Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-01-16
Through a
Nickel
BY F. A. mitchell

into seat opened q pOrtemonnaie and
poked among cards. samples and other
things. first carelessly, then eagerly
and finally despairingly.
Two" l said, holding out my ten
cent piece to the conductor.
So unconscious was she of my very
presence that she supposed l was with
another and paying the fare for both
She told the conductor that she had
spent all her money unknowingly and
if he would stop the car she would get
out. The conductor looked at my dime.
How many?" he asked.
Two" said |.
where's the other one?"
1.-TWO" | repeated dOggedly.
An idea struck him suddenly. If /
were fool enough to permit him to ring
up two fares he need not bother about
the lady's deficiency-his accounts
would 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 esDe-
cially thus invested is not worthy of
consideration"
1T is not the nickel; it is the prin-
ciple."
There are principles and principles.
1t is a principle that a 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 it 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 it for a
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"
"Not at ALL 1t is who am incurring
these obligations"
How so?" She brought those two
wonderful eyes of hers to bear on me.
First by permitting stranger to
spend temporarily in your behalf
coin-only one-twentieth in value of
what he would offer waiter as a 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
waiving your right to send it 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-
CATION under which you have placed
me. But your argument falls to pieces
like the wonderful one boss shay that
broke down all at once. admit that
your motives are unimpeachable, but
Notwithstanding the brilliancy of your
logic there remains the bare fact that
you have conferred favor on a stran-
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-
ger!"
She smiled again. this time more
amused than before.
so much ingenuity, so much gal
lantry." she said. 80 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
pencil. She wrote her address on
the card and handed both card and
pencil to me.
. Thank you very much" said.
l 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 deferentially 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
like forcing an acquaintance. And
yet, though | had not intended to
force an acquaintance, | had intended
TO leave no stone unturned to bring
one about l had succeeded in learn.
ing the lady's name and address. but
how could | proceed further without
indelicacy or even presumption?
little thought showed me that |
held the key to the situation. had no
difficulty in learning who the lady
was. After had discovered this |
hunted for mutual acquaintance. |
found one who chilled me by inform
ing me that the object of my admira
ton came of the best of stool; INTEL
lectually and otherwise. and | was not
given much encouragement TO hope
that ! could aspire even to an ac-
quaintance. However. was accorded
an introduction and received grncious.
ly. Eventually gained more than
this-the lady herself who is now nv
wife. have often asked her how II
was that won her. and she gives me
the invarlable reply: