The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-04-05
THE BOX TUNNEL.
An Old But Good Story.


ton, May 7. 1e47. In the left comparr-
ment of 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 good
sized, delicious mouth, with teeth as
white, as milk. a man could not see
her nose for her eyes and mouth, but
her own sex could and would have told
us some nonsense about it. She wore
an unpretending. grayish dress buttoned
to the throat with lozenge shaped but
tons and Scotch shawl that agreeably
evaded the responsibility of color. She
was like duck, SO tight the plain feath
ers fitted her; and there she sat smooth
snug and delicious, with book in her
hand and a soupeon Of her snowy wrist
just visible as she held it Her oppo-
site neighbor was what I call a good
style Of man-the more to his credit.
since he belonged to corporation that
frequently turns out the worst imagina-
BILE style of young man. He was cav
airy officer, aged twenty-five. He had
a mustache, but not repulslve one;
not one Of those sub nasal pig tails, on
which soap is suspended like dew on
shrub; it was short, thick, and black as
coal. His teeth had not yet been
turned bv tobacco smoke to the color of
tobacco Juice; his clothes did not stick
to nor hang on him, they sat on him, he
had an Ell 2aging smile, and what | liked
the dog for, his vanity, which was lnor-
dinate, was in its proper place his heart,
not in his face, jostling mine and other
people who have none; in a word, he
was what cne cftener hearS of than meets
young gentleman. lie was CONVEX sing
in animated whispers with companion,
a fellow oflicer-they were talking about,
what it is far bet er not to do, woman.
Our friend clearly did not wish to be
overheard, for he cast ever and anon,
furtive glance ut his fair vis-a-yts. and
lowered his voice. She seemed COM
pietely absorbed in her book, and that
reassured him. At last the two soldiers
came down to whisper, and in that
whisper (the truth must be told) the
one who got down at 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 opposite upon the
road. "Done! Doner' Now I am sorry
a man I have hitherto praised should
have lent himself, even in a whisper, to
such speculation; but "nobody is wise
at all hours 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.
After Slough, the party was reduced to
three; at Twyford one lady dro pped her
handkerchief; Captain Dolignan fell on
it like tiger, and returned if like lamo
two or three words were intercharged on
that occasion. At Reading the Marlbor-
ough of our tale made one of the safe
instruments of that day; he bought Times
aud a Punch, the latter was full of steel
pen thrusts and wood-cuts. Valor and
beauty deigned to laugh at 8 ONE inflated
humbug or other punctured by Punch
Now laughing together thaws our human
ice; long before Swinden it was talking
match-at Swindin who so devoted as
Capt. Dolignan-he handed them out
he souped them out he toughchick
ened them-he branded and cochineal
ed one, and he branded and burnt su-
CARED the other. On their return to the
carriage, one lady passed into the inner
compartment to inspect csrtain gen
tlemen's seat on that side of the
line.
You have seen dogs meet an unknown
female of his specie; how handsome,
how enapresSe, how expressive he be-
comes; such was Dolignaa after Swln~
don, and, to do the dog justice, he got
handsomer and handsomer, and you
have seen cat conscious of approach =
ing cream-such was Miss Hawthorn;
she became demurrer and demurrer, pres
emily our Captain looked out of the
window and laughed; this elicited an in
quiring look from Miss Hawthorn
We are only mile from the Box Tun-
mel" ''Do you always laugh mile
from the Box Tunnel ?'' said the la
dy.
"Invariahly."
.sWhat for?''
"Why! hem! it's gentleman's joke"
Oh. l don't mind it's being silly if it
makes me laugh Captain Doglinan
thus encouraged, recounted to Miss 4 ay
thorn the following: A lady and her
husband sat ogether going through the
Eox Fnnnel-there was one gentleman
opposite: i wss pitch dark: after the tun-
mel the lady said. George. how absurd
of you to salute me going through the
tunnel / did no such thing.' You
didn't2' NO. Whv?' sWhy. because
somehow l thought yoD did.' Here Cap-
tain, Doglignan laughed, aud endeavored
to lead his companion to laugh, but it
was not to be done The train entered
the Tunnel
Miss Haythorn-ssAhr'
Dolignan-sW hat is the matter?'
Miss Haythorn-sI am frightened
olignan-( moving to her side y
"Pray do not be alarmed, am near
you"
Miss Haythorn-s'You are near me,
very near me, indeed, Captain Dolig-
man,
Dohgnan-"Yo ou know my namer'
Miss Haythorn-''I heard your friend
mention it. ! wish we were out of
this dark place
Dolignan-'sI could be content to
spend hours here reassuring you sweet