Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-22
UNDER THE CLOAK.
M NIGHT On THE RAILWAY.

lf there be thing in the world that NV soul
hateth, u i long night journey by rail. In the
old coaching days 1 do not think that should
have minded IL. passing swiftly tLrou gh a sum
ner night ON the top OF q speedy coach. with
the star arch black-blue above ones head. the
sweet smell of earth, and her numberless dow
ers and grasses, in ones no~trils, and the pleas
ant ot tTot, trot, trot Of the four strong horses
ma ones ears But by railway in little tuffy
compartment, with nothing to apuse YOU II
YOU Keep awake; with a dim lamp hanging
above you, tantalizing you with the idea that
you can read by its light, and when Won try =,
Satisfactorily proving to you that you cannot
and, II you sleep, breaking neck, or AT least
stihening II, by the brutal arrangement of the
hard cushions These thoughts pass sulkily and
rebelliously through my head a. / cit in my salon
an the Ecu, at Geneva, ON the after noon of the
nne autumn day on which, in az evil hour.
4 have settled To take nv place in the night
tram Tor Paris. have put OF going a. long Is
4 can.
like Geneva. and am leaving seme pleasant
and congeniai friends, hut now &c 1 must. Nv
husband Is 20 meet me al the station in Paris AZ
six O'Clock tomorrow morning. Six O'Clock
what baTbarous hour at which to arrive, am
putting on my bonnet and cloak: look at NV
sell In the glass with air of Anticipated dis
gust Yes. look trim and spruce enough now
"a hos disasreeabie object, pe,haps-with
sleek HAIR, quick aud alert eyes, and pink-ti
Ell cheeks Alas. at six o'clock Tomorrow
morning what a different tale there will DE 10
tel! Disheseled, dustv locks, half-OFen, weary
eyes di>orueTed dress anu green-coloTed
SOuMtenance.
! turn away with a pett;sh gesture, ami re-
EcctluS that at least there IL no wlsIOm vim
my mi-eries twice over, L 60 downstairs, anu
get into the hired open carriage which awaits
me- NJ maid ana man hollow with the Ia gyay,.
I give striCtcr in functions than ordinary 10 my
maid never for one moment to lose her hold OF
the dressing-case which contains. as IL happens
a great many more valuable je Sels than people
are wont 20 travel IN foreign parts with, nor o.
certain costly and beautiful Dresden chin.
AMI goid LOuis-Q uatoTZe clock, which 4 am
carrying home a, present 10 nv people. We
reach the station. and I straightwsy betake nv
self the ri SAIL. Il faff
1aaln Penned up I'll the officials undo the gates
at paJgatory and release us-Sn arran ze nent
" hose wisdom have yet to learn. There are
ten minutes TO spare, and the sale il filling
fuller and fuller every momeht Chiefly nav
coostTyM country women, and country chill
dren, beginning 10 troop home to their part
ridges look euri0usly round at them, sDecu-
iating a. 20 which of them will be my eompan-
ion or companions through the night
ihere are no very unusual types; girls in sail
or hats and blonde hair fringes; strong minded
old aaasls IN palnstakingly ugly water proofs:
b.sitiish fathers, fsttish InotLeTS; German OF
,No, WIN prominent pa.e eyes ana speetaeles. L
nave Just decisied on the companions should
prefer; large young man, who belongs 10 mo-
body, and looks as If he spent most of his life in
taughing-aia>, hS = not likely he = sure to
wsms "a smoke and a handsome AMI prosper
Oasiookins young couple. They are more ike
Is, As very probably, in the mans case, the
bTide-loye n II overcome the ei2ar-love The
porter comes up. Inc KEY turss an the loek.
the doors open At hrst am standing close 10
them. fattening nay nose against the glass and
SH PaFcncnt- Out the pa~-
sepgers become more numerous, withdraw
<rom my prominent position. snte pa NJ a rush
tor Carriages hate aud dread exceedingly a
crowd. and would mach prefer at any time TO
miss my train rather than be squeezed and los
tied by one In consequence. my maid and I
are almost the last people to emerge, and have
the last and worst choice OF seats. We run
along the train looking i'm; the footmxn, nav
maid AID L. FULFILL everywhere!
"Dsmes seules?r asks the guard.
"Certaisly not, Neither DANES seulss' nor
.nlssurs, but II IL must be one or the other,
= sumsurs.'s II
A. growing nervous. when. see the foot |
tslAn, sho ~ little ahead of as. standing With
Al open carriage door N his hsni, and signing /
40 - % make haste An il u all right 10 az
MASS comes right when ore does not fuss ones
..fien'y % room here. IA; only tive gentle
Pot ny foot on the high steos and climb In.
kAfheB pkzeivil Of the tso gentle men .-neither
d 1eD gdOS - help me, bnt they ere notiook-
ing tAB way, suppose. '.1find tn dressing
asst cry neryonsly, As ! stretch out my,t
hand 90 help the maid Watson up Tiee maa
pushes her from behind: in she cernes-,tress-
clock, sad all. Here we are for the
N ghs.1s
am so busy and amused looking out o. the
sinsicw, sreing the different parties bidding
ksir iritnds goodbye, and watching with in