The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-09-14
Il issi1,g IN the DARK.


|. One Of the prettiest and pleasantest
mornings Of May, near the close of that
|delightful month Of balmy airs and frag-
tant flowers, the train from Louisville
was frefghted with an unusual number
of elegant women and gay, nicely dressed
men. AS usual, among the latter was q
large proportion of Uncle Sans pets with
shoulder-straps. There was no longer
any apprehension of guerillas or other
marauders on the road, and after getting
fairly under way, the passengers catch
| ing the spirit of the lovely morn, address
ed themselves to the task of making time
pass off pleasantly. 1t was not long ere
all who We're so disposed were enjoying
themselves in some way. On one OF the
seats in the ladies' car was a married
lady with a little daughter, opposite
facing them was another child, a son OF
| a colored woman, with the baby. The
mother OF these children was a beautiful
matron, with sparkling eyes, in eXube-
| rant health, and Vivacious spirits. Be
| hind her sat young Lieutenant, dressed
to Kill, and seeking victim. He scrap
ed up an acquaintance with the mother
! by attention to the children. It was not
long before he was to make himself very
agreeable to her, and by the time the sun
began to decline, one would have thought
| they We're old friends. The Lieutenant
! felt that ne had made an impression; his
citation manifested it. The lady dream
| ing OF no wrong, no evil, was apparently
pleased with her casual acquaintance.
| BY and by the train approached the tun-
mel at MuldrOugh's Hill. The gay and
festive Lieutenant leaned Overland whis-
pered something in the lady's ear. 1t
was noticed that she appeared thunder
eyes famed with Indignation. A mo-
meHt more a smile lighted up her fea-
tures. What changes: That.smile, it
WAS not Of pleasure, but sinister. Itwas
unperceived by the Lieutenant. She
made him a reply which rejoiced him
apparently very much For the under
standing properly of this narrative, this
, o'ef-true tale, We must tell the reader
What was whispered, and what replied:
| Whispered the Lieutenant, ssi;dnean to
| kiss YOU when you getinto the ttlnnelP
Replied the lady, ait will be dark; who
NIL see it ~ Into the earth's bowels,
| into the tunnel ran the ears Lady and
qolored nurse quickly changed seats.
Gay Lieutenant threw his afnls-around
The lady, raised her from hF.seat and
| FAST and furiolisly imprinted. kissesson
her lips. IN a few moments the train
nearvd the end Of the tunnel aud glided
out in broad day light wbitelady look7,
led Amazed; colored lady bashful,' Blush
ing; gay Lieutenant betoggea.. ssJane,'
said the white lady, "What have you
been doing?3' 2" Nothing,''as responded
the colored lady. zsss'ts.ts ssfss tit. e
6 Yes, you have" saidthe white lady,
not in an imdertene, but in Il voice that
attracted the attention of all in the car.
s'See how your collar issrumpled, and
your bonnet smashed.o Jane, poorcol-
ored beauty, hung her head a moment.
the;observed of all Observers and then
| tufningaroundt to the Lieutenant replied,
1'this man Rugged and kissed me in the
tunnel ~ Loud and long was the laugh
that followed among the passengers.
The white lady enjoyed the joke amaz-
ingly. Lieutenant looked like a Sheep
stealing dog, left the car and was seen
no more during that trip. ff7'i lss=z