The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-08-04

IOOkeu ABOUT me 10 ascertain tue reason
and could just see, by the waning light
OF the moon, that the bird cage which
my fellow traveller held on her knee had
slightly tilted on on. side, though her
hands still rested on 1t. and that the wa
ter which was meant for the bird was
dropping upon me
For the better explanation of our rela
tive positions, ought 10 mention that
he lady and myself sat on The same seat
ofthe carriage, which left our limbs more
at liberty, and gave each of US The most
con: for able corner
'pardoo, madam SAID I addressing my
companion; i am afraid your cage will
fall; permit me to replace it, The lady
offered no objection, but neither replied
nor stirred, not even 10 raise her hand;
SO l fixed the cage 10 an upright position
as well as ] could. sShe is sleepy | sup
pose,' said 10 myself, my vanity pnting
the best construction in her Indifference.
Veil, will try to follow her exam
pis.'
accordingly erased my feet on the
sea spposi'e, and setting myself well
back prepared to court the drowsy god,
who generally shuns me when travel at
night. think I should soon have been
successful, for in very short ume that
sense of indlstinclnrss which precedes
sleep begsn to cal over me; but before
it had quite obtained the mastery, | was
again dlsu bed by the dripping Of water,
which this time fairly trickled through
my clothes. Iielt excessively ANNOYED
not only on account of the humidity,
which made me feel very uncomfortable,
but because the nj hit itself was exceed
lngly cold, and it was with something of
asperity in my tone that said il loud
er tone tat l said. in louder key than
I had used before, VOLTA qui esl bien gen
ant, madame; prenez garde vore osieau
je vous pre-; je sui, tout-a fat mouilla'
But neither BY WORT nor sign d'd the
lady show the slightest consciousness,
Of my havin. again addressed her.
III people will 20 to slice? in public
car ages | mutt.rrd, phey at sn'rtte
ought 10 be careful not to annoy their
fellow trlvrl-rs'
TIL, trulsrn, howeyer, fel harmless on
the ear Of the sleeper; and seeing hat
there was nothing to be got from her. |
resolved to take the remedy into my
own hands. Leaving forward. there
fore l ri-d to withdraw the bird cage
iro'a rs place on the lady's knees; but
she held so tightly, that could not re-
lease 1t, though employed little gem
lie force 10 accomplishing purpose.
Every singular thought I, shat she
should sleep so souudly. Why. the clat
term. of the bird would have awakened
men
But Aa lady was still. and so now was
the canary; for as had given the thing
up fer bad jo5, it had recovered its equ
librium on its perch, though the cage
like the tower of Pisa, had lost its per
pendicular. Luckily, however, for me,
all the water had oozed out, so I once
more leaned back in my corner.
Though the roads in this part of the coun-
try are, generally speaking, very good, in
equaitics sometimes occur; and this | i'm
agine must have been the case when we
got to about league and half from Font
evrault, for l suddenly felt violent jerk,
which not only completely woke me up,
but threw my companion heavily upon my
shoulder, where she lay with all her
weight.
WELL said I, this is rather TOO bad'
scan't she sleep in her own corner! Peo-
pie have no right to go to sleep who can't
keep their balance Saying which tried
to raise her; but she was as heavy as lead,
and, embarrassed as l was with my cloak,
| could not stir her.
'Madamen shouted I in her ear as loud
as could: ssavez-vous, madame, que vous
m'ecrasez7 Ayes-Ia bonte, madame, de
vous relever.' But l might as well have
talked to stone: there she lay like log,
and the villanous bird cage still in her lap.
Presently thought struck me; I remain
manned for few moments perfectly still,
and listened attentively-I could not hear
her breath! hastily put my hand on her
side; but there was no sign Of respiration:
] grasped her hands; they were clinging to
the bird cage, and as cold as ice felt her
pulse; it was gone!
Gracious Heaven! I exclaimed, sthe
lady is dead!' As quick as thought I rails
ed her then, kept her body upright; but
her head fell heavily forward. In vain I
eagerly chated her hands, united the strings
of her bonnet, and strove by every means
in my power to restore animation: every
effort was useless. Failing in these endea-
vors, threw down one of the carriage
windows, and thrusting out my head, cried
at the top of my voice to the postillion to
stop. The man seemed at first uncertain
whence the direction proceeded: he looked
right and left, then up to the place where
the conductor sat, and last of all he turn
ed his head towards me.