The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-08-14

wise. 1t is truth, double-distilled ano
boiled down.
Mrs. Graves wore gray traveling-sult
Just short enough to show her charming
little foot and small foot was always my
admiration, notwithstanding / was wo
man-hater. Her dress was trimmed IL
black, and she had on brown hat with &
scarlet rose in front, and a blue vail all ovel
her head and face.
"Homely as sim said I to myself
"pretty women never wear veils-that Is
thick ones
flasher got the baggage checked and the
tickets bought. These were transferred tt
me together with the neatly-gloved hand
of Mas. Graves, and escorted her into a
car. 1t was not very crowded, and gave
her seat just in front of mine, for l had
decided that I would not sit on the same
sofa near her. did not care to be quite
so near woman as that for if l did, she
would expect me to talk to her, and tell hel
the names of the stations, and buy her Ia
dy's-books, and oranges, and photographs,
and peanuts, when the vendors went through
the cars. Not that grudged the money,
but you see I did not want to be agreeable
to any woman.
had Just got myself comfortably fixed,
with my overcoat on the seat beside me,
and my newspaper spread out, when in
sailed woman full six feet high, and stout
in proportion, with her arms full of poo
die, a bandbox, a big paper parcel, satchel,
and a pot of verbenas. And before | could
lift hand or voice to prevent her, she had
pumped herself down beside me, bundles
and all, spread her stiff hoped petticoat
over her knees, and set her bandbox and
parcel into my lap with the remark:
'IIere, mister, just you hold them things.
I've got the verbenas and Pet to take care
of, and that's enough for me. Dear me
can't you set over little? I'm awfully
crowded -
was on the point of dropping her lug
gage, stepping unceremoniously over her,
and taking a seat with Mrs. Graves but
just as was rising for that purpose, nice
looking young gentleman, with curly black
hair, entered the car, laid his daintily
gloved hand on the back of her seat, and
asked the question.
SIS this seat engaged, madam -
"No, SIR replied the sweetest voice l
had ever heard and l have fine ear for
music.
"May sit here?" as deferentially as if
he were asking a sovereign to spare his life.
8" If you please" said she. And / could
have throttled him as he sat down beside
her, his arm touching her shoulder, and his
handsome face bent down to talk to her
could not help feeling angry with him :;
but then, of course, it was not from any
special interest in her, for hated the sex,
but because he had SO much better a seat
than | had. For my partner smelled of
musk and onions and one of these odors
alone is bad enough, but combine them,
and it is dreadful
The curly-headed fellow made himself
intensely agreeable to her. He bought a
comic paper, and they laughed over it to-
gether, and by and by he bought some pop
ped corn, and they ate that together. I
was fairly boiling with rage, and when
Mrs. Poodle addressed me question, l
answered her so sharply that the poodle
barked and made a snap at my elbow. Sa-
gacious little cuss :! he must have known
that had murder in my heart.
After while we came to stopping place
The curly-haired fellow put his shawl over
the back of the seat to keep his place for
him, and went ont. Quick as thought
piled the boxes into Mrs. Poodie's lap, and
stepped over her, and took the seat the
young man had just vacated.
Mrs. Graves looked at me in evident sur
prise. She had removed her vail now, and
l was astonished to see how pretty she was
l had expected she was elderly, and this
lady could certainly not be more than
twenty five, I thought. was thirty. I
had long ago decided that she was widow
that was what her dress was
in black for.
l honored her now with a good look
Her hair was a rich golden brown, and
gathered into a knot behind, from which
strayed few careless ringlets none of
your detestable waterfalls, composed OF
curled hair, old stockings, split zephyr,
black yarn, and dirty horse-hair. She had
a clear complexion, with dash of crimson
in the cheeks, brown eyes, and mouth
that-well, I was an old bachelor then,
and did not believe in women; but did
think I wouldn't mind touching those red
lips with my own, just to see how it would
seem for, in all my life, had never kissed
any woman except my mother-if l except
Aunt Peggy, who had the catarrh and took
snuff.
Before many moments elapsed, the curly
haired young man returned, and looked
daggers and butcher knives at me.
''This is my seat, SIR said he, with an
air of authority.
81 beg your pardon, sir, said l. "This
lady is under my charge, and l claim the
right to sit with her.
''Under your charger ~ said he with
look of surprise. "Then why the deuce
didn't you sit with her before?"
I-I-thought she would be more COM
Portable with the seat to herself" said l.
81 am sorry to disturb you sir, but you can
take the seat I have just left And I
pointed with my thumb over my shoulder,
to the seat Mrs. Poodle occupied.
"Thank you for the suggestion" said
he, "but l prefer the smoking car
Which proved him to be very sensible
fellow, after ALL
Well, it wasn't half so bad as it might
have been, to sit beside my travelling COM
panion. She did not smell of musk, and
she had no bundles, poodles, nor band
boxes The wind came in at crack Of the
window, and fixed shawl to keep it out,
and somehow I touched her hand. What
a thrill went through me 1t was like tax
ing a shock from galvanic battery, only
rather pleasanter.
Pretty soon we fell to talking. do not