The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-10-25
BLOOMSBURY, PA. FRIDAY. OCTOBER 25 1872


train had hardly come TO dead stop
before down went the window, and out
popped the sealskin cap and its con-
| tents.
"Guard, guard 7" 1 heard him ex.
claim.
But no guard replied to his sum-
mons.
Evidently fearing that the train would
move off before he had accomplished his
purpose with regard to me, he bawled
out again at the top of his voice:
"Guard, guard, porter why don't
you come when call ?"
The last question was addressed to the
approaching form of the first named in
dividual. My companion, seeing that
he was about to receive attention, drew
his head into the carriage again, and
resumed his seat. In another moment
the head and shoulders of the guard
showed themselves at the window.
The old gentleman was on the point of
speaking, when forestalled him.
ooh, guard" said very quietly,
"here's a gentleman who has an objec-
tion to smoking-mistake in the carriage,
1supposed. Would you be so good as to
| find him seat in another compart.
ment ?"
The guard smiled, and the old gentle.
man stared at me in anna cement. He
| did not understand his mistake.
"What do you mean by this imperti.
nence, sir ?" he asked ilercely.-
"Guard, order you to turn this man
out of the carriage he has been annoy
ing me with smoking, in spite of my
having repeatedly asked him to desist.
If you do not do so, and find out his
name, so that he may be summoned be.
fore the magistrates, shall report
you"
Cant do it, sir" was the guards an-
swer. "The gentleman's perfectly
right; you have got into wrong COM
partment this is a smoking carriage"
Smoking carriagev said old crusty;
apparently he was not aware of this re.
cent stride in civilization by the railway
companies.
"Yes, sir. Now sir, if you are going
to change your seat, you must be quick
about it we can't wait here all day."
Handing his black bag and other
traps to the guard, he hobbled out Of the
carriage, casting glance full of malig-
nance on me as he passed. When he
had alighted on the platform, i saw him
slowly scrutinize the board which noti-
fed that the carriage in which 1 was
seated was devoted to the use of those
who INDUCED in the habit of smoking.
d. 1 could not resist saying; "Good day,
sir; you'll know a smoking carriage
another time, think when you see it. {"
After that 1 saw no more Of my old
friend, though looked out of the car
riage window at every station at which
we stopped, for the purpose of seeing if
he alighted. Apparently, however, his
Journey was longer one than mine, for
1 reached my destination without get
ting another sight of him.
My college career closed, and / came
up here TO read for the bar. About six
months age, Amy Harris was stopping
with the Ashtons, with whom I have
always been on terms of great intimacy.
Consequently during the young lady's
stay there 1 saw great deal of her; the
fact is, hardly day passed without
my spending portion of it at the Ash
ton house. The more I saw of Amy
Harris the more 1 desired to see OF her,
and 1 made her an offer; you know
with what result-She referred me to
"papa." Papa, was informed, resid-
at Lesborough, a small place about
thirty miles beyond Oxford. To Les
borough, therefore, in few days,
repaired, having been preceded by
Amy and also by a letter, from Frank
Ashton (who was well acquainted with
Mr.. Harris), saying that l was we'll off,
: of respectable family, and, in fact, in
every way desirable son. in-law. Mr.
Harris was therefore prepared to re
ceivc mo very graciously.
On being introduced TO Mr.. Harris
who was man well passed the prim'
of life, there was something about him
/ could not tell what, that told me W,
l had met before but the w,when ant
where of our meeting was gone from
8 me. tried hard to tax my memor.
with the circumstances under whicl
4. we had previously met, for that this
i was not our first meeting, felt cOnvir
I ced. But it was of no Uae-the treacf
Q erous elf.memOry refused to render m
:, any assistance, / did not like Mr. Hal
G ris' expression thought he SCENE
o to scowl at me in peculiarly unplea'
5 ant way. He, however, gave me n
sign of having seen me before, and OF
interview proceeded. Everything wei
e on smooth enough, Mr.. Harris givir
J. his consent to my engagement wit
d his daughter and was congratulate
e myself that the business had been
q satisfactorily transacted, when Amy
- father said with sour attempt at
IL smile:
~ must ask you one question, whi
e, have little doubt your answ
l will prove to be unnecessary or
1t is simply this: 4: Are you smo
h, er p"
le / can even now see the mans look
= fiendish delight as he put the questic
nc / knew him then he was my fello
passenger whom had so unceremC
Du iously caused to be removed to anotf
IL railway carriage three years previous
-, when he had raised an objection to 1
III smoking. He had Immediately rect
10 nized me, and determined to pay me
for my want of courtesy. / thought
ny showed the mean, sneaking spirit