St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-10-11

- ~ ~ N->PiNoo HUH bOuloSHe, Hdu
to alight and change trains The notice.
'For Ladies Only" though, of course,
1t was in French, affixed to the door of a
tirst-class compartment, caught nv eve.
'Ouvrez, Monsieur, sill vous plait," /
said to slim young guard, who held a
key in his hand. He pulled open the
door with a jerk. "Madame will be
Alone" he said, ''alone all the way. She
will have the carriage to herself up to
Paris" l got in accordingly, and Cub
bins and Thomas proceeded to make me
comfortable, and to hand me in my port
able property, bag, dressing-case, cloak,
shawls, packet of sandwiches, guide
books, and ALL
travel with a good deal of light lug
gage, because, although it makes the
getting in and out Of the carriag ae work
OF time, and although one is always
wretched for fear offorgetting something,
one never knows what one may want
tancy-work, Or Il book, or Il smelling
bottle,-and it is best to be prepared
Then my man and maid went TO their
own seats in the second-class, at some
little distance, and presently the train
started.
''Well, this is nice," said l, as | set
tied myself snugly in a wcli-paddcd COR
her, and drew shawl around my knees
this is nice, We unprotected females,
as they call us, have the best of it," |
said this i'll a kind of self-satisiied solIo-
guy, a5 the train ratified on through the
thlckenlng darkness. We were clear Of
Amlens by this time, station. city, ram
parts, and biturcation, and were rushing
very fast through a lonely country, where
great rushy pools, sullcn sheets of wafer
that looked lead-colored in the dim light,
were the most conspicuous objects of the
landscape. \ bare, blurred landscape it
was, with only here and there white
cottage or 4 stuntcd tree TO break the dull
uniformity of swamp and pasture. 1t
was not, YOU may be sure, the beauty of
the prospect that had prompted my re-
mark, but the fact that the train. on ac-
count of the exhibition, | suppose, was
very full. There were large families,
and young men, and married couples,
and queer Russian-looking voyagcrs in
black lambSkin caps and furred boots,
but | was the only lady travelling alone.
and whilst the rest were squeezed and
shouted at, and thrust in anywhere. |, in
my solitary dignity, had clbow-room and
10 spare. Hence my remark But what
was my horror to hear, or to think
heard, a heavy sigh, in answer to my
words
\ sigh it most unmi>takab,y was, and
yet | was alone i'll the carriage: | glanc-
ed round TO assure myself OF the fact
Yes. undoubtedly had all the eight
seats for my especial accommodation.
There lay my cloaks. nv bag (beSt solid
morocco leather, silver mounted. and
fitted with Bramah lock, 4 most CON
venient ba@, in which kept my kcves,
my purse, and a few other Indispensable
articles, and my parasol, umbrella. and
dressing case, nothing WAS disturbed.
Who then had Eeaved the deep si-h that
had followed SO Immediately upon my
little outbreak OF selt-comgratulation
Either my senses must have PLAYED ne
false. or | myself must have sighed with
out knowing it. Fancy is capable OF
strange prauks, and this Is specimen OF
them, thought l. but at that very mo-
ment | heard Il low sound, something be-
tween Il groan and growl, and then a
rustling noise that appeared to proceed
from beneath the seat opposite to me,
ard on the elastic cushions OF which INV
feet were comfortably rcpo>ing.
snatched them away, now,-my feet,
mean,-morc abruptly than was consis-
tent with the elegent placidity that
had always maintained to be the true lie
pertinent for 4 gcntlewoman. | wa
sure, this time, that my ears had nor
deceived me.
But what could be the origin of tht
extraordinary sounds that had thus brok
en- in upon my revcry? The idea 0
ghosts sternly rebuked. | have always
as rule, set my face against ghosts.
am sound churchwoman. hope, an,
not supersticious, and | have never coun
tenanced any Of the idle talk of tn,
younger generation of my neighhors will
regard to spirit-knocks and tablc-turn
ing, things which am certain my lat
: lamented father, DR.. Prym, would neyc
have permitted in his parish Besides
though | have heard OF haunted houses
| never did happen to hear of a haunte,
: railway-carriage The notion was pre-
postcrous. But again came the same
sound, the growl this time predominant
ing over the groan, and the stealtfy
: rustllng noise increased, and ] saw th
, valance opposite to me shake violently
, grew excessively nervous. What ha,
, got for fellow-traveller? Then tn
idea flashed upon me that the creatur
concealed beneath the drab drapcry il
front OF me was probably dog, slyl,
, placed there by some dishonest maste
t who preferred TO make the company car
| ry his canine favorite gratis to providin
| quarters for him in the regular doggery
or whatever they call it.
There was some relief in that suppo
sltion, but, even then, my position wa
tar from being an agreeable one. | al
, one OF those persons who dislike dogs
, except, OF course, in their proper place
t And their proper place is not where
e am. | have all my life, too. had livel
fear Of hydrophobia, and the idea that
strange dog-and large one, to Jude
: by the disturbance that it made in dran
: glng itself over the foor-was boxed u
/ with me, and with no one to keep it /
4 order, was very unwelcome. Wha
might the brute do, if irritated, / dc
n termined to be conciliatory and vet o
: the alert, so that while picked up m
!, parasol as the readiest weapon | coul
;, lind in case of sudden rush, | said. in
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