Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-09-26

the carriage with me. Why should he
wear white trowsers? The day was not
warm. Were they made of duck or
jean? l suppose | must have been
scanning his garb, for presently he said,
in loud voice:
"Well, Madam, may | ask if you see
any thing peculiar in my dress that you
are honoring it with SO much atten-
ton ?"
really thought I must have sunk
through the seat of the carriage. |
tried to stammer out an apology, and he
waved his hand with what seemed an
ironical leer, saying, 'Oh, no offense,
no offense." Well, what with my con-
fusion and annoyance, l was ready to
faint. l felt l must have little air,
so without, a thought l pulled down the
window. In an instant he fired cut
again:
"Bless me, Madam, you are quite at
liberty to commit suicide, of course,
but you don't want to commit murder
too "
Murder! suicide Oh, dear, dear,
what should | do? would the train
never reach the next station? lie must
have seen my terror, for he said:
"There, there, dou't look as if you
thought | was mad but if you suffered
from rheumatism as do, Madam, you d
look upon person who put you in a
drausht as your natural enemy"
certainly felt devoutly thankful now
that Pamela was not with me, or there
would have been quite a scene. We
stopped once more and took in two Ia
dies and a gentleman. The train NOV
ed on, and soon | heard my gruf neigh
Dor tut-tut-ting and muttering some
thing he would DO to somebody, when
| discovered that his nose was begin
ming to bleed and he was searching
vainly in his pocket for handkerchief
must confess my first feeling was not
one Of sorrow for him. lie had been
what | considered offensive to mean
unprotected female with nobody to re-
taliate for her; but then | remembered
how near | had been in a similar plight
to his i; had L not started at the time |
did, should have been minus hand
kerchief too. I involuntariy put my
hand in my pocket. Yes, there it lay
neatly folded up; but would not take
it out to make matters worse by unnec.
essary display At this time the poor
gentleman was obliged to put his head
cut Of the window. The ladies ex-
changed looks expressive of any thing
but p easure; the young man eyed hinl
with stare Of the most profound indif-
ference, as if it were the usual thing to
travel with people who chose that their
noses should bleed; and he did not de-
sire to interfere with him, Gully he wish
ed to impress upon us that he was at
no loss, for he produced spotless hand
kerchiel, slow ly shook it out. and used
it most unnecessarily, and l thought
heartlessly and then a small voice be-
gan to whisper, "Britanna Plummidge,
are you acting Christians 5 part? Have
you never heard a story of good Sa
maritan?
put my hand into my pocket again;
tried to feel if it was one of my best
handkerchiefs | argued that if | had
TWO it would be different, but you were
not disposed to distress yourself for
somebody you didn't know, Why, one
might do nothing else but give away
pocket handkerchiefs. Then there was
Pamela; she would ncvcrapprove of it,
and must never know of it. Oh, it was
exactly like one of my Quixotic fits l
might be quite certain | was making
myself ridiculous, and | resolved to en-
tertain the notion no longer But. in
spite of trying to look at the passing
scenery, and to consider what | should
purchase, how best lay out my small
amount of money, memory aoould recall
the ''sweet story of old,' and COZ ID
but hang my head from feeling that
was not one of those who tried to ego
and do likewise" Without a moments S
hesitation | handed my nice new hand
kerchief, embroidered with "B. P" in
the corner, saying:
81 am afraid, Sir, you are put to in
convenience. Will you accept this?
shall not require it"
| could not see his face but from
the side glance l got, l think it wore
an expression of great astonishment.
However, he took the handkerchief
without word, and l quite imagined
he did not intend thanking me. Pres
emily he drew in his head, bis face
looking redder than ever by the close
proximity of the white handkerchief,
and said:
"Madam, I am much obliged to you
very much obliged to you. Madam
you're an angel. You're more; you're
a woman, and the only one in the car
riage, too"
Here he perfectly glared at the two
ladies', who didn't seem to mind it
though, had it been me, l should have
felt as if | could have shrunk into a
nut she'll
We we're soon at our Journeys end
My companion helped me out with the
greatest politeness, and then, with the
manners of courtier, said: "May | be
permitted to inquire where | shall have
the pleasure of returning this?" still
holding the handkerchief in his hand.
Now this was embarrassing. Pamela
might blame me severely; and | should
never hear the last of my indelicate
liberty Yet felt should like get
my handkerchief back. So after mo.