Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-01-09
Wiss anu gtbfrmise.
A Railway Incident.

from Exeter to London on the !
Great Western Railway, I found
the carriage ! had selected for the
trip occupied by a very interesting
young lady and two rather talka-
tive gentleman. OF course, we be-
came rapidly sociable. From gen.
eralities we gradually came down
to personalities, and amused each
other with a variety Of incidents
connected with our own experien-
ces in railway travelling, many Of
which, as you may readily imagine,
were singular enough. None, how
ever, were more so than the fol.
lowing, : naively related by the
young lady:
'Although | am often compelled
to travel without companion, yet
haveI such dislike to company Of
babies and sick folk, that | never
have a journey in the ladies' car
riage. Only once, however, have |
suffered any inconvenience through
my unprotected condition, and that
exception occurred very lately, and
upon this very line. After | had
taken my seat one morning at
Paddington, in an empty carriage, |
was joined, just as the train was
moving off, by q strengthening
young man, with remarkably long
flowing hair. He was, Of course,
a little Hurried, but he seemed be
sides SO disturbed and wild that |
was quite alarmed for fear Of his
not being in his right mind, nor
did his subsequent conduct reas-
sure me. Our train was an eX-
press, and he inquired eagerly at
once, which was the first station
whereat we were advertised to
stop. l consulted my Bradshaw,
and furnished him with the re-
iquired information. 1t was Read
ing. The young man looked at
his watch.
Madam said he, 4 have but
half an hour between me and, it
may be, ruin. Excuse, therefore,
my abruptness. You have, | per-
ceive, pair of scissors in your
work-bag. Oblige me, if you
please, by Gu tins off all my
hair"
"'Impossible,' said /, it is i'm
possible
"'Madam," he urged, and look
of severe determination crossed
his features, 4 am a desperate
man. Beware how you refuse
what l ask. Cut my hair off
short, close to the roots-immedi-
ately; and here is a newspaper to
hold the ambrosial curls.'
81 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, I'M
locking small portmanteau, you
will further oblige me by looking
out the window, as l am about to
change my clothes"
"Of course | looked out of the
window for very, considerable.
time, and when he observed, "Mad-
am, | need no longer put you to
! any inconvenience, | did not rec
ognize the young man in the least.
'Instead of his former rather
gay costume, he was attired in
black, and wore a grey wig and
silver speetacles: he looked Ike
respectable divine of the church
of England, Of about sixty-four
years of age. To complete. that
character, he held a volume of
sermons in his hand, which-they
appeared SO to absorb him-migllt
have been his own.
al do not wish to threaten you.
young lady he resumed, sand I
think, besides, that [ can trust
your kind face. Win you prom
Use me not to reveal this metamor-
phosis until your journeys endY
"1will, said |, most certainly
"At Reading, the guard and al
person in plain clothes looked in
to the carriage. i =,
"'You have the ticket, myI
love- said the young man, bland
ly, and looking at me as though
he were my father.
"'Never mind, sir; we don't
want them, said the official, as he
withdrew his companion.
:" 4 shall now leave you, mad
am observed my fellow traveller,
as soon as the coast was clear; 'by
your kind and courageous conduct
Won have saved NV lifo and nov