Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-09-01
StIFttfe TaIG.
THE M4TiiINONiAL RIDE,
ship IN THE CARS
BY CARL CANTAD

]
as this is the point on which no one
has better right to speak authorita-
lively, it may be as well, perhaps, to
make no objection to the pleasant de-
lusion under which he labored. Not
that the young gentleman in question,
was peculiar in his selfestimation
Who of us is there, present writer and
reader ofcourse excepted, who does not
atheart entertain the complacent belief
that he or she is more than ordinarily
attractive! - 1t is q great comfort to
think that such is the case, and well
adapted to elevate our conceptions Of
human nature. But this is by the
| way.
Mr.. William Wilmington received
a commission from his employers, to
go to New York to transact some
matters of business, it being impos.
sible for either Of them to be absent
at that particular iuncturc Now in
these days Of rapid Iocomotion, there
is nothing especially romantic or ex-
citing in journey of three or four
hundred miles. 1t is the most prosaic
thing imaginable. Ispeak, Of course,
Of the generality Of cases.
In this case Williams Journey to
New York was attended by no hair
breadth escapes no remarkable in
cidents by fire or food - to incur
these latter, one has only to step on
board river CT lake steamboat. He
reached the II etropolis and accom-
plished what he had been directed to
do by his employers.
Some eighty or ninety miles from
New York, on the return journey, the
cars stopped for a moment at a small
station. The only person in waiting
was a young lady handsomely dres-
sed who did not appear to have any
baggage She got in, and as chance
would have it, took a seat beside our
young clerk. Now when one is seat
ed beside a young lady, one actually
likes to know how she looks. With.
ington stole curative glance which
revealed to him face OF more than
ordinary attraction, with regular K at
urcs, pearly teeth and flashing black
eyes.
"Quite a Peri' thought William
Wilmington.
/ Very possibly such was the case,
but as our clerk had positively never
seen a Peri, it viii always be to the
writer matter Of surprise how he
discovered the resemblance.
While William was perusing the
countenance Of the fair unknown, she
in turn directed her gaze at him, and
meeting his glance, modcstly with
drew her own.
"She is struck with my appear
ance," thought he complacently.
He deliberated whether it would
be allowable to open a conversation
with his chance neighbor. Anywhere
else it might have been doubted, but
. in the cars, people are in the habit of
dispensing with etiquette and too
often with ordinary poIteness.
Having decided that it would be
; well to DO so, Mr.. Wilmington consid-
cred what he had better say. He had
recourse to that topic which has prob
ably given rise to more observations
than any connected with philosophy,
politics or religion, or all together
In the name OF all whose constitutional
readiness is ever apt to run against a
snag, thank Heaven for the weather
Just imagine that skies were always
cloudless, or the temperature never
varied, that one could never say :
"Rainy day, sir" or "rather chilly,
madam" simple because it never
rained and never was chilly. 1t is
enough to make one shudder to reflect
what stagnation would follow in our
daily talk, how many that are now
voluble would perforce forever become
speechless.
Luckily for William Wilmington,
such was not the state of affairs in his
case. With an air as if he had made
an astonishing discovery, he ventured
to remark-"Charmiug dav, ma am "
at is indeed beautiful.' returned
the lady, turning her dark, brilliant
eyes upon him.
Somehow, William having broken
the ice. felt an irresistible desire to
continue the conversation so auspici-
ously begun.
'Do you ENJOY riding III the cars 2
; he enQuired.
"What viii you say to me" replied
o the lady, when tell you that now,
for the first time, | fine myself in the
cars
For the first timer repeated VII
! liam III astonishment.
/ at is even so,2 replied the lady,
{ Il do not wonder you are surprised,
: | presume there are few cases like
mine"
s.Can she have lived all her life in
: the woods" thought William perpleX-
e ed. at is impossible Neither her
appearance, nor her ermanner will justi-
; fy that supposition. She Is certainly
D 4 beautiful creature, and without