The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-09-10
Miseellaneons.
THE BOX TUNNEL.

ton, May z. 1SI7. In the left compart-
ment of u certain first-class carriage were
four passengers; of these, two were worth
description. The lady had smooth.
white, delicate brow, strongly marked
eyebrows, long lashes, eyes that seemed
to change color, and u good-sized delicious
mouth. with teeth Us white rs milk. a
man could not see her nose for her eyes
and mouth; her own sex could and would
have told us some nonsense about II. She
wore an unpretending grayish dress. but
toned 10 the throat, with .lozenge-shaped
buttons, and Scottish shawl that agree
ably evaded color. She was like duck,
so tight her plain feathers fitted her, and
there she sat, smooth, snug and delicious.
with book in her hand, and soupcon OF
her wrist Just visible rs she held it. Her
opposite neighbor was what | call good
style of man-the more to his credit, since
he belonged to a corporation that frequent
| ly turns out the worst imaginable style OF
Young men. He was cavalry officer,
aged twenty-five. He had u moustache.
hut not very repulsive one; not one of
those sub-nasal pig-tails on which soup Is
suspended like dew on a shrub; IL was
short, thick, and black rs n coal. His
teeth had not vet been turned by tobacco
smoke to the color of juice, his clothes did
not stick 10 nor hang to him; he had an
engaging smile, and what liked the dog
fo:. his vanity, which was inordinate, was
in its proper place, his heart, not in his
face. jostling mine and other peoples who
have none-in word, he was what one
oitencr hears of. than meets-a young
gentleman. He was conversing in an an
mated whisper with n companion, fel-
low officer; they were talking about what
| il is far better not to do-women. Our
friend clearly did not wish TO be overheard
for he cast ever and anon furtive glance
nj his fair ris-d-ris and lowered his voice.
She seemed completely absorbed in her
book, and that treasured him. At last the
two soldiers came down TO u whisper, the
truth must be told0 the one who gotdown
Slough. and was lost to posterity, bet ten
pounds To three. that he who was going
down with us TO Bath and Immortality,
would not kiss either of the ladies oppo-
site upon the road "Done, donew Now
I am sorry II man have hitherto praised
should have lent himself, even i'm whis-
per, To such u speculation, "but nobody is
wise mt all hours,n not even when the
clock is striking five and twenty; and you
are to consider his profession, his good
looks, and the temptation-ten to three.
Aftcr Slough the party was reduced to
three; at Twylford one lady dropped her
handkerchief; Captain Dolignan fell on il
like u lamb; two or three words were in
terchanged ON this occasion. At Reading
the Marlborough Of our tale made one of
the safe Investments of that day, he bought
a Times and Punch; the latter full OF
steel pen thrusis and wood cuts. Valor
and beauty deigned TO laugh NJ some in
famed humbug or other punctured by
Punch. Now laughing together thaws
our human ice; long before Swindon IL
was talking match-at Swindon who so
devoted as Captain Dolignan-he handed
them out-he souped them-he tough
chickened then,-he branded and cochi-
ncslled one. and he branded and burnt
.ugared the other; on their return to the
carriage. one lady passed into the inner
compartment to inspect a certain gentle
mans seat ON that side of the line.
Reader, had II been YOU or l, the beau
ty would have been the dcserter. the av-
eaCe one would have stayed with us, till
all was blue. ourselves included; not otmore
surely does our slice of bread and butter,
when il escapes from our hand, rcvolye II
ever So often, alight face downward on
the carpet. But this was bit of n fop,
Adonis, dragoon-so Venus remained in
teie-d-tete with him. You have seen a
dog meet an unknown female OF his spe-
cies; how handsome. how e,nprcsse, how
expressive he becomes; such was Dolig-
nan aftcr Swindon. and to do the dog jus
tice, he got handsome and handsomer; !;
and YOU have seen u cat conscious OF APP
preaching cream-snch was Miss Hay
thorn; she became demurrer and demurrer; |;
presently our captain looked out of the
window and laughed; this elected AN en-
quiring look from Miss Hawthorn.
1--WE are only mile from the Box
Tunnel"
"Do you always laugh mile from the
Box Tunnel ?" said the lady.
Invariably
"What forgn
"Why. hem il Is gentleman's joke.
Captain Dolignan thus encouraged. re-
counted TO Miss Haythorn the following
"a lady and her husband sat together
going through the Box Tunncl-there
was one gentleman opposite; IL was
pitch dark: after the tunnel the lady said.
.Georre. how absurd Of you to salute me
roinr through the tunncl.' 4 did no such
thing.' You ditint?' NO! why p Be
cams, somehow / thought you did Y"
Here Captain Dolignan laughed and
endeavored to lead his companion To laugh
hut IL was not TO be done. The trnin en-
tered the tunnel.
Miss Haython-ahl
Dolignan-What Is the matter?
Miss Haythorn--I am frightened.
Dolignan (moving to her sidc)-Pry
i do not be alarmed; i am near Won.