Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-12-23
CHAPTER III.-lContinued.l

gaping, found himself foot-loose for a
time in the Marlboro rotunda while his
father talked with a man who wanted
to bargain for the entire output of the
Paradise furnace by the year. The COM
mercial transaction touched him light
ly; but the moving groups, the import
ed bell-boys, the tesselated floors, fres-
coed ceiling and plush covered furni-
ture-these bit deeply. Could this be
South Tredegar, the place that had
hitherto figured chiefly to him as
court day" town and the residence of
his preacher uncle? 1t seemed hugely
incredible.
After the conference with the iron
buyer they crossed the street to the
railway station; and again Thomas
Jefferson was footloose while his faith
er was closeted with some one in the
managers office.
An express train, with kissing air.
brakes, Solomon gnificent sleeping
cars, and a locomotive large enough to
swallow whole the small affair that
used to bring the once-a-day train
from Atlanta, had just backed in, and
the boy took its royal measure with
eager and curious eyes, walking slowly
up one side of it and down the other.
AT the rear of the string of Pull
mans was a private car, with deep
observation platform, much polished
brass railing, and sundry other luxuri-
GUS appointments, apparent even to the
eye of unsophistication. Thomas JEFF
ferson spelled the name in the medal
lion, "Psyche"-spelled 1t without try
ing to pronounce it-and then turned
his attention to the people who were
1IAw, I'D 81
and grouping themselves under the di-
rection of tall man who reminded
Thomas Jefferson Of his Uncle Silas
with an indescribable something left
out of his face.
AS was about to say, General, this
station building is one of the relics.
You mustn't judge South Tredegar-
our new South Tredegar-by this Eh
II beg your pardon, Mrs. Vanadam?
oh, the hotel? 1t il just across the
street, and a very good house; remark
ably good, indeed, all things consider
ed. In fast, we're quite proud of the
Marlboro"
One of the younger women smiled.
How enthusiastic you are, Mr.. Far
ley. / thought we had outgrown all
that-We moderns"
could know what we have to be enthu-
siastic about down here! Why, these
mountains we've been passing through
for the last six hours are simply SO
many vast treasure houses, coal at the
top, iron at the bottom, and enough Of
both to keep the worlds industries CO.
Ing for ages There's millions in
thsml"
Thomas Jefferson overheard without
understanding, but his eyes served a
better purpose. Away back in the line
Of the Scottish Gordons there must
have been an ancestor with the seer's
gift of insight. and some drop or two
OF his blood had come down 10 this
sober-faced country boy searching the
faces of the excursionists for his cue
Of fellowship or antipathy.
For the sweet-voiced young woman
called Miss Elleroy there was love at
first sight. For a severe, beskliked
Mrs Vanadam there was awe. For the
portly General with mutton chop whis-
kers, overlooking eyes and the air Of
q dictator, there was awe, also, not
unmingled with envy. For the tall
man in the frock-coat, whose face re-
minded him of his Uncle Silas, there
had been shrinking antagonism at the
first glance-which keen first impress
sion was presently dulled and all but
effaced by the enthusiasm, the suave
tongue, and the benignant manner
Which proves that insight, like the film
OF recording camera, should have
the dark shutter snapped on It II the
picture is to be preserved.
Thomas Jefferson made way when
the party, marshaled by the enthusi-
asst, prepared for its descent on the
Marlboro. Afterward, the ROYALTIES
having departed and a good natured
porter giving him leave. he was at lib
erty to examine the wheeled palace at
near-hand, and even to climb into the
vestibule for peep inside.
Herewith, castles in the air began
to rear themselves, tower on wall.
Here was the very slzy-reachinE sum-
NIT of all things desirable; to have
ones own brass-bound hotel on
wheels; to come and go at will; to
give curt orders to a respectful and
uniformed porter, as the e-inspirins
gentleman with the mutton chop whis-
kers had done.
At the highest point on the bunch.
ed shoulder of the mountain Thomas
Jefferson twisted himself in the buggy
seat IOf = maj backward look into the
valley Of new marvels. The summer
day was grazing to it's twilight, and 6
light haze was stealing out OF the
wooded ravines and across the river
From the tall chimneys of a rolling.
mill a dense column of smoke was as.
cending, and at the psychological mo.
nent the Stag flare from an iron-fur.
mace changed the overhanginE clouC
into q fiery aegis.
Having no symbolism save that 0
Holy Writ, Thomas Jefferson's minC
seized instantly on the figure, building
far better than 1t knew. It was q new
Exodus, with its pillar Of cloud by day
and its pillar of fire by night. And
its Moses--though this, we may sup.
pose, was beyond a boys imagining
was the frenzied. ruthless spirit OF com.
mercialism, named otherwise, by the
multitude, Modern Progress.
CHAPTER ".
II you have never had the pleasure
Of meeting q Southern gentleman o.
4ha natTia rchal school despair Of