American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-05-21
An Adventure i'm u Railroad Car.
riagc


An Adventure i'm n Railroad Car.
riagc.
After had taken my seat one NOR
ming at Paddington, in an empty car
riage, was joined just as the train
was moving off, by a strange looking
young man, with remarkable long flow
ing hair. He was, of course, a little
hurried, but he seemed beside to be dis
turbed, and wild, so that I was quite
alarmed for fear of his not being right
in mind, nor did his subsequent con-
duct at all re.assure me. Our train
was an express, and ho enquired eager
ly, at once, which was the first station
whereat we were advertised to stop. -
consulted my Bradshaw, and furnish
ed him with the desired informa-
ton. 1t was Reading. The young man
looked at his watch. "Madam," said
he, 81 have but half an hour between
ne, and it may be ruin. Excuse, there
fore, my abruptness. You have, I
perceive, pair of scissors in your
work-bag. Oblige me, if you please,
by cutting off my hair" "Sir," said
l, cit is impossible J"
"Madamc," he urged, and a look of
severe determination crossed his feat
ures. 81 am a desperate man. Be-
ware how you refuse what ask. Cut
my hair of;-short, close to the roots
Immediately, and there is q news
paper to hold the ambrosial curls.p
thought he was mad, of course; and
believing that it would be dangerous
to thwart him, cut off all his hair, to
the last lock. "Now, madam" said
he unlocking a small portmanteau,
"you will further oblige me by looking
out of the window, as | am about to
change my clothes p OF course I
looked out Of the window for very
considerable time, and he observed.
"Madame, I need no longer put you
to any inconvenience" l did not re-
cognize the young man in the least.
Instead of his former gay costume,
he was attired in black, and wore a
grey wig and silver spectaclcs; he look
ed like q respectable divine of tho
Church of England, of about sixty four
years of age; to complete that charac-
ter, he had volume of sermons in his
hand, which-they appeared so to alb
sorb him--might have been his own.
81 do not wish to threaten you, young
lady," he resumed, "and | think, be-
sides ] can trust your kind face. Will
you promise me not to reveal my meta
morphosis until your journeys end?"
III will" said I, ''most certainly" At
Reading the guard and person in
plain clothes looked into our carriage.
"You have ticket, my love-" said the
young man, blandly, and looking at
me as though he were my father.
"Nevcr mind, sir; we don't want
thcm,' said the official, as he withdrew
his companion. 81 shall now leave
you, Madame observed my fellow
traveller, as soon as the coast was
clear; "by your kind and courage Gus
conduct you have saved my life, and
perbrps even your own" In another
minute ue vas gone, ana the train was
in motion. Not till the next morning
| learn from the Times newspaper that
the gentleman on whom Ihad operated
as hair utter had committed heavy
forgery to an enormous amount in
London few hours before / met him,
and that he had been tracked into an
express train from Paddington, but that
although the telegraph had been
put in motion, and described him ac-
curately--at Reading, when the train
was searched he was nowhere to be
found.--Housohoh Words.
The largest stick of mahogany ever
brought to this country, now lies at
Thompson's saw mill Philadelphia
1t measures 3048 superficial feet, and
weigbsa little over six.tons.
Twenty slaves belonging to Judge
Buck, OF Kentucky, were accidentally