The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1864-12-17

stance.
"Driye fast, my man. I want to hit
the night train for G.. Half a
crown extra if we don't miss it,"
The cab bowled swiftly off, and the
streets being clearer than at an earlier
hour we met with no interruption until
suddenly, in narrow part of one of the
most frequcnted thoroughfares, a lock
occurred, 10 which string of carts and
wagons, two OF three cabs and dray
were eatangled confusedly together.
there was the usual exchange of oaths,
street witticisms and abuse, the usual
cracking Of whips, grinding Of wheels
and Interference of single bewildercd
policeman, but the provoking feature of
the case was the'great probability thatI
should lose tie train. My charioteer
had been forced up a narrow cross street
by the pressure of the loaded vehicles in
front; dnd as he fourished his whip, and
rated the oarters and draymen in no
measured terms, looked anxiously about
me for signs ofa clearance. Then it was
that ! noticed hard by thevery same cab,
drawn by flea bitten light gray horse,
that had been stationed close by nv club
door. by the dim light of the street
lamp | could see that the horse was in A
'ather Of foam, and had evidently been
forced along at great pace. The win
dows Of the cab were close shut, hot and
sitting as was the atmosphere of that
reeking and crowded quarter of London.
But just asL had conjcctured that prob
ably the occupants Of the cab, like my
self, we're eager TO catch some train, the
lock Of carriges broke up and was borne
quickly to the terminus.
"Eour luggage is labelled, Mr.. Edgar,
end ready to be put into the van" said
Old Jones, my fathers confidential
servant, touching his hat respectfully.
II have put the rugs and sticks. and the
f.hing-rods into an empty first class car
riage, third from the bookstall to the
left"
VERY well, Jones; Just see the
luggage put in. Imust get my ticket"
answered |, and hurried to the ticket
Office, where several impatient passen.
gers were jostling and elbowing one ar.
other, while stout lady, one of those
voinbie but unprotected female travel
lers Who are the scourges and torments
Of all o.icials, was blocking up the wiu-
dow, and holdiug long and dsscursiye
argument with the booking clerk, on the
.srence ] OF slow trains and cheapncss to
express trains and high charges, and the
pest way III which she could reach some
cross country line eighty miles off. At
Last hnw49-4r n''o, ~ '-s-.--s, va. -
exhausted. [ managed to crush nv va9
to the window, and to take my ticket for
| c..
"First class to c., monsieurw said
a peculiarly harsh and strident voice At
my elbow, with slight but perceptible
foreign accent in its tones, and | glanced
around at the man, who was thrusting
hall washed muscular hand, decorated
by L heavy gold sisnet ring, past me to
lay his money on the counter.
With some surprise | recognized the
Russian whom l had seen twice on that
very afternoon in front of the jewellers
| shop. The recognition did not appear
mutual. He never looked at me, but
redemanded his ticket in a quick: angry
manner, and, having got it, fell back and
mingled with the crowd.
BY the time | had reached the car.
riasc third from the bookstall, [ saw
Jones approach along with the guard.
who unlocked the carriage, held open
the door for my entry, and, having re.
ceiyed the usual silver compliment that
has now become vested interest on
railways, closed and yelocked il, saying
that I should @haye the compartment to
myself, if | wished to smoke" Then
Jones, after asking if he could take any
message to "mlstcr,' touched his hat and
vanished. | remained alone, lazily ga
zing out of the window at the lively
scene which the well lighted platform
presented. The usual hustle which pre-.
cedes the departure of train was going
on. Porters were wheeling heavy bar
roy loads of luggage rapidly past Inc, all
the quicker in their movements because
the warning bell had begun changing Cor
the Ist time mail guards were dragging
along she huge sacks ofletters that we're
impasiently awaited by the sorters in
the post Office carriage; newspaper boys
were thrusting evening journals into the
faces of nervous passengers, wistfnlly
leaning ouc to see after the safety Of
shose trunks that the porter had glibly
assured them would "be all right !" and
Patertamilies was gathering his strayed
family aronnd him, or wrangIing over
charge fer overweight.
"Open this door, you guard! Halloa,
guard Open the door of this carriage,
will you ?"
ltwas thus that my reverie was bro
ben IN upon. A strange traveller with
railway rug over his arm, was roughly
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