Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-12-23

mentally resolved that lust as soon as
the lazy engine dragging me toward
nome mad poked its smutty nose into
the selvage of my native state, I
would disembark, lift my voice and
Shout for JOY for being safely deliv-
cred out of land OF perpetual strang-
ers.
ms opportunity was afforded me AT
Union Gty-a fussy old-hen-of-a-town
forever clucking over it's little brood
OF railroads, as though worried to see
them running over the line, and brist-
ling with the importance Of its charge.
Inc place Is not an attractive one
as one steps from the train in the early
DUSK OF a December evening; in fact,
the immediate view Of the town is al
most entirely concealed by a big
square-faced hotel. standing, as it
were, on the very platform, as though
lts runners" were behind time, and IL
mao come down to solicit its own GUS
TOM. walk of sixty steps, however,
gave me a sweeping view of the main
business street Of the city; and here
IL was, by one of those rare freaks Of
circumstance, that l suddenly found |
myself standing face to face with an
Ola friend. Smith" said l. Cor |
rect! said he, and all lacking to COM |
piete the tableau was the red light
ana now, as my story has more TO do
WIN more remarkable man than
eitner smith or myself, shall hasten
- TO that nOtable-only introducing hum
bier personageS as necessity demands
mat night was Dragging. buster
ing, bullying sort of night. The wind
was mad-stark, staring mad running
over ana around the town, bowling and
"hooplng Ike maniac. 1t whirled
ana Whizzed, and wheeled about and
"hizzed again. Ii pelted the pedestri- .
ans lace with dust that stunp lilo ,
sieet. 1t wrenched at the signs and
ratified the doors and windows nm tho
Hgnts inside shivered as with af- ,
Iright. The unfurled awnings fiuttered r
anu mapped over the deserted streets :
iihe monstrous bats or birds of prev.
anu gritnng their iron teeth, the sbut q
ters iunged and snapped at their fas- =
Jennings conVulSively. Such q might q
as we like to hide away from. and with
a good cigar, good friend and q good :,
re' taik OF soothing things and dream. p,
NY friend and / were not so isolated /,
however, 2ls0n this occasion: for the :,
ri9a'l,pins'S OF the storm had driven :,
" asefrse-sinto Bowers Empori- =,
UNI anu seated in the rear Of the :,
spacious and brightly illuminated store =,
we might almost dream we "dwelt in g.
marble halls" were 1t not for the nth :,
II pro1use display of merchandise and
voiuminous complement of show -,
,ards. reading Bargains in Over
'oats' Best and Cheapest Under q,
year. Buy Bowers Boots :" etc. %
Inc clerks were all idle and emplov. p,
ng their leisure in listening 70 a "6ne- m
'rt conversation, casually introduced ne
y my friends remarking the extraor-
linary development of the bust and G,
mus Of danseuse on a paper collar w,
,ox; and after deploring the prostitu.
ION 10 which real talent was subject. Nv,
o. ana sadrizing the general deeen. -,
racy OF modern art, he had drifted 20
ack TO the rare old days of Hans Ho,. ~,
EN- Albert Durer, and that guild. And ON
nile dwelling enthusiastically upon We
ne genius Of Angelo, 1 became aware 20
nat among the listeners was a re. ,h,
larkaoIe man. 1t was not his fipure e.
'at impressed me, for that was of the ~,
rdinary mold. and rather shabbily at. - -
req 10 tattered and ill-ittinp coat 90,
olue, sadly faded and buttonless . 49,
lortwaisted vest Of no particular nat tbe
rn' fastened together by means Of a Oh,
osened loop Of binding pulled :
'rougn q outtonhole. and held 10 ITS en-
ace by stumpy leadpencil with a a,.,
'eponderance Of rubber at the end.
9 pantaloons very baggy and frayine or,
fne bottoms, as though In excessive So.
mpathy with a pair of coarse nm
my army shoes that wore the an. mo'
arance OF having been through Sher. ; .ua
ans march to the sea. ,ni'
NOT remarkable. say, In these mr. o.
ulars, Tor since "tramping" has ar. Ton
'ed at the dignity Of a profession oro
en- characteristics are by no means 49,,
common; but when taken in con. tho,
ienon with a head and face that az
ula nave served as model for either mn,
raham. Isaac or Jacob, In patriarch. a
cast OF feature and flow of beard r. upo'
no wonder that my fancy saw In the 81 .ne
ure oerore me remarkable man ,nsl
$1,000 uncovered. and in an eager I'M. nnu
'ening attitude, as though drinking M
nv syllable to the very dregs. His prov or
: were large and lustrous. and ..Ir
y tnat dreamy. far-off look peculiar
described oven -. sees what enfe
upeian ruins nv 49, ouiieu I'D dimr
Is of Eeynt o'e pyra- minC
lie met INV ro.h of d.
q friendly and forgiving exnres. ene
y, an fntuitive affinity bv a iana.
ting OF the palms one within the W.
er and a genial friction indicat,vo VII
warm impulse and openness. vet n.y., nno'
Aai suggesting due subservience O... -.
ny own VIII to accept the same "a at al
|. "u auinira- tary
tbouybt the e
ancying, Here is a man of more So,
ordinary culture and refinement So.
4 determined. II 1t were possible tnou,
now MIN better, When 7 to,k ~,