The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-10-12
All Through a
Nickel
5l[C1oPNnNt
BY F. A. Mitchell

& 1t seemed to me it was blaze o
glory that passed me.
i Coming to a cross street, she stoo
waiting for a trolley car. l waite,
directly behind her, and when she Ell
: tered it l entered too. She droppe,
into seat, opened portemonnaie ant
poked among cards. samples and othe
things. first carelessly, then eagerl.
and finally despairingly.
Two" | said, holding out my tel
cent piece to the conductor.
So unconscious was she of my YER
spresence that she supposed | was witt
fAnother and paying the fare for both
sShe told the conductor that she hat
If he would stop the car she would re
out The conductor looked ut my dime
How many?' he asked.
"Two," said |.
where's the other one?"
"Two," | repeated d0ggedly.
An idea struck him suddenly If
were fool enough to permit him to ring
up two fares he need not bother about
sthe lady's deficiency-his accounts
twould come out square. But the lady
was not so obtuSe.
THANK you very much" she said
KINDLY give me an address where
can pay the debt
There is no debt. A nickel espe-
cially thus invested Is not worthy of
consideration.
1T is not the nickel; it is the prin.
ciple."
81 There are principles and principles.
1t is principle that gentleman who
acts so as to require lady to commu-
nicate with him should send to her in
stead of permitting her to send to him.
1t is your right to insist on payment
of the loan. but 1t is my part as a
gentleman to send for the nickel"
1t was evident that her mind was
not used to considering such trivial
matters. | could understand her solv-
ing mathematical problem, writing a
book, criticising work of art, but not
catching the true inwardness of my
argument. She puzzled over 1t for
few moments, then said
You are inclined to sophistry. In
stead of permitting me to get rid Of
an obligation you would impose upon
me another"
mot at all. 1t is | who am mourning
these obligations"
How so?" She brought those two
wonderful eyes of hers to bear on me.
First by permitting a stranger to
spend temporarily in your behalf a
commonly one-twentieth In value of
what he would offer waiter us tip
you are comforting on him a very
great honor. besides pleasure. In the
second place. If you permit him to
send for the amount of the loan. thus
waving your right to send 1t to him
yourself, you honor him still more and
he has the exquisite pleasure of having
saved you trouble"
A faint smile dawned upon her lips.
Il have certainly derived pleasure
from your ingenuity" she said. after
brief thought. which is another obli I
CATION under which you have placed I
me. But your argument falls TO pieces !
like the wonderful one boss shay that !
broke down all at once. ! admit that
your motives are unimpeacha Bile, but /
Notwithstanding the brilliancy of your
logic there remains the bare fact that /
ger and refuse TO permit that stranger
TO discharge the obligation"
"Ah, but | have not declined to ac-
cept favor at the hands Of the stran-
gerr'
She smiled again. this time more
amused than before.
so much ingenuity. so much gal
lantry," she said. so delicately ex-
pressed must needs gain your point for
you
Inserting her gloved thumb and fin
ger into her portemonnaie she drew out
a card and hesitated ! handed her
a pencil. She wrote her address on
the card and handed both card and
pencil to me.
Thank you very much" / said.
I realized that the time for me TO
make my exit had come. and. turning
to look out through the window. press
ed the button. and when the car stop
ped. raising my hat deferenually TO
the lady. left the car.
So far. so good. thought over our
brief dialogue and could not think Of
anything had said that would look
ike forcing an acquaintance. And
ret. though had not intended 70
force an acquaintance. I had intended
n leave no stone unturned 10 bring
me about I had succeeded In learn !
ne the lady's name and address. but q
low could I proceed further without
or even presumptions
A little thought showed me that
ed the key 70 the situation. had no
ll6cultT In learning who the LADY {