The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-07-11
J}listeAautons.
The White Lace Bonnet.

About two wears since was one OF that
strange ond busy mob Of some five hundred
people, who were assembled on the platform
in tie Euston.square station few minutes
previous to the starting OF the morning mali
troiu for Birmingham. To the unoccupied
observer the scene might have been an anus
;po oue-,he little domestic incidents Of
lesve.,aking and embracing-,he careful
looking after luggage and parce's--'he
vatchful onxietes for lost CLOAK or stray
Garnet bag, blending with the affectIonote
farewells Of parting, are all curious while
the s,udious preparations for comfort OF the
old gentleman in the coupe, oddly contrast
with similar arrangements on more limited
scale BY the poor soldiers vile in the th'rd
class carriage.
Small as the segment Of humanity is' it is
q type of the great world to which it be-
longs.
r sauntered curelessly along the boarded
terrace, investigating, by the light OF the
guards lantern, the inmates OF the different
carriages. ond calling 10 my assistance my
tact as physiognomist as to what porty l
should select for my fellow passengers; "nol
in there, assuredly," said l to myself, as
saw the aquiline noses and dark eyes Of two
Hamburger Jews "nor here, either-l can
not stand day in nursery nor will this
partv suit me, that old gentlemen is snoring
already :" and so walked on until at last
bethouoh me of on empty carriage as az
least possessing negative benefits since
nositive ones were denied me. Scarcely
had the churlsh determination seized me-
when the glare of the light fell upon the side
of bopnet of white lace, through whose
trapsporent texture a singularly lovely pro-
file could be seen. Features, purely Greek
in their character, tinged with a most deli
cate color, were defined by dark mass ot
hair. worn in deep band along the cheek
almost to the chin. There was sweetness
"a look Of guileless Innocence in the char
acter of the face, which, even BY the Hitting
sliobt of the lantern, struck me strongly.
made the guard halt, and Peeped into the
carriage as if seeking for friend. BY the
uncertain Pickering could detect the inquire
of a man, apparently a young one' BY the
ladv's side the carriage had no other trnv'
eler. "This will do," thought /, as opened
the door, and took my place on the opposite
side. ...
The little lamp which hung aloft gave me
but slight opportunity of prosecuting my iH
vo,ite study on this occasion. All that
could trace was the outline of young anf
tdelcately termed girl, enVeloped in cash
mere shawl--a slight and inadequate mut
fling for the road at such season. INT
.pentleman at her side was attired In wha
seemed dress coat, nor was he provided
with any other defense against the cold o
the morning.
Scarcely had ascertained these two facts
when the lamp fared, fickered, and wen
out, leaving me to speculate on these vagu
but yet remarkable traits OF the couple be
fore me. "What can they be?" "who ar
""where do they come from !'"wher
are they going :" were all questions whicl
naturally presented themselves to me ii
turn vet every inquiry resolved itself int
the one, "why has she not cloak I why ha
he not got Petersham!" Long and pa
tiently did 1 discuss these points with my
self, and framed numerous hypotheseS t
account for the circumstsnces-but still
with comparatively little sasisfactiOn' as OBJ
iections presented themselves to each con