The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-10-04

Uldu presefs MIG nhu Sctu uOuo bhSO "o'
dear father left her at Dropville. Why hal
he not accompanied her? no impudent wnr-
rior would have presumed to admire her
then. It seemed to her that il was growing
dark. Would Mr.. Torch tnlk all night TO
her7 IL ioas dark, though the sun had not
set; but the sky must be overloaded with
rising storm. Suppose tempest She
was afuid of thunder and lightning; and
what companion to appeal to WINS Mr..
Torch! 1t couldn't thunder, for II was
October, and too late. Why didn't these
troubles shadow forth in her mind while
she was having her fine dreams Of jour
ney and making fine plans7 A journey, in
fact, was tiresome, stupid, dirty. The ro-
mancers of the pen must be characters of
the most mendacious and yenial descrip-
ton. If, on her arrival at St. Louis, her
disappointment should continue, and the
city should prove n sham. she hoped she
should not find her uncle John, rs her IA
ther said he had been, a trouble always
and now he was the cause OF her acquain.
tance with Mr.. Torch.
With ON air of desperate resignation she
resumed her seat, thankful, ut least, that no
one had witnessed this humiliating acquain'
tance. As she leaned her head back wea'
riy her eyes rested on the little mirror at
the end Of the car, hat was rising IN II,
followed by a face, followed by shoulders
there was no room in il to reflect further
and she sought the reality. The reality, in
the shape of handsome, digniiied young
man, had already found her, and was look.
ing at her with an expression which gave a
l..c 10 ,,,IInp Hin.
consciously she made an imploring gesture,
snd he moved toward her, feeling an intnn.
gible recognition. which he thought he
thought ho must look into Kant, Fichle,
and Spinoza and find reason for it.
"Will you permit me?" he asked, point.
ing to the seat Mr.. Torch had vacated.
"Ccrtainly,' she answered.
"1'he oblrusive looking. glass yonder
would reflect the behavior of your enthusi.
astic FRIEND" he continued, "nnd ] could
not avoid learning that you were annoyed
This sort off man is an unhappy feature of
our civilization. ] am almost sure have
before this attempted to spare some unpro.
terte,l traveller from his tongue. lf you
will allow it, ! will 20 on with my book in
your neighborhood." Tic opened the vol
nme in his hand, and bent his head to the
stndious perisal Of a treatise upon "The
Moral Use Of Esthetic Manners" The
brim OF Lucy's hat was too wide now; but
she contrivcd to get II clear glimpse Of his
face from under il, and somehow felt as II
she had been scol,ling unreasonably few
minutes since, OH tho subjects Uf journeys.
TO him il appeared ms if tho language Of the
treatise was moro obscure and complicated
than the papers wlicl, he had read previous
"; besides, he could not help seeing that
Lucy was very pale, that her hands trcm-
bled, and thinking there was tremor in her
sweet voice. She was indeed nervous and
exhausted for several reasons, and was Oh
the point of having good crying fit.
"l,y the way" he said, shutiibg his book,
"there is famous tea at this station. i am
going to get n cup for you-tllere Is time
lie was gone and back again, with bowl
Of tea set in a plate. round which was a
wreath Of small biscuits.
81 am going back foru second one for
myself" he sad, disappearing again before
she could thank him. She drank the tea
and ate the biscuit with gratitude, and her
inclination for weeping vanished.
"All aboard !" being cried, he hurried in
before the crowd.
.'Thc bowl and tho plate, Sir ?" said
Lucy, intcrrogatiyely.
'l was in adlennIa," he answered. with
a sInile-''it the bowl went Out, feared
our friend would come in before me. We
must throw them both out of the window if'
they are too troublesome. The bowl not
being stronger his song won be longer
t..l- ,I.
came Mr.. Torch he looked puzzled when
he saw his place occupied. Lucy felt
airaid he would push IN beside her, and he
was debating within himself whether he
would do so when heavy oyercoat depos.
tied itself in the desired spot. He cast an
irale glance at the owner, aud said to him.
self:
Zone Of those muscular college pups,
crnmIned to the hilt with other men 3 ideas,
which they report rs their own. III do
picket duty ifhe gets over the line, l am
no longer fit for Company A."
Ile threw out his chest and folded his
nrms with military swnggcr, which PROV.
ed the adnptability Of the young American
to any station, for the swaggcr was at lens!
equal to that Of Brigadicr.Gcneral, and
said between his teeth:
"Thcre is going to be tornado, Miss
"Whcre ?" interposed Lucy's champion.
"Perhups you have been too much en-
crossed with your les.on," said Mr.. Torch.
Ito notice that the sky is like brass-isn't
that sign?"
"The appearance of brass sometimes is
the sign offailuro
Lucy lot the bowl and plate fall with a
crash, TO divert an impending quarrel, ami
looked a rcproof Sir. Torch thought she.
was afraid he wns going to do mischief.
Ills crost grew naughty as he spoke again.
"And, perhaps, Sir, you have not observ-
cd that we are in the last car"
"What Of that7' asked Lucy.
Mr.. Torch shrugged his shoulders alarm
inglg, -. i.
bc blown into kingdom come" ..,
"Pool! J" said the young man.
"Pooh yourself" replied Mr. Torch,
"and hoo you arc 80 inclined"
The young man rose up TO an altitude of
six feet and one or two inches, and whisp.
cred some mystery in the ear Of Mr.. Torch,
aud sat down again, and plunged into the
depth of his treatise. Mr.. Torch looked
doubtfully at Lucy a moment. and retreat.
cd slowly to the single corner seat behind
the one he had formerly occupied. There
was no talking to Lucy over the tall head of
the reader, and Mr.. Torch grew uncomiortn-
bile and fidgeiy, muuering something TO the
effect that he guessed he could find friends
in the slnoking.car; got up. and, with an
oininous griInace at Lucy. passed out. As
soon ms he wns gone the book wns closed
aiid 'rhal day he read no moro." r.
"lfihe wind blows more than wind
should blow under the circumstances, no
doubt the train will STOP" hc remarked.
.It is un in wind that blows nobody good,
she answered, referring to the absence Of
Mr.. Torch.
"I rcolI,c,ed. nj Inst, that saw him in