The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-15
Selected Story.
Waited for at Downley.
AnEnsliAh Railway Experience.

r AnEnSlish Railway Experience
ASH stood at my door, looking for pass
inc cab could not help Wishing LhsiI' mad
taken my yiIe's advice, ana gone 10 DoWniey
by an earlier IRAN. The weather had grown
much worse instead OF better, and not only
aid lh,, wind blow most hoisterOusly as II
had done all day, but Its gusts now dieye he
fore them heavy rain which would have
wetted one through IN q very few minutes.
As rule, dtsengased cabs crawling slowly
past my house We're a nuisance, and now /
had waited lu quarter OF an hour without
seeing one, and knew that the margin be-
yona the number OF minutes absolutely neees-
sary TOR getting TO the station was growing
dangerously narrow. There was howl
there was delugel / could never walk to
the station In this. All there was ore. IL
answer To the mans hail, l dashed through
my little garden and IN a few seconds was
inside four wheeler.
<"Gxat Southern, sir ? yes, sir" said the man.
ashe stood at the door, the rain pouring from
his oils1in in streams. San uncommon mas
ty night, SIR" a.-gs..e
so il was, and SO should fancy the poor
fellow found il, for When he opened the door
Tor me to al.ghtat the station, n complete
ring OF water formed where he stood. We
were in pretty good time, after all, and got
my ticket and was seated comfortably IN the
carriage Tor some minutes before The mo-
meBt Of starting. There were very lew pas
eengeIS ia any of the carriages, and ia the
enc by which / Travelled, aid which was
marked for the Downley branch, there were
but two or three, and was the only occu-
pant OF my compartment. The last bell mad
rulg, the whiSt.e had sounded, the prem0n-
itory scream from the engine had been given,
and then, OF course, had followed the First
tug Wien | heared voice Shout
6,TTar. :. cir 1as- .
a guard tore along the platform, followed
by belated passenger; my door unlocked,
this stranger jumped painting in, the door
was slammed TO, shilling changed hands
rapidly, and we swept from the station.
"By ioye," exc aimed the new conner, wIp-
Ing his forehead as he spoke, 'by joye that
was close thngp 1
toop i't
"Ghe last train, certainly" said my com
panlol. Il believe there is no way whatever
- OF getting TO Downley il you miss this train
There Is none,p believe, (which is very
inconvenient" ,a 8wrry
"oh, exceedingly So" returned he. ''Have
you auy objection? ?"
Or course, as he said this he exhibited his
eiSar-case, and frdng had no objection, he
pressed cigar upon me, which / may re-
mark was one of the very best | ever smoked
and then, Without further speech, he reclined
with his eyes closed, as though in deep,
thought.
He was tail, good looking man, with fine
beard and moustaehe, very black aud full.
But could not help thinking that his head
was little too much like the head from hair
.drsssers window; and his attire was triile
100 like picture from fashion-book. Some
how everything about him was too new and
< glossy to please me entirely, and his iewelry
q was also too prouse, and, it could not be
denied that his cigar was a capital one.
sank into reverie as deep as his own
indeed rather suspect 4 had begun to doze,
when l was reused by the stopping of the
train. My companion reused himself too. 1
was on the side near the platform, and looked
out. +. ,..r,ss
/" A rozgh night, still, isn't il, STRIP
1t Is indeed,"i replied. Just put your
head out, and try how the wind is blowing"
i" No, thank you,' he returned with smile,
viii take Your word for it,"
laughed IN reply, and was about to close
the window, When the guard looked in. The
official passed on, but returned in few Sc
conds, and stared somewhat curiously, / fan
cled, into the carriage. The scream and the
the tug came again, and on we went.
"1hat fellow had good stare at YOU" said
my companion.
We'll, fancied he. looked chiefly at your
SAID; but the fact was, have no doubt, he
and he wished us to see that he did,
:" shouldn't wonder" said the stranger.
throwing himself back with the Iauglid air
OF one who takes no interest in a conversation.
ID we stop again before we arrive at the
Downiey branch?'
No" replied. sd oG
=" Very good, then,r he continued; .let us
make ourselves comfortable"
And, by way of doing this he unlocked n
pia,k vailse be had with him, and drew out
couple OF bottles of champagne, which prov
ed as good IN quality as his cigars. He next
produced ccntriyances for glasses, which shut
up into mere ring. With these cont:ivances
we very merrily jomneyed over the twelve
miles Which remained OF the main line. when
Downley Junction" was now shouted; and.
as soon we came to a stand our carriage
was detached from the train
All tickets ready, If you please" said the
collector. appearing at the door. AS we hand
cd our pieces OF pasteboard to the man, the
same guard who had twice before looked in,
peeFed over bis shoulder, to the annoyance OF
my companion, who muttered something
strongly condeInDatory ofhis inpudence.
In another moment the main train was
Numbering over the yiaduct, and dashing
With its roaring and its sparks, into the utter
DARKNESS OF the night, while Our modest little
en2ine came fussing out of some siding and
was booked on 10 its smaller charge.
NOW we re Oh to Downley,' exclaimed my
new friend. aaaa 91
But he was wrong. A delay of some min.
ntes yet took place, which really seemed quite
unnecessary; for there was not soul on the
q plat orm-aonS which the gusts of rain and
Wl-M swept hercely--save and except the sta
tion-niaster, who well wrapped up, twice
liked slowly last our carriage, and looked
Sideways at US, with very keen expression. or
Sc tancied. My fellow traveller did not sec
this, as he was tixedly staring into vacancy
from the other side of the carriage. At last
we pulled on to the branch. We bad got into
pretty good speed as we passed the second
platform, which, on the ,Downley branch. ex-
ISIS lor the convenience of up passengers,
When, U my amazemeit, the door was pulled
open, and young man jumped in. ~
"Come. my lad" demonstrated. this Is a
very dangerous game; and surely we have
been long enough at The station for you to
getin lesureIy."
. Yes" he sad, with grin.
On looking at him, / thought he was one
OF the most dissfpated, mpudent looking
young fellows had ever seen.
- es you've been at the station long
enough" he added
f Then be stopped, without any perceutibe-
reason to grin again, and to wink at me.
tried TO freeze him by a scornflll look. buf II
had not the least effect upon him.
NOW, he continued, do either of Won
gents know me ~
do not" was my reply
Ny companion turned his face from the
window Tor an instant, and bestowing lofty
siance OF contempt upon the speaker. resun-
ed his gaze. The new conner was in no vav
aoashed at the cool manner ia which his adj
VAnces were received, but resumed,-
want to have little talk with one If
you, but | don't know which. Have either
OF you ever beard OF Tawell, the Quaker. who
was waited for when be got out Of the train
all through the electric telegraph. which was
q new thing in his time ?r : = y
1 stared at the speaker, While nv fellow
traveller bestowed momentary glance unon
him as before. o'0e wv"
Oh, Gomez continued the youno follow
assuming still more knowing expression
TINS WON'T do. The branch is only seven
miles long, and one OF you is wasting time
awui'y: Which of you is likely to be waited
Tor at Down.ey?' "'''V'N
could only continue my blank stare at the
hoy The was little BETTER; my fellow traveller
just moved, but | took no notice of him.
Come, say urged the youth, "don't he a
iooi, one OF you. Pm telegraph clerk at the
lunctlIn, and l have wired to Downley TO
nave couple OF blues ready tor This carriaoe
TWO hundred and four Is that's the nunher
you see. oh, that's enough" he went On
turning to my new friend; can see which i
the party. You're in tor it, mIster.n
" But-but why sbould-how could anrhod7
bnow?' began the gentleman. and his voicss
WAS now husky and uuavor;y,o 1870 '"-N