand the guests
world wisdom.
''Have to change your room, sir,
remarked the clerk, as Lawrence went
to the desk for his key. Theatrical
troupe takes your whole floor"
The clerk knew he could take liber-
ties with this guest, so modest and
self -effacing in demeanor.
Patiently Lawrence followed the
bellboy to his new location. The
furniture was luxurious, the hang
ings rich and heavy, the light daz-
zling. He was pleased with this
hotel. 1t seemed homelike to him.
He and Helen had stayed here a
week on their wedding trip, and in
stinctively he had sought the place.
They had in the bureau drawer in
their sitting room a menu card pill
fered from the dining-table and re-
ceipted bill for their accommodations,
"seven days at $3.50" He had
not looked at the scrapbook in years,
but as he entered the new room it all
came back to him-for this was differ
ent and the adornments were their
old apartment. The paper was differ
ent and the adornments were modern,
but the old-fashioned mahogany fur
niture was unchanged. He had the
old bridal chamber. Of course the
hotel did not know it as such-much
finer suites were used now.
Anything 1 can do for you, sir p
The bellboy was waiting for his tip.
Lawrence did not answer. He was