The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-04-30
The Box Tunnel.
BY CHARLES READE.

The 1915 train glided from Padding
ton, May Z, 1s47. In the left compart-
partment of certain first-class car
riage were four passengers; of these
two were worth description The lady
had smooth, white, delicate brow,
strongly marked eye brows, 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
up to the throat and Scotch shawl that
agreeably avaded the responsibility of
color. She was like duck, so tight her
feathers fitted her; and there she sat,
smooth, snug and delicious, with book
in her hand, and soupcon of her snowy
wrist just visible as she held it. Her
opposite neighbor was what 1 call good
style of young man-the more to his
credit since he belonged to corporation
that frequently turns out the worst imag
Unable style of young men. He was a
cavalry officer, aged twenty five. He
had mustache, but not repulsive one;
not one of those subnasal pigtails, on
which soup is suspended like dew on
shrub it was short, thick, and black as
coal. His teeth had not yet been
turned by tobacco smoke to the color of
tobacco juice his clothes did not stick
to nor hang on him, they sat on him
he had no engaging smile, and, what L
liked the dog for, his vanity, which was
inordinate, was in its proper place, his
heart, not his face, jostling mine and
other peoples who have none in short,
he was what one oftener hears OF than
meets-a young gentleman. He was
conversing in an animated whisper with
companion, fellow w-officer-they were
talking about, what it is far better not
| to do, women. Our friend clearly did
/ not wish to be overheard, for he cast,
ever and anon, a furtive glance at his fair
cts-a- as and lowered his voice. She
seemed completely absorbed in her book,
and that reassured him. AT last the two
soldiers came down to a 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,
Done! p Now l am sorry that man I
have hitherto praised should have lei
himself, even in whisper, to such a
speculation but nobody is wise at all
hours" not even when the clock is strik
ing five and you are to consider his pro
fession, his good looks, and the tempta
tion-ten to three.
After Slough the party was reduced
to three at Twyford Que lady dropped
her handkerchief; Captain Dolignan fel
on it like tiger and returned it like
lamb; two or three words were inter
changed on that occasion. At Reading
the Marlborough Of our tale made on,
of the safe investments of that day; b.
bought Times and Punch the lattel
, was full of steel pen thrusts and wooC
cuts. Valor and beauty deiened t
laughed at some inflated humbug or othe
, punctured by Punch Now Iaughin;
together thaws our human ice; long be
fore Swindon it was talking match-a
Swindon who so devoted as Captain Dol
ignan-he handed them out--he soupe
them-he branded and chochinealed one
and he branded and burntsugared tn
other. On their return to the earring
one lady passed into the inner compar
ment to inspect certain gentleman sea
on that side of the lne.
You have seen dog meet an unknow
female of his species; how empress
i how expressive he becomes such Wa
Dolignan after Swindon, and, to do til
) dog justice, he got handsomcr and hant
somer; and you have seen cat conscior
of approaching cream-such was Mi.
: Haythorn; she became demurrer and d
:. murer; presently our Captain looked o.
cf the window and laughed this elicite
: an inquiring look from Miss Haythor
eve are only mile from the Box Tu
nell sDo you always laugh a mi
from the Box Tunnel 2" said the lad
sInvar1ably."
+. "What for 2"
"Why! hem lisa gentleman's joke
ooh, I don't mind its being silly if
makes me laugh Captain Doligna
thus encouraged, recounted the followin
A lady and her husband sat togeth
going through the Box Tunnel-the
was one gentleman opposite; it was pit
. dark; after the tunnel the lady salt
> "George, how absurd of you to salu
me going through the tunnel!'' s'I d
no such thing y "You didn't ?' "N
Why 2" "Why, because somehow
thought you did % Here Capt Doll
nan laughed, and endeayored to lead |
companion to laugh, but it was not to
done. The train entered the tunnel.
Miss Haythorn-aAh
Dolignan-"What is the matter 2"
Miss Haythorn-aI am frightened
Dolgnan (moving to her side) "Pr
= do not be alarmed, am near you"
:. Miss Haythorn-s- You are near n
very near me, indeed, Captain Dolignar
Dolignan-"You on know my name?"
Miss Haythern-sI heard your frie
mention it. I wish we were out of t
dark place"
Dolignan-" could be content
spend hours here reassuring you, sw
lady"
Miss Haythorn-ssNonsen ?'
Dolignan-"Pweep!" Grave read
do not mt your Inns IN the chaeE of