The Kanzas news., 1858-10-30
KIas1Ne IN TEE DARE.
BIZ CHARLES READz.


The 1915 train glided from Paddington
Nav 7sh, 1857. In the left compartment
of q certain frst-class carriage were four
passengers; of these, two were worth de-
scription. The lady had smooth, white,
delicate brow, strongly marked eyebrows.
long lashes, eyes that seemed to change col
or, and good-sized, delicious mouth, with
teeth as white as milk. A man could not
see her nose, for her eyes and mouth; her
own sex could and would have told Us some
nonsense about it. She wore an unpretend-
ing. greyish dress, buttoned to the throat,
with lozenge-shaped buttons, and Scotch
shawl that agreeably evaded the responsi-
bility of color. She was like duck-so
tight her feathers fitted her; and there she
sat, smooth snug, and delicious, with book
In her hand, and s0upeo1 of her snowy
wrist just visible as she heldit. sls -sFii
Her opposite neighbor was what call q
good style of mantle more to his credit
since he belonged to q corporation that fire.
quently turns out the worst imaginable style
of young men. He was cavalry officer,
aged twenty-five. He had moustache, but
not very repulsive one; not one of those
pended like dew on shrub; it was short,
thick, and black as coal. His teeth had
not yet been turned by tobacco-smoke to the
color of tobacco Juice; his clothes did not
stick or hang on him-they sat on him; he
had an engaging smile. and, what liked
the dog for-his vanity-which was inor-
dinate, was in its proper place, his heart,
not in his face, jostling mine and other
peoples, who have none; in word, he was
what one oftener hears of than meets-a
young gentleman. He was conversing in
an animated whisper with companion, a
fellow oficer-they were talking about what
it is far better not to do, women. Our
friend clearly did not wish to be overheard.
for he cast, ever and anon, furtive glance
at his fair Vis-a-Vis, and lowered his voice.
She seemed completely absorbed in her
book, and that reassured him. At last the
two soldiers came down to whisper, and
in that whisper 1.-THE truth must be told the
one who got down at Slough, and was lost
to posterity, bet ten pounds to three that he
who was going with US to Bath. and immor-
tality, would not kiss either of the ladies
opposite upon the road. ''Done, done!''-
Now, / am sorry man I have hitherto
q
whisper, to such speculation; but mo
body is wise at all hours" not even when
the clock is striking fVe-andtwenty; and
you are to consider his profession, his good
looks, and the temptation-ten to three.
After Slough the party was reduced to
three; at Twyford, one lady dropped her
handkerchief; Captain Dolignan fell on it
like a tiger, and returned it like lamb; two
or three words were exchanged on that oc-
casion. At Reading, the Marlborough of
our tale made one of the safe investments
of that day; he bought Times and a
Punch the latter was full of steel-pen
thrusts and wood-cuts. Valor and beauty
deigned to laugh at some inflated humbug
or other punctured by Punch. Now, laugh
ing together thaws our human ice. Long
before SWindon, it was talking match; at
Swindon, who so devoted as Captain Dolig-
Gan-he handed them out, he souped them,
he tough -chickened them; he branded and
cochinealed one, and he branded and burnt
sugared the other. On their return to their
carriage, one lady passed into the inner
compartment to inspect certain gentle
mans seat on that side of the line.
Reader, had it been you or I, the beauty
would have stayed with us till all was blue,
ourselves included; not more surely does
our slice of bread and butter, when it es-
capes from our hand, revoIve it ever so of
ten, alight face downwards on the carpet.
But this was bit of fop, Adonis, dra-
goon-so Venus remained tete-a-tete with
him. You have seen dog meet an un-
known female of his species; how hand
some, how empresse, how expressive he
becomes. Such was Dolignan after Swim
don, and, to do the dog justice, he got
handsomer and handsomer; and you have
seen cat conscious of approaching cream
such was Miss Haythorn; she became de-
murer and demurrer. Presently our Cap
tain looked out of the window and laughed;
this elected an inquiring look from Miss
Haythorn. eve are only mile from the
Box Tunnel.'
''Do you always laugh a mile from the
Box Tunnel?" inquired the lady. -
'Inyariably."
"What for?''
"Why, hemi its gentleman's joke
"Oh! l don't mind its being silly, if it
makes me laugh"
Captain Dolignan. thus encouraged, re-
counted to Miss Haythorn the following:
"a lady and her husband sat together, go
ing through the Box Tunnel. There was
one gentleman opposite, and it was pitch
dark. After the tunnel had been passed
through, the lady said: George, how alb
surd of you to salute me going through the
tunnel 70 81 did no such thingp' "You
didn't?" s'No! why?" why, because
somehow thought you didl"
Here Captain Dolignan laughed, end en-
deayored to lead bis companion to laugh,
but it was not to be done.
The train entered the tunnel.
Miss Haythorn-.tAh!"
Dolignan-'.Wha is the matter?"
Miss .Haythorn-''I am frightened.