A Story Of A Quarter

"I gave you a quartcr, sir," said an clderly wornan with an acid smilo recently, as she glanccd through her jlasses at au oíd sea captain who had ust deposited her fare in the cash box of a Madison avenue stage. He starled ip and rushed to the box just in time to see the quarter disappear through the rap. He turned around in confusión and said that he dida'tnoticethenioney and that he thought it was all right. Thcn he hammered at the glass openng for the driver, and asked for twenty cents in change, but the driver wanted o know how he was going to get down nto the box and set out the cmarter. 3(5 was sure he wasn't going to pay it out of hïs own pocket, and trust to luck ;o get it back from the companj. If ;he passenger wantod it she could go to ;he ofliee and get it. The old mariner sa'ul, "Blast your eyes, if yon be so mean, l'll pay for my nistake," and he began to íish in his )ockets for t Je money, while the woman ooked liko a picture of injured in nocense, and asked another passenger in a bitter tone of voice if the one who had :aken her quarter was not connected with tho eompany. "Me?" exclaimedthehonest old blunderer, whose confusión was increasing jecause he could not find his change. 'Bless you I don't belong on land. l'll pay you back this money, though, but t don't believe I' ve got a cent.' He completed his vain search, and pioking out un oíd memorandum book, xsked her for her name and address, saying that he would cali there that night and leavc the money. Oh, never 'mind, said sho in a mincing way; "it only teaches me alesson. Hereafter I'll pay my own fare." "Oh, I'll bring you the money, mama I just happen to be out of it now," anc he placed the memorandum book upon his knee and said politely, "What's the name? I'll get the money to you." "Oh, well, she said, "let it go. It's all right. l've learned a lesson. l'l pay my own fare hereafter " t_' lx . l l . . ï -. - sM 1 j- i i-t -" ■■ -V 1 4' "■ -i ï jV I 4-1-h íjíikí íupcatcu tilia scYciai liiiico vvilu an air of ene who knew she had been swindled, and wanted others to know ít The oíd Captain, vvitli ílushed cheeks, asked again for her name, and she at length gave it, buf :is a partingshot, repeated that she had learned a lesson. 'Well, ma'am,' he said, 'I am ready to make all amends, but I get a lesson too; and while I'm not a savinw what it is so much. I'vc got it all the same.1 A pretty young woman, with eyes that began to snap beneath the shade of a big fur hat, could not repress her delight at this, and she said, in the softest tone of voice, to the old Captam, 111 teil you, sir, what to do. We'll collect all the fares that come into the stage nour untill we make up this sum, and that will save you fnrther trouble. The old Captain took off his hat and lookcd volumes óf thanks. He was too hapyy to speak, and he kept an eage lookont. Here's one coming." he said The stage stopped, and a well-dressei woman got in and opened a seal-skin purse. The young girl explained wha had happened, and the new passenge said, 'why, certainly.' Five cents wen into the purse of the woman with ar acid smile. 'Fifteen cents more now, said the old Captain, shaking his head 'and we' re safe.' He sighted two mor passengors; and his glee increased.Thej both laughed heartily in sympathy wit the joy of the old Captain, as he sa his debfc decreased to live cents. Th remainder was soon collected fron another passenger, and tinally the in jured woman ilighted without a soften ed alance or a courtesv. Th old Captain lookud aiter her and said, 'That wor astress of weather. I didn't go to do it but I'd got her money to her this night, I didn't teil her the lesson I learneü but I hope she'llrememberthat one slie learned me. There was a laugh, and as the young woman whó iirst suggested the way out of the diflicnlty was abont to leavc, she smiled a good-bye at the hearty old marmer and lie took ofi' his hat and said, 'Thank you, miss. ïhen he leaned over and said in a hoarse voice to a man sitting opposite: "What a dinerenee there is 'awixt wornen: wonderful ain't it. a. - ,