The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-07-21
rHE 1noar.oN,s. OR ! loxDeS roc

THE TH0APS0Nsx. OR LONDON FOG
Asthe eTsnings became longer and IA
country 6aa, my friend Thompson yselds,
TO the ensreaties Of his wife and daughter
thas they should give an evening party
and at once enlisted IN the undertaking, d
determined that j: should be done wei
for in pleasure, as In business. he liked II
do The right thing be therefore Wisiingi,
undertook the execution Of number ol
commissioEs in town, from copieus iis
furnished by Ars. 7.
Thompson Is London merchant, heac
Of the great indigo house OF Thompson
Son Co., Of Blue Lsne, and too sensibse
man to Isve in the smoke and dirt OF tbs
great city; bis neat and well appointed villa,
about twelve miles from the North Wesser1
line, and within very shor, drive of a
convenient station, is the very beau-ldeal oi
what the residence of q well-to-ao city gen
t.einan ought TO be.
On leaving home On the morning of the
day of the party, Thompson, of course, re-
ceived STRIFE; injunctions from his wife,
backed by the rest of the female portion OF
the family, TO be sure TO come home early,
which he readily promised 10 do, if possible;
[
claims of business, lnughinsiy told them
cot to forget the standing direction Is dis
patch the vehicle, he would not allow either
himself o. wife or daughter to call his hand
some equipage ..ihe earriase,") by the
turnpike road to meet him if by any chance
be should not return by the iasl train. He
fully intended, however, to BE homo an hour
or two earlier than usual, so as TO take
1 = ~,
and other requisites for a first class '.sit.
down. supper, and be able to decan. the
wine himself, and generally assist Mrs. 7.
in the final arrangement before his guests
arrived. But it SO happened, that on
reaching the city Mr. Thompson found an
unusual amount of things demanding his
attention. He soon gave up all idea of
getting away early, but managed to execute
his comissicns, which he sent of by the train
he had hoped to 90 by.
But even the hour of what he called his
own train passed before be could get through
the unexpected pressure of business, and
there was nothing for it but to wait for the
last-the last, that is. that stopped at this
station-which left London at Q O'Clock.
| This was annoying, and the waiting would
have been irksome but that be occupied
himself in fetching up some arrears Of cor
respondencs, and in other business matters;
and, finally, sending for Hanson cab,
he started IN capital time for Euston Square,
not so much vexed at his detention as
those who are not "busness men, might
imagine.
| The day bad been dark and snowy, and
with the night came sharp frost and fog,
which latter got thicker and thicker as they
drove up t, Ho!horn. At length, just as
they entered one of the squares, the "Lon-
| don peculia.r' became so dense that il was
| difficult for the driver TO take his bearings
even by the aid of the lamps, which had
| dwindled into mere specks of light, visible
occasionally here and there.
| The Jehu of the high-wheeled cab was
reduced to walk, aud even at the cautious
| pace made some very unfortunate specula-
| tons as TO his course. now grating against
the railing OF the enclosure in the centre
of the square, and now getting on the foot
pavement.
"Pcsh OH, cabby," said Thompson, coax
ingly, during one of the numerous stoppages
that occurred.
easy said, sir" replied cabby; "but
while my wheel is locked in these ratings,
| don't see where can push to, unless It's
down the hairy"
| Just thea the fog cleared of little, and
eshibisea to both fare aud drive. the eut !.
Gus fact shat they had been going back. the
horses head being turned toward Hoborn.
The true state of affairs, however, being
thus ascerSained, cabby wheeled about and
was going at Il spanking pace to make up
Tor lost time, when another dense mass Of
fog lo0mel over, and all was again in total
| obseurity. This was mostprovoking for the
time was getting on; yesto advance beyond
walk was impossible.
spray, push on, cabby," said Thompson,
again popping out his head, ''or we shall
be too late for the train, after all push On,
and I'll see if | can't find an extra half for
you"
Thompson had a strong conviction that
half crowns 10 numbers suited to the occa-
sion could do anything, and cabby, by his
increased efforts, proved the influence of
the stimulus. Bat it would not do; the
old difficulties reeurred, and finally. while
Thompson, getting desperate, was aItern-
ately persuadng, threatening, and huting
at even an additional half crown, St. Pancras
clock struck nine.
1t was all over, the last train was starting.
What would Mrs. Thompson say? What
would his visitors thiuk? and what was to
be done? But Mr.. Thompson was never
long in dilemma he was a man of busi-
ness he was no individual to be beaten By
fog; and so, relying that his s'vehicle"
would come to meet him when it was found
that he did not arrive by the nine O'Clock
train, he agreed with cabhy to drive him
toward Harrow-on-the-H Hill as fast as he
could. Between the cab and the 'yehicle"
the distance might be managed, he reek oned
IN about an hour and quarter, or say an
hour and twenty minutes tbusiness men,
especially those who travel bv railway al
ways calculate TO nicetv, so that he would
still get home before supper and the bar
gain. for two shilliDgs'a mile, glass of
brandy and water by way of an extra flip,
was at once concluded.
The Harrow road was reach in less time
than could have been hoped, and Thompson
suggested to eabby the probability Of even
second glass Of brandy and water. if that
pace were kept up. But as they came ur9n
the country road, 1t was so extremely slip
perry that such pace was dangerous, aud
at the foot Of the bill at kensal Green they
were once more reduced to a walk. Up
that stetp hit Of road, glazed with layer
OF fFozea snow, there was no hold for the
horses feet; and the fog, driven by keen
east wind, was rapidly enyeoping the
North h-western-subRrbs, and even the coun-
try beyond, where miugling with thick
white mist, caused by the frost in choice
atmosphere. it became even more dense
than il was in London. This greatly in
creased the difficulty of getting Up the hill
and the horse, at last, after slipping, strain
log, and p!anging, lost his footing and
fell.
"Whip him up" cried Thompson, who,
though not a cruel man looked upon the
matter from purely business pointof view
. in which the fall appeared kind of breach
Of contract, that ought TO be dealt With in
summary manner. Without deigniBg a re-
ply, eal,by jumped down and proceeded to
loosen BY a hole or two some par.s Of the
haFuesH, 30 Ifs the shafts \ little 50 rs TO