The mountain Democrat., 1864-04-02

nau norm nung ABOUT MIN Oy Wn0t ap'
peared thick green belT-rope. He had
a rough, red beard, something like the
diagrams | have seen Of hand carding ma.
chimes, used ] believe in the preparation
of fax, which gave him an unpleasant,
rasping effect, almost painful. He spoke
to me both roughly and grufny but |
made him no reply, which seemed to fret
and exasperate him. He addressed me in
his own language, which was unintelligi-
BILE to me, and thought it was not un-
reasonable that l should have the privi-
lege of reply ing to him in my own, taking
the chances that it might be ineligible to
him. spoke calmly and, hope, as was
becoming an English gentleman. | ex.
planned to him my misfortune, and asked
him his advice.
Seriously" said, 81 do not reckon
on your assistance in recovering my lost
property. You have, of course, your own
special sphere of duty. cannot be so
very unreasonable as to expect you to
travel out of your own particular round,
but if"
At this point he rudely twitched my
ticket from my fingers, "snipp'd" it with
the favorite instrument Of his profession,
and departed growing what now believe
to be a vOlley Of profane and horrible
oaths. | looked after him from the win.
dow, and saw him pointing to my carriage
in conversation with brother of the cloth
(of the Lincoln green cloth), whose beard
suggested also two black carding ma
chimes.
They were both laughing and growing
together-a curious instance of that com
binatiOn of drolery and low humor that
have found in foreign nations. | could
not forbear smiling and nodding good
naturrdly. at them in return, in order to
promote the good feeling which should
subsist between inhabitants Ct different
countries.
We started to blast of the horn Of the
Robin Hood guard. Alone in my COM
partmcnt, thought of my situation. In
an hour | should meet her, the idol, face
to face; she lovely, fresh, fair, radiant; |
unkempt, dragged, disheveled, generally
awry and tumbled, and in state Of ruin.
The prospect was terrible. In an absent
and reflective way passed my hand over
my chin, and became conscious Of q rude
rasping feel that spoke volumes Of per-
sonal degradation. At that moment had
perfect consciousness Of the squaor, as
| may justly term it, Of my personal ap'
pearance-
Stay! I recollected had with me a
portable eathcr dressing case, which roll
ed up fiat, like a convenient surgical in,
Strument case. 1t could bc carried in the
pocket or in the bosom. 1t was in the
bosom at that moment Blessed device !!
Happy forethOught ! had seen a dia.
gram Of the apparatus in Mr.. Bradshaw, S
Guide, and had promptly secured it. It
contained n glass, pincuShion, a pair of
scissors, n pcnknifc, razors, and little
pot of soap. What could be simpler! |
could not restore the beauty Of my wear
ing apparel; but as to the personal squal'
or, here was dressing room with no one
to intrudc ON my privacy
1t was raining heavily. Iput back my
collar Icisurely, | barred my throat, | took
out the portable razor and felt the keen
edge, | took out the portable glass and
took haSty glance. | was shocked at
the change which one nights suffering
had wrought.
Eyes bioodShot and strained, checks
wan and haggard, mouth drawn down
the whole, with the effect of the throat
bare, giving a wild, haggard air, difficult
to describe. With a sigh put by the
glass, and, in a musing, absent fashion,
began to " hct my razor Oh my hand. |
would hold the little pot of soap outside
the window to catch the natural moisture,
and then (Still whetting my razor)--
heard "a cultural cry The red beard
was at the window gesticulatng, and |
stopped in amazcment. In an instant he
had the door open and was beside me. |
had forgotten that on these foreign lines
the guards have unrestricted access to
every part Of the train even when in mo
ton.
1t is impossible to describe the savage,
unaccountable mailucr of the man. He
even rudrly caught hold of my arm and
tried to seize the useful article was pre-
pairing for my toilette. 'was amazed at
his iHcom prehcnsible behavior, and re-
monStrated in my own tongue, without
effect. He continued his horrid cultural
! language, and actually shut up my razor
and put it in his pocket. demonstrated
with him calmly, still in my own tongue,
but without effect. At last it all flashed
upon me.
was violating one of the established
rules Of the company by converting one
Of their carriages into dressing room. |
could not forOear smiling at my own stu
pldity at n OF guessing this before, and
assumed a gentler tone.
AS we were approaching a station he
got up and left me, taking with him my
property. demonstrated lin my own
tonguc); but Intellectually. The value of
the article was, in money point of view,
contemptible, but, at that moment, it was
to me hey all price. Without it was
helpless, stranded, hideous. He sternly
refused to restore it, and even locked both
doors upon me.
When the train started again was
conscious of the view being suddenly
darkened, and of two figures black beard
and red beard--looking in upon me stead
lily. Red beard was pointing me out to
his fellow. Presently red beard came in,
and sat dOwn beside me. Iagain demand
ed my property. He shook his head. !
tried to express contrition, if in my igno-
rance of the manners and customs Of
foreign country l had outraged any of
their regulations. He again shock his
head. His behavior was getting most
mysterious. What did he mean? Per
haps he had designs on other articles Of
mine-possibly on my purse. The lonely
carriage, my helpless condition, every
thing favored his~neiaFidHs purpose. In.
stantly an idea flashed upon me. IwOuld
not submit further to this degrading cs
pionage. would descend, to use their
own phrase, at the first convenient sta
ton, privily and secretly withdraw into