The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-05-01

little like that Of a travoler-a dress coal
and evening waistcoat, over which profu.
sion OF chains were festooned in that mode
so popular in our day, showed that he Ger.
tainly. il, arranging his costume, had other
thoughts than of wasting such attraction,
on the desert air of railroad journey. He
was good-looking young fellow, with that
mixture of frankness and careless ease the
youth Of England so eminently possess, in
contra distinction to the young men Of other
countries; his manner and voice both at
tested that he belonged to good class; and
the general courtesy Of his demcaner show.
ed one who had lived in society. While he
evinced an evident desire to enter into con-
versation and amuse his companion, there
was still an appearance Of agitation and
incertitude about him which showed that
his mind was wandering very far from the
! topic before him. More than once he check.
ed himself in the midst of some casual mer.
riment, and became suddenly grave-while,
from time to time, he whispered to the young
lady, with IN appearance Of anxiety and
eagerness, all his endeavors could not eff.
fectually conceal. She, too, seemed agita.
ted-but thought less SO than he; it might
be, however, that from the habitual quietade
of her manner the traits Of emotion were
less detachable BY stranger.
| Wewere alone then once more, but some
how the interval which had occurred had
chilled the warm current of our intercourse
perhaps, too, the effects of a long days
journey were telling on US all, and we fell
that indisposition to converse which steals
over even the most habitual traveller towards
the close of day on the road. Partly from
these causes, and more strongly still from
my dislike to obtrude conversation upon
those whose minds were evidently pre- occu.
pied, l., too, lay back in my seat and indulg-
ed my reflections in silence. had sat some
time thus, know not exactly how long,
when the voice of the young lady struck on
my ear it was one of those sweet, tinkling
silver sounds which somehow when heard
however slightly, have the effect at once to
dissipate the dull routine of ones OWE
thoughts, and suggest others more relative
to the speaker.
Had you not better ask him p said she,
q am sure he can tell you.' ...
The youth apparently demurred, while she
insisted the more, and at length, as if yield.
ing to her entreaty, he suddenly turned to.
wards me and said
| sPm a perfect stranger here, and would
feel obliged if you could inform me which
is the best hotel in Liverpool lie made a
slight pause, and added, Il mean quiet
family hotel.'
Il rarely stop in the town myself replied
|; sbut when do, to breakfast or dine,
very comfortable
They again conyersed for few moments
together, and the young man, with an ap:
pearance of some hesitation, said, 'Do you
mean to 60 there now, Sir p
sYes,' said l, 'my intention is to take q
hasty dinner before l start in the steamer
for lrelantl / see by my watch l shall have
ample timefo do so, as We shall arrive hall
an hour ore our time.'
Another pause, and another discussion
ensued, the only words which could catct
from the y0Rng lady being, Tm certain h'
will have 1Obbjcction.'
Conceiving that these referred to myself
and guessing at their probable import,
Immediately said-sIf YOU will allow me tc
be your guide, shall feel most happy tt
show you the way; We can obtain carriage
at the station and proceed thither at once.
was right in my surmise.hoth partie'
were nrafnsa in .hsir cknowledgments-th'
young man ay owing that it was the very re-
quest he was about to make when antici
puted him. We arrived in due time at tn.
station, and having assisted my new &C
quaintances to alight-l found little difficult
ty in placing them in carriage, for luggage
they had none, neither portmanteau mol
carpet t-bag-not even dressing -case-s
circumstance at which, however l nigh
have endeavored to avoid expressing m,
wonder, they seemed to feel required IN ex
PLANTATION at their hands; both looked con
fused and abashed-nor was it until b,
busying myself in the details of my Owl
baggage, that was enabled to relieve then
from the embarrassment the Circumstance
occasioned.
sIIere we are,' said I; 'this is the Adelphi,
as we stopped at that comfortable and hos
pitable portal, through which the fumes o
brown gravy and ox-tail hoated with sa
worry odor, as pleasant to him who enter
with dinner intentions, as it is tantalizing t.
the listless wanderer without.
The lady thanked me with smile, as
handed her into the house, and very swee
smile too, and one could have fancied tn
young man would have felt a little jealou
Of, if had not seen the ten times more fas
cinating one she bestowed on him.
The young man acknowledged my sligh
service with thanks, and made a half gcstur
to shake hands at parting, which though
failure, rather liked, rs evidencing, evel
in its awkwardness, kindness of disposi
ton; for so it is-gratitude smacks poorl
when expressed in trim and measured phras
it seems not the natural coinage Of tn
heart, when the impression betrays to-
clearly the mint of the mind.
sGood-bye,' said l, as watched thei
retiring figures up the wide staircase. 'She'
devilish pretty-and what good figure
did not think any other than French wo
man could adjust her shawl in that fashion.
And with these very soothing reflections
betook myself to the coffee-room, and 500
was very deep in discussing the distinctly
merits Of a mulligatawny, mock-turtle, an
mutton chops, or listening to that everlast
ing paan every waiter in England sings il
praise of the .joint.' -
4 In all the luxury Of my own little table
with my own little salt-cellar, my own cruet
stand, my beer glass, and its young brothe
for wine, sat awaiting the arrival of m,
fare, and puzzling my brain rs to the un
known travellers. .a.
Nv thoughts turned at once to their OIL
track. Il have it, said l, as bloody -minde
suggestion, shot through my brain. 'Thi
is an affair of charcoal and oxalic acid-thi
is some damnable device Of arsenic or suga
of-lead-these young wretches have com
4 down here to poison themselves, and b
smothered in that mode latterly introduces
among us. There will be double-locke'
door and smell of carbonic gas through tn
key-hole in the morning. have it all be
fore me, even to the maudlin letter, with it
twenty one verses Of bad poetry at the foo
of it. think hear the coroner's charge
and see the three shillings and eight-penc'
halfpenny produced before the jury, tha
were found in the youths possession, to
gether with small key and bill for
luncheon at Birmingham. By Jove, vii
prevent it though; l will spoil their fun thi
time; if they will have physic, let them hav
nhvaic LOT them have sOmethinp lust n