Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-08-09
In the Express Train.

ing-and Mcliccnt Merivale, snugly en-
sconced in Il scat on the shady side,
had just opened the pages ofa bewitch-
ing new book smelling of type and pa
per and intcrspersed with the dainty
wood cngravings that add new charms
to the publications OF to-day.
She was pretty, highbred looking
girl, with large blue eyes, II skin as fair
as rose, and regular features, while
her travelling dress of dovo-colored cash
mo.o, hcr cxquiaitcly fitting gloves and
pretty pit.uant little hat, whose brown
sohcrncss was relieved by q scarlet
wing, stamped her with the sisnet Of
lady"
Mcliccnt liked to travel; she liked u
comfortable seat; she delighted in anew
book, and rclished chocolate bonbons;
and here they were all combined in one.
And she drew q little sigh of relief as
she turned the first page, and bit her
dainty white teeth into the crisp blown
side OF barned almond. Just then
the dream was dispcllcd by:
Is this scat engaged?'
Mclccu;'s brow darkcncl, her lips
iuvolun.alily compressed, a. she glanced
up, and saw Il lady III black standing in
the aisle.
N-no,' she answered, in precisely
The accents, interpreted by L woman )
quick ear, means, " l wish you were III
Jericho" And she moved about three
inches toward The window, without tax
ing down the Russia leather travelling
bag which occupied the space OF we'll
crown child at her left.
The lady hcsitated.
"Clunot you make a little moro
room y she asked politely.
Miss Merivale, without deigning any
verbal reply, moved perhaps an inch
f,;rtl:cr
He bag might go in the rack over
head suggested the stranger.
cit is too large" briefly answered
Melicent growing more and more ex-
asporatcd 1t what she deemed this un-
called for interference in her affairs.
"On tAo floor then, porhaps?' in
sisted the troublesome traveller.
Miss Mcgivale made no answered, but
opened her book again, as if the dis
cussion were quite at an end and began
to read calmly. Tie lady bit l.er lip.
50 DO You pay for two seats?" she
asked.
Meliccnt looked up with weary Gle
vation Of her rrettily pencilcd brcws.
Il have made all the room l can, -
she answered sharply. "You can sit
down OF stand up as you please"
And the newcomer, coloring scarlet
with mingled Indignation and cmbar-
rasalnent, was forced to edge herself
into the fraction of space left by Miss
Merivale and her travcllins-bag.
i" You are not disposed to be very ac-
commodatinS," she said.
Miss Merivale shrugged her shoulders
Us who should say:
" Your opinion, ma'am is a matter of
perfect indifference to me one way or
the othcr!'
And wallike silence ensued.
Melicent Merivale ate chocolate al
monds until she was tired, and then
drew her vail over her face, and mused
over past, present, and future.
PoSf-a situation as nursery COVER
ness at Madame Ardeau's fashionable
Seminary for Young Ladies'" not
much money, plenty of work, and a per-
petual longing for change, for recreation
for opportunity.
My face isn't bad Melicent would
say to herself, sand if I only had q
chance, / believe I might do as we'll as
that odious Bessy Carmichael who has
married millionaire"
P'cs"nt-cn route from New York to
Philadelphia per express train to visit
Mrs. Addington Seymour, u second
cousin Of her mother, who was rich,
fashionable, hospitable, and moreover
endowed with two exceedingly eligible
brothers-in-law: one facinating wild
over, with house in town, a summer
residence at Chestnut Hill, and no chill
dren: the other handsome young az
tist, just returned from Rome, with
wealth enough to paint all his sunsets
in liquid gold, if he chose thus to do.
"Oh, 1hope she'll like me" NIelicent
mused, popping another chocolate into
her rosy lips. "At all events. it shall