Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-02-08

feel what children call the sandman
busy at my eyes. Tomorrow, then,
at 1915, we meet. Good night
So | wished the Vicar good night
and we parted. I was out nearly all
day making calls and transacting bus
mess. | got back to the hotel about
half past six, ordered down my lug
gage, and asked at the bar if the Rev.
Mr.. Atkins was gone. The porter
said he was on the platform waiting
for me. He had just paid his bill
and taken his luggage forward.
took my ticket but did not see
him. | got my luggage labelled for
Exeter; still he did not appear; but
when the guard opened the door of a
first class carriage for me, found
plaid and some books on the opposite
seat.
There's gentleman, sir, a clergy
man, taken that seat. He's been look
ing for a friend. | suppose that's
you, sir. If he don't look sharp, he'll
miss the train
The guard had already come for
the tickets. The sharp cry. Take
your seats! ! had just gone forth, when
the Vicar came running up, and said,
Open this door, guard The guard
opened the door, and the Vicar took
his place, laughing, opposite me. l
hardly knew him at first, for he wore
a large dark great coat, and had on a
travelling cap drawn down over his
eyes and with flaps over his ears
He had roll of papers and two mag
azines in his hand.
How | hate this fuss and hurry 7
he said, as he folded his plaid over
his legs; 'how hate this destruction
OF all individuality! When I was
young, the coach journey was a delib-
crate, quiet affair-the traveller was a
recognized individuality. The coach
man and guard knew you, and chat
ted; the hostler chatted; the insides
and outsides knew you, aid chatted.
There was interest in every village
the people came out to see you pass
the inn dinner was amusing. Now
you are a mere parcel sent by train.
The pOintsman, the signalman, are
mere machines, not cared for by you,
and not caring for you. Whiz, rattle,
battle, scream, hiss away you are
flashed, and the only thing to break
the journey is the name of station
so pronounced as to be unintelligible.
| laughed, and limited at the annoy
ances, delays and dangers of the cid
systematic overladen coaches, the
eXOrbitant landlords, the endless fees
Well he said, perhaps in future
age of balloons or electric spark ex
presses, people will talk of the delight
Of railway travelling. The past is al
ways praised in order to spite the
present.
Then we fell to reading. We had
scarcely begun before-whirr THE
darkness of a tunnel fell upon US.
1t is always so, said my amusing
companion. i never began to reaC
in a railway in my life that we die
not pass through a tunnel before | haC
well got through the first page
Ny travelling companion was al
extraordinary person. He had beer
everywhere, and seen everything. NJ
capital of Europe but he knew init
mately.
You seem surprised, he said, "a
my having travelled so much, bu
when | was at Oxford | spent all m,
long vacations in travelling; and du
ring the little time | was in the army
before more serious convictions induc
ed me to enter the church, | saw
something of the colonies.
The Wears information seemed
, boundless. He discussed the geolog,
of Devonshire and the minerology o
Cornwall He had views on militar,
tactics and artillery. He was inter
ested IN engineering and chemistry
. and seemed quite conversant with al
the latest discoveries in the latte
science.
i went the other day., he said t,
| me, as it began to grow dark, ito {
l lecture on alchemy. The Professo
expressed his belief in great discover
| les shortly to be made, in something
that would superse1e coal and steam
in aerial navigation, and in the trans
! mutation Of metals. But tire you
Not at ALL.
l He expressed his own and Liehig'
belief that the manufacture of dia
monds and gold would soon be posi-
Die by the merest tyro. He shove,
US small rubies that had been produc
ed by chemical action. There seen
ed no bound to the discoveries thi
thoughtful man did not suggest-th
i principle of beef and corn from th
common earth; gold and jewels fror
> the very roadside flints; gold woul
: soon, he said, be of no value; power
ty would disappear from the earth
i new manures would turn the deser
into pralries, and double the resourt
es of the world. He ridiculed steam
) he
u Ali this was profoundly interesting
: but, somehow or other, wearied by
: long days tagging about London,
felt drowSy and the words of nv con
= panion seemed suddenly to change il
/ to buz, buz, buz, buz, that kept
cadence with the sound of the trai
: as it tore through part of Devoushir,
fell asleep, and a dream arose b.
fore me. was alone at night in
!. railway carriage with a man wh
. thought me asleep. He stole towar
:, - the door, unlocked it quietly, with
;, railway key he drew from his pocke
. and opened it. Then rifing my pocl
cts, (some strange numbness preven
+ ed my crying out, he dragged me I
! the door and shut me out into til
= darkness. The horror of that m
ment and some rustliDg movement
r the carriage awoke me. l scarce
:, knew why, but strange instantan
y Gus caution prevented my moving {
at once opening my eyes. At thi
n' moment | felt light hand, with pra
- ticed care, touch my breast pucke
le where my money was, and felt h
II breath upon my cheek, as if some OF