The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-06-28
CHAPTER II. lContinued.l

coat there. Inc porter was puhhHS
like a donkey-engine, and mutlny was
growing in his heart. His last com
mission was the hanging up OF the
bowler hat.
He stood on the arm of the seat TO
reach the high hook. From here ne
1aused to glare down with an attempt
al irony.
rs they anything else?'
NO. You may get down"
The magnificent patronage OF this
wilted the porter completely. He re-
turned to the lower level. and shut
tied along the aisle in trance. he
was quickly recalled by sharp:
"Pawtah!"
"Yassah"
What time does this bally train
start?"
"Ten-thutty, sab
But it's only ten now
"Yassah. It'll be ten-thutty lit
tie later"
do you mean to tell me that I've
got to sit hyah for half an hour-tust
waitin'?"
The porter essayed another bit OF
irony:
Well" he drawled, Il might tell
the conducta you're ready. And meb-
be he'd start the train. But the time
| table says ten-thutty."
He watched the effect OF his satire,
but 1t fell back unheeded from the
granite dome of the Englishman,
whose only comment was:
oh, never mind. I'll wait"
The porter cast his eyes up In de-
spair, and turned away, once more to
be recalled
oh, pawtah!"
"Yassah"
II think Wen put on my slippahs.
will WEI" (
"You might hand me that large bag
No, stupid, the othah one. You might
open it. No, it's in the othah one. All
that's 1t. You may set it down"
Mr.. Wedgewood brought forth a
soft cap and pair Of red slippers
The porter made another effort to
escape, his thoughts as black as his
face. Again the relentless recall:
"Oh. pawtah, | think we'll unbuttor
my boots"
He was too weak to murmur Vas
sah." He simply fell on one knee
and got to work.
There was a witness to his helpless
rage-a newcomer, the American
counterpart of the Englishman in al
that makes travel difficult for the tel
low travellers. Ira Lathrop was zeal
Gus to resent anything short Of per
lection, quick and loud Of complaint
apparently impossible to please.
In everything else he was the op
posite of the Englishman. He wa
burly. middle-aged, rough. careless II
attire, careless OF speech--as uncoutl
and savage as one can well be who i
|
1t was not enough that a freeborl
Afro-American should be caught knee
ing to an Englishman. But when b
had escaped this penance, and ad
vanced Hospitality to the newcome!
. he must be greeted with snarl
Say, are you the porter of this cal
or that mans nurse"
IL can't tell yet. What's yo' nun
ba. please?"
The answer was the ticket.
"Numba sem. Heah she is, boss
. Right next to lot Of women, 4
= bet. Couldn't you put me In the men
end of the carr"
Not ve'y well. sub. reckon tn
cab Is done sold out"
With a growl Of rage, Ira Lathro
slammed into the seat his entire han
baggage, one ancient and rusty valiss
The porter gazed upon him with il
creased depression. The passenge
list had opened inauspiciously wit
0 two of the worst types of traveller
the Anglo-SaXon race has deyelope,
But their anger was not their wors
trait In the porters eyes. He was, I
limited way, an expert in huma
character.
When you meet stranger you r,
veal your own character in what 20
ask about his. With some. the iirs
question is. Who are his people
With others. What has he achieved
With others, How much is be worth
Each gauges his cordially accordin
. to his estimate.
The porter vas not curious on an