Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-11-07
EVENING STAR.
THE MYSTERIOUS SALUTE.
(From Chambers yourna,


caught my eye They were nice looking. an,
certain number Of years ago must have beer
pretty. They were not dressed alike, bu
| there was pervading tone about them alik,
in both The large collar, whose antique sha .,
and rich work proclaimed a reverence for th,
taste of past days; the cool white stockings anc
sandailess prunella shoes the dresses, not 20,
long, OF prevailing gray color; the brown
Grape shawl Ct the one, and the small whit,
turn over of the other lady; the Tuscan straw
bounets, and their primrose and white trim
mings, and the black and green wells append
ed to each, together with the long sd afteC
parasols without fringe, and the neat LITTLE
baskets they carried-made it evident tha,
these were what are called ''old maids ~
Caroline" said one of them, who appear.
ed the younger CT the two, "we are in capisa
time. L reallysbegfn to think it is less dread
ful than we imagined and if we can only get
nice carriage entirely to ourselves"-
| All" replied Miss Caroline, who acted
rather in the character Of chaperone to her
younger friend" ahl there is nothing like
being in good tine. Better wait an hour,
| Clementina, than be late one minute. I feel
| quite glad to have brought my knitting; in
deed, never 90 anywhere without it: and
now that L cannot see very we'll without
| glasses, reading il out of the question. You
have DR.. Gregory's Letters there, / see How
| dlferentthe literary productions of the present
| day are! Really, the trash young people read
| now is terrible, when L think how nee were
would come. begin to think we ought to
take our places"
Very soon after this, I saw another little
lady. apparently about their own st ,nding,
bustling about, turning round, looking into
corners, behind doors, a I'd into all sorts of i'm
possible places, till suddenly she espied the
two friends, and walking briskly up 10 them,
IN oil foCf
quiries of both ladies in tone go headlong,
and with O manner so lively, that l could
hardly refrain from smiling both with pleasure
and surprise. This last lady was dressed in a
dark-colored satin gown, with no stiffening or
crinOline to lift its clinging folds from her
short slight person She wore a small black
lace shawl, and white bonnet adorned with an
immense purple "ugly" as they are too truly
called.
How many seats are in these carriages ?"
asked the new conner, after mutual greetings
had passed.
81 really do not know" said Hiss CIemen-
tina 81 never travelled but once before in
train, and cannot say L ramember But, you
know, we could easily ask" So saying, she
wett Ieisurely up to very active, busy off,
cial, who was greasIng the wheels Of the car
riages, and said:
PRAY, my good man, can you tell me how
maDy seats there are, and VII at ti1o we start
Where is the station clock? All / see; il is
quite wrong by my watch, which never either
gains or loses" Then, seeing he paid DO sort
of attention to her nor indeed head her, she
remarked at is very badly arranged tha:
there is 10 information to be had, or apy one
20 refer to al these places -
Gall right, ma am - said the man, slam
ming down the iron lid with great noise, and
moving of sharply TO another wheel.
& How very rude those men are - said Miss
a in npndnlirn is has,
TO manage entirely for ourselves, my dear,
than TO be exposed to such insults "
"Ah !" rejoined Miss Clementina, chow
different from the old stage-coach days, when
one knew there were four seats inside which
any ladies might have for the asking, and
when a scream or a handkerchief from tho
windows would arrest instant attention from
the gentlemen
"Gentlemen exclaimed Miss Caroline,
- one cannot now a-days tell gentleman from
grazier or shop boy-by the dress at least;
and the young men Of the present time are SO
excessively satirical, and so devoid of that
deferential respect, without which, a few years
ago, gentleman would have been shut out
from ladies society altogether
4" 1t is so, indeed" said Miss Spyker brisk
ly; " and L declare to you nothing would in
duce me TO travel in the same carriage with
ono Of those fast young men-nothing you
could name to NE, Caroline"
Here all three agreed that nothing in the
whole world would induce them to do such
thing
Tie crowd of passengers now began to
;Eicken, and therefore took up my book ard
:atchel and soon established myself ccnfort-
ably in the far corner Of a first class carriage
l had not been there very long when saw the
ibree friends aprroaching-th two first ladies
arm in arm, and brisk little Miss Spyker
pcering FIRST into one carriage, then into anoth-
or, with face OF great anxiety; ct length
they stood still before the one L had chosen
"It is pretty well away from tho engine,
Caroline" said Miss Spyker in an encoura-
ging tone Of voice.
sEAnd not too near the end Of the train,
either,' said Miss Clementina. 81 think We
might venture
At this moment, a maid servant, who fol-
lowed them, put into the carriage an infinite
variety of brown paper parcels, of every shape
ed with three umbrellas, and hung round
with bonnet boxes Ike /" bird cage man"
which be deposited as he best could within.
The three ladies then took their seats.
"Thomas," said Miss Clementina, have
you seen the luggage safe Z"
Yes, 'um," said Thomas, grinning, and
pulling lock Of hair.
/" And the two carpet bsgs?" said Miss
Caroline.
"And the baskets OF fruit for Lady M ire
gor?" put in Ciementina.
Two baskets Of fruit and the flowers is
under this seat, 'um," said Thomas, holding
up the valance of the seat "Guard said
they I'd squash EN- in the van along with heavy
luggage
30, very well. And, Thomas" said Miss
Caroline, " don't forget what 1 said TO yvu
| about the garden, now water those two square
| beds-weed the one on tho lawn; and let
| me find the gravel walks clean when We re-
turn"
"Ard mind that VIC don't find half the
roots dug up for weeds, and the rest washed
bare, from using that large watering can.
| That will do, Jane" added Miss Clemcntina
to the maid "you may go now"
| They now began to arrange their hornets,
settle their parcels and make foot stoOls /
sundry little boxes they had brought with
them. .IAfter short pause, Miss Caroline
said:
"Don't like this at all-it is so very dark. "
"Whst will it be in the tunnels said
Miss Clementins in an unhappy voice
4