The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-10-21
THE BOX TUNNEL.
BY CHARLES REApE.

The 1915 train glided from Paddington
May 7. 1847. In tho left compartment OF
certain first-class carriage were four
passengers; of these, two were worth de-
scription. The lady had n smooth. white.
delicate brow. strongly marked eyebrows,
long lashes, eyes that med to change
color. and good-sized delicious mouth,
with teeth as white rs milk. A man
could not SEQ her nose for her eyes and
mouth; her own sex could and would
have told us some nonsense about 1t. Shc
wore an unpretending grayish dress. but
toned to the throat, with lozenge-shaped
buttons and Scotch shawl that agreeably
evaded the responsibility Of 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 n soupcon of her snowy wrist just visi-
BILE as she held It. Her opposite neighbor
was what ! call good styleof man-the
more to his credit, since he belonged to n
corporation that frequently turns out tho
worst imaginable style Of young men.
He was cavalry officer, agedtwenty.five.
lie had moustache, but not very rc-
pulsiye one; not one Of those sub-nasal
pig-tails on which soup Il suspended like
dew on shrub; 1t was short, thick and
black ms coal. His teeth had not yet
been turned by tobacco smoke To the color
of Juice, his clothes did not stick to nos
hang to him; he had an engaging smile.
and what liked the dog for, his vanity.
which was inordinate, was In Its proper
place, his heart, not In his face. jostiing
mine and other peoples who had none
in word, no was what one oftencr hears
of than meets-a young gentleman. He
was conversing IN an animated whisper
with n companion, n fellow-ofiiccr; they
werc talking about what 1t Is far better
not 10 do-woman. Our friend clearly
did not wish to be overheard, for he cast
ever and anon furtive glance ut his fair
ris-a-ris and lowered his voice. Sho
seemed completely absorbed In her book.
and that reassurcd him. At last the two
soldiers came down to a whisper, the
truth must be told. tho one who got down
Slough. and was lost to postority, bet ten
pounds to three that hs who was going
down with us to Bath and Immortality.
would not kiss either OF the ladies oppo-
site upon the road. Done, donon Now l
am sorry man have hitherto praised
should have lent himself, even In n whis-
per, to such speculation, but nobody Is
wise mt all hours, not even when the clock
Is striking five and twenty; and you arc
to consider his profession. his good look,
and the temptatiou-ten to three.
Amer Slough the party was reduced to
three; Mt Twyford one lady dropped her
handkerchief; Captain Dolignan fell ON 1t
like tiger and returned 1t like lamb
two or three words were interchanged on
that occasion. At Reading the Marlbor-
ough Of our tale made ono Of the safe In
yestments of that day. he bought Times
and Punch; the latter full Of steel pen
thrusts and wood cuts Valor and beauty
deigned TO laugh Mt some infiamed hum
bug or other puncturcd by Punch. Now
laughing together thaws our human Ice ;
long before Swindon II was talking
mxich-at Swindon who 80 devoted as
Captain Dolignan-he handed them out
he souped them-he TOUCHED chickened
them-he branded and cochincaled one,
and he branded and burntsugared the
other: on their return TO the carriage, ono
lady passed into the inner compartment
to inspect = certain gentleman's scat on
that side the line.
Reader, had Il been you or I the beauty
would have been the desertcr. tho average
one would have stayed with ms, till all
was blue, ourselves included; not more
surely does our slice Of bread and butter.
when II escapes from our hand. revolvc it
over 90 often, Alight face downward on tho
carpet. But this was . bit Of fop,
Adonis, dragoon-so Venus remained In
tets-a-tete with him. You havo seen .
dog meet an unknown female Of his spe-
oics; how handsome. how enpresse. bow
expressive he becomes; such was Dollg-
nan AFTER Swindon. and to do the dog
Justice, he got handsome and hantlsomer;
and you have secn . cat conscious Of ap-