The mountain Democrat., 1865-04-15

sticking fast halfway. Though muc
startled, | managed to get my arms unde
his broad shoulders.
You mailman you'll be killed i ex
claimed the guard, who was now runnin
back the other way to leap into his var
What must you get out Of the other car
riage for p and the official angrily CAV
the gentleman a push by the legs which
in forcing him through one window near
ly sent me reeling out by the other.
shall summons you, sirl'
| don't care Pm not mad but she il
the next carriage is painted my puffiny
companion. Don't say word, he add
ed, facing round to the guard 'Tll Civ,
you half crown at the station
She? A lady, sir! The one in til,
next compartment? I'll inquire into i
when we stop, significantly answered tn,
guard; and the engineer having, in an
swer to a signal from his whistle, slack
ened the rising speed again, the speaker
lcaped down, and hurried to regain hi.
van.
I'm make it five shillings, guard, i
rou'h get my stick from her = excitedly
shouted the red faced man. 'Oh dear !
he said turning to me, and re.arranginc
his rutfied dress, who will travel by rail
way, say!'
What is the matter?' | very apprehen
Sively inquired, for well knew the lady
in the next compartment must be my
Aunt Tab.
Watch smashed, l know, for I felt the
glass as | tumb.ed in he remarked, pull.
ing out dilapidated watch. But thank
goodness Tn safen and he gasped again.
Catch me in firstclass car any more
III go third in future as long as / live
No mans safe, sir; not with woman old
enough to be his own grandmother
Sit down and compose YOURSELF you've
had rather narrow escape faltered,
more and convinced my aunt was at the
bottom Of it.
Escape | should have had a bullet IN
me, sir, if | hadn't bolted. She's as mad
as hare; could see it in her eyes, and
he dropped exhausted on a seat. Talk
about Banting's system? This beats
Banting hollow. I've lost pounds since
we left London Removing his hat he
vigorously mopped his face and head with
his handkerchief. I'm all in a vapor bath
at this minute lie was rather fat man,
well.dressed, having the look of gentle.
man farmer.
| think you mentioned lady, SIR
hypocritcally inquired. Nothing serious
has happened to her, | hope?'
To her Let me get my breath, ant
I'll tell you,' he painted, tanning himse
with his handkerchief WED left towr
about ten minutes, and | saw she was
watching me queerly-there were only
ourselves in the carriage, you understand
well, to make friends with her, just offer
ed her my newspaper You may believ
me or not, but she deliberately came on
like this. and struck at me with loadet
lile-preserver! Then she said something
| did not catch, and pulled out bowie
knife. Its true, sir, as true as sit here
| believe she is mad woman from til,
hackwoodS of America, he added, looking
into the bottom of his hat before replac
ing it.
WAS that all 2 I ventured to ask, g!ac
that things were not worse. Il though
you alluded to a stick ?
MAT all, young man. BY Jove, i
il had been you, fancy you'd have
thought it was enough! All = he repeat
cd in hurried manner, i had to sit il
the corner as if my life was not my own
with maniac glaring at me-
Yes, bat the stick?'
The stick Why, happened to lei
it drop on the carriage bottom just as VT
got into the last station. Whereabout;
are we, for don't know?' and lie gazcc
helplessly out of the window. Hunting
don, is it9 1t slipped out of my fingers
the stick did, and | was STOPPING to pick
it up-yards away from, her, when she
screamed ont, Let it be = and drew pis
tol, sir; a revolver with eight or ten bar
rels. It's true, upon my honor! | though
the train WAS stopping, but I'd have jump
ed out Of it if we'd been on q viaduct, fo
I'm sure she's raving.'
There have been so many cases lately
of ladies assaulted in railway carriage tina
perhaps was simply intending to say
that perhaps my aunt was not lunatic
but had armed herself under that miStak
en- fear, but | stopped.
Good heavens! Is that the way yor
look at it:' exclaimed my companion, ris
ing horror stricken from his seat | as
sure you | never touched the lady; nev
er was within yard Of her, till had t.
brush past. You don't believe il, | see
I'm married npn, and have five chill
dren at home Is it likely-is it reason
able! My bankers will tell you | am re
spectacle, sir. | never put a finger OF
her, and nobody would do so, for she's a,
ugly as sin. My soul! TO think of such
a charge as this! She's seventy years o
age, sir. Is it likely?'
She is not fifty yet, sir | stammeret
out.
but didn't touch her. I'll swear it
Interfere with a woman armed in that
way-iS it reasonable to think it!' ht
again pleaded. But, he quietly went on
who knows what lies she'll tell the guardi
And my names on the stick in full-it'.
a presentation stick. Oh, dear = he groan
ed, tumbling back on the seat.
Il suppose, from what the guard said
he'll ask the lady; but don't think you
need be afraid, remarked soothingly.
after this row in the papers, the mag
sistrates would commit saint; and there
are lots O. folks who'd believe it agains
a new born babe. Let me get out!
may as well be killed as disgraced. What
would my wife say? l should never have
another hours peace. Let me 60.
have bit of luggage, but anybody may
have that-you may But l swear | nev,
er touched her; an if its the last word
say. VOW it's true
He had become so excited, that won'
say he would not have left the carriage
instantcr, if would have allowed him.
| was obliged to confess that knew th'
lady, and that she was very eccentric. -
but assured him she would never make