Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-03-30
AN ENGLISH RAILWAY
INCIDENT.

ond class smoking carriage had entered,
cigar alght, sat well.dresscd elderly gen.
tlcman, lad scarcely twenty years old,
attired like an Oxford undergraduate, and
tall, Gnc-looking Scotchman of perhaps
thirty. The bell had rung and the train
was just ready to start, when three other
persons, whom had noticed lettering on
he'platform, jumped hastily in aud took
their seats. All three were of middle age,
and two Of them, whose garb indicated
that they were sporting characters, had
that blase look which juvenile "gents"
often assume, as if it were something to be
proud of, while those with whom it is the
settled expression, arc as often at consid-
cradle pains to get rid of. The third
seemed to be a gentleman farmer, though
it was soon made apparent that his only
claim to be so considered lay in the cos.
tune he had adopted.
The sky was dull and clowdy and occa-
sionally small showers of rain came down,
yelling the distant landscape from view.
few common place remarks we're ex-
changed relative to the weather, and a
feeble attempt was made to get up con-
versation but it would not do, and for a
full hour we rode on in silence, save for
the noise of the rushing train, when one
of the sporting gentlemen drew pack of
cards from his breast pocket and proposed
that we should keep ourselves awade by a
friendly game. AS no one responded to
the invitation, tho proposcr selected three
cards from the pack, and began to show
an amusing trick by way of pastime. OF
the three cards one was jack, and the
trick consisted in Offering to bet sovereign
that this card, after shutting, could not
Lc drawn. looking on amused. My
elder neighbor flew into storm of indgua.
tion. The confedcrates, as now made
sure they were, jcered at his objections and
threats. The Scotchman remained silent
"l'll bet you a sovereign" said the lad
eagerly 81 that draw tho knave."
"Diuna be so daft, laddie," interposed
the Scotchmon, arres,ing the boys arm as
he was drawing forth his purse; "ye'll
only lose your sillcr"
And what's that to you?' cried the
quasi-country gentleman, now coming out
in his true character "Thc gentleman
can do as he likes, l suppose, and we'll
have none of your mcddliug" At the
same time he dashed away the Scotchman's
arms, and starting up suddenly, stood over
him with his clenchcd fist within an inch
Of his face.
But the bully had mistaken his man.
His greed must have blinded him to the
brawny chest and huge hands and feet of
the Scotchman. The next moment his
head rang against the back of the carriage,
and he lay motionless as if dazed with the
violence of the shock, his unexpected ad
versary, perfectly cool, standing over him.
"I nc'cr allow ony mon to put fist
i my face!" he said in broad Lowlaud
speech No mon, no matter how Draw
he may be! Gin ye do that again, yell be
the waur Of it," Strengthening his back,
square aud 1.-THE as an Ayreshire bulls, he
looked upon the three gamblers with a
touch of /" wha daur.meddle. e.wi' me" in the
glsam of his eye, and quietly resumed his
seat.
confess I enjoyed it. There was a
freedom from cant and an infusion of
Christian Drawn in the proceeding that
was sanctifyiuge It.was the best muscular
sermon l was ever present at. The bully
sat cowed, muttering savagely to himself,
but not daring to renew the assault. Be-
sides, the man who held the cards, seeing
the mettle to be dealt with, had said, " Be
quiet, David What's the good of making
a disturbance ?" David was, therefore,
quiet, shifting himself into a corner and
closing his eyes as if for nap.
This whole scene ought to have opened
the eyes Of the youth who had volunteered
the wager. He was still eager, however,
to try his fortune. None of us interfered
even the Scotchman was silent, save with
a whisper to me, F." That lads puier daft
chiel; let him 60 to the dell his ain gate p
And he did. ls
Of course the boy won his earlier bets.
The tricksters intended he should But
shortly losing came oftenest. He grew
hot and excited. Anxiety flushed his
cheeks. Before half an hour had elapsed
it became evident that it was anything but
sport to him the few soverigus in hi.