The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-10-19

The doxn train from London had Just
entered the Grea, Cokebanpton station the
hasr sf $50, 3. ", the time . ioYeiy June
morning, = couple Of years since. At Coke
hsnptse, HE rsitsay tfavsler u allow edso
leave bis carriage fora few minutes, 10
order to snatch hasty cup Of coffre or .
basin OF soup; but i being, as every one
knows. the cusspp n Cekes.npsnn to keep
both Of these s,imuiaDss at a boiling point,
she repast ls usually performed under con-
adorable difficulties. Among the rest OF
tbose whose steps vere directed BY appetite
towards the refreshment saloon vas a
straight, long limbed. handsome young fell
Low, with brown shooting jacket, brown
mu.tache and wise aSsk-. l6at had seen
service. This vas nv friend. RaGaeile
Smith, Of CHps,nne street, London, land
scspe painter, josrsey,ng in the search OF
..biss' Of nature, as be termed Them, for
bis next yesr's pictures. As this msy be
a little too technical for the general read
ers, We may more clearly express what We
mean By stating THAT, according to annual
custom, the young artist was going to the
West country to sketch from nature.
Nav, it happened on this psrticuiar oe
casion, that although Raffaelle Smith had
been out OF his bed since dawn, be had spent
80 much time in packing his easel, canvass,
cnIors, and other baggage of his artistic
campaign, that il came 10 be a question
whether he should breakfast and Iose the
tram, or catch the train and lose his break
fast. Breakfast a. the ss:smportaas, was
sacrificed. Accordingly he found himself
at Cox, hamp,o on, some sixty miles from
London, with most acute sense Of empti-
ness Of stomach, just as the railway guard
was calling out, '.rrain starts in ten m.n-
utes, gents"
To man in my friends unbreakfasted
condition such an intimat,on could not
have the effect Of checking the srdor with
which "a traveller usually seeks the Cake
hampton refreshment saloon. a very sharp
appente, and the yexlgrneifs of the railway
time ssshl-, gave promptness to RafaeIIe
Smiths NOV emebts, and caused that young
luminary OF art to be among the first Of
them who sought rejection at Cokehamp-
MS refresbment counters. Accordingly
the pressing injunction of tue guard had
scarcely been uttered. when my friend found
himself ut the must pleDtifaliy Agarp,shed
portion Of the table. The Cukehampton
walteressea are no less neat handed than
nattv. and RaifaeIle Smiths appetite would,
doubtless. have been quickly appeased, had
not the following question interrupted his
predatory call for ..ooup" TSsss,T
ssls there u genl'mun here named Smith?'
The artis: scrutinizrd the faces of his
fellow Travellers, in order TO ascertain
whether the queslion were addressed TO any
of them; and, as ~ one replied, he himself
went up to the servant.
cit appears that ! am the only Mr.. Smith
here, do YOU want me ~ rr
81 want Mr.. Smth who has arrived by
the tram from London"
"n'm bat am unknown to single
inhab,tanr in this town"
81 know that, SIR" answered the groom,
readily. "1hat is the reason why am sent
to you, sir" aar
The reason why you are. cent to me!'
repeated Smith in great astonishment.-
"By whom?'
Perhaps you will be kind enough to fol,
low me,'' Continued the mysterious q oom.
'.I.m ordered to speak to Mr.. Smith in PR.
vate." q
sudden misgising took possession OF
Rntfaele Smith. Come. gentiemen," he
said, addressing his fellow travellers, sis It
a practical joke? IL any gentleman pres
ent is the author of this piece of mystthca-
tion, | cha, ge him in tn. name of the -tam-
ach, the most worthy object of compassion
in the world, to avow II ut once, aud TO
allow me to utilize. without Interruptions,
the few minutes that remain ~
In answer to this novel summons, every
one protested c"lnplete Ignorance of what
was passing. Smith was resolved to pluck
ou. the heart of the mystery. Curiosity
imposed upon the stomach delay Of sew
eral minutes, and the artist followed the
groom DOT of the refreshment room. He,
how ever, Informed his travelling companions
tha, he would return in the course of few
secords with the solution II the enigma
The groom, who had heard the latter re-
marx, put on broad grin, and when they
were IN the street, said:
.Beg pardon, sir, bat wasn't YOU having
laosh i, ihem gents? They'll be precious
mistaken # they think sou are going back
TO lunch ,here.' 80.
.I tell ysu what, young man." replied
Smith. rrita,cd by the manner Of the groom.
..mark me, If you don't expl in everything
at once-if you have had the misfortune
10 be charged with q practical joke ut my
expense-l shall not leave you without n
sound thra-hing" (the groom bowed re-
spectfuilv) ..for causing me to lose my lunch
and miss nv train" . -.
"Ah, sir. / see you're a gent as wishes to
have hus joke" replied the imper'urbab'e
groom. ..Now, sir, dop't you know very
we'll that you Will not leave Cokehampton
to-day? As for the lonch, don't think
YOU will mind that, when you see the mag
n,6ceot spread getting ready for you up at
the vilia.o
The Las, phrase, though not more com
rrehen.ive than the other portion OF the
greom's conversation, somewhat Gained the
artists ire. .
"Then am expected TO dine by your
master ~ ~ w
.Yqa'll be good enough to speak about
dinner with my mistress" answered the
messenger. !,
"a ialy, good dinner, and a mystery
WeHy cried Rsfselle, tiexer'ny Ell the
du-, from h,s boots With bis hanikerch'ef,
..tbat /. not very alarming. The adventure
is taking rather interesting turo. once
more ;, he added to the domestic. "are you
quite certain fha. il is me, Rs6aells Smith.
Chpssone street. L,ndon Landscape painter,
that sorr mistress has sent this cordial in-
vitaston 80 --s.
.Yau'r. ,A.vevy gent. SIR = answered the
groom readily; sand here's the note she
cent to you.'
Raasells hastily snatcbed little note
which the groom he'd toward. him. Inc
addres. wss plain euosgh. "Mr. smith,
although the writing wss completely un-
known TO the artist. lie tore open the en-
vslcre. in patssos 10 see ~hsl ssenatare uas
., 10. end Il the ecatir; bat 90 cro"s the
my.ser,, the note 1ss anony nous, and con
tanned only these uords:
@Mr. Smith 10 awaited uish the ereatest
anxiety, aud be is begged instantly TO foi-
Io~ the bearer NJ this nate. Every relisnce
i, placed 90 hi. alacrity and discretion"
Nsw, this Vas ~ sdvsnssss that con-