Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-05-28
FORTY sHILLINGs AND COSTS.

had been all day trying to get from
Aveminster to Chichester by country
line, London line, and branch line of
railway. In the first place, as the coun-
try line only run three trains day, pas
sengers and goods together, necessitating
weary shuntirgs at every station, we
could hardly be said to have made a
good start. In the next place. the
stragetic arrangement whereby the Lon
don line mauag ed invariably to start its
trains five minutes before the arrival OF
the sup" country train, making us wait
for two hours at Marlbury junction, to
spite the country company, scarcely tend
ed TO rapid progress. In the third place,
as it always happens to be the aim Of a
traffic manager to endeavor to drive pas
sengers on the main line, and to visit
with all possible retributive delays the
hostile British public when it acitt travel
on branch, we could not be considered
to have made up for lost time on the
branch. Ia the fourth place it didn't
help us forward to be compelled to tray
el one hundred and twenty seven miles
round about in a parabola, in order to
reach Chichester, which, at starting,
was only fifty-eight miles from Avemia-
ister. In the fifth and last place, we
were not got to Chichester yet; and it
would have been money IN my pocket il
| never had.
Swinbro'-Swinbro'. Change here
for Marchmont and Nutchley. Change
here"
Almost time for change, reflected,
considering l had been nine hours Out
on journey of fifty eight miles, and was
still far off from my destination. Look
ing out from my window of first elias;
compartment, | saHit was cherries
drilling night, and the railway porter:
were streaming in the misty air as they
hurried to and fro past the CLEAN of the
lamps. demonstrating with the guarC
respecting our train being nearly an houl
late, and the time past eleven at night
he soothed my irritation by telling ms
gruffly | had no business on a branch
line if wanted to 90 anywhere; and i
| would 90 to out-of the-way places like
Chichester, l must be very thankful
if the company put themselves to thu
expense of taking me there at ali, con
sidering branches didn't pay to work al
q rule.
A solitary passenger then entered my
carriage, or rather was banged into il by
the guard. Another minute, and th'
guard had banged himself into his van
emitting the growl: "Change hereP
Our fiery and FESTIVE iron steed, nc
doubt weary with its headlong career o
fall twelve miles an hour, gave a heroic
neigh of triumph, resembling a feeble
crow, in emulation of past exploits. il
days long before it was condemned t.
transportation on branch, and dragged
us off into the black night.
Ny companion was tall, thin, middle
aged man, with face lean and wiihereC
like shrivelled apple, concluded below
the chin by a thick satin cfavat. La
dress, tight fitting, and of ancient AM
faded black, he looked altogether like
man who had run very much to seed
which perhaps accounted for the luxuri
ant growth of his arms and legs. Oh
serving his clothes steaming with th
damp air, began to realize it was yer,
chilly. 1t certainly was.
"Quite change in the weather."
remarked. Every cold tonight; is
not?"
"Don't feel the cold myself. PEI
haps you would like to change place
sOih me. There is no draught here.
| replied | should be pleased to do SC
if not to his inconvenience; and accord
ingly We changed seats.
1t was cold, and no mistake. l mus
have taken chill, for l felt the eel,
creeping over me in most unaccounta
bic manner.
Looking at my companion on the op
poslte seat, on whom the lamp light nov
shone full, / saw that his face was no
SO thin, nor his features so withered, as
had at first supposed; and l must hav
made mistake as to his age, for he wa
by no means SO old as l had presious
judged. How cold it was to be sure
As continued to look at him, I notice
his aspect changed momently, that b
was growing younger; that the wrinkle
in his face were filling out and smooth
ing down; that he was becoming lik
some one I had seen before. As hi