The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-06-04
ROMANCE OF THE RAIL,

ROMANCE OF THE RAIL.
Among The pleasant things in an itin-
Grant Bohemian life | count the perpet-
nal meeting at most unexpected places
of people whom you have known before
in widely different localities. An hour
ago my friend and | started for a stroll
on this matchless Galveston beach. All
the afternoon We sat on the upper gal
lery watching the long, low surf-crests
that crept 50 slowly and surely land
ward all the afternoon we had listened,
in the pauses of our light chattering, to
the ceaseless refrain which those same
white-capped waves were chanting, till
the beauty of the scene and the siren
song tempted us down to the shore.
Oh, it was lovely, sauntering thithor
over the oleGnder-planted walks, breath
ing their rich, exquisite perfume and
gathering handfuls of the pink BIOS
SONS. A W carriages had come for the
regular sunset drive; some German
women were gathering shells; n few
children, with bare, dimpled feet, were
wading out into the coming waves, to
run back with screams of laughter when
some swifter billow washed up higher
than the rest and over the whole pic
ture there rested the mellow glow re-
hected from the crimsoned west.
The occupants of the carriages raised
their eyebrows in polite amazement as
they rolled past us, for pleasure walk
was beyond their comprehension and
my friend laughed, telling me that she
always knew northern visitors because
they loved to wander picd, and Texans
never do.
I'm sure they regard me as mildly
insane for my long walks but, see, this
time we have companions in our mai
ness" she continued, pointing to pair
who were standing little distance be-
yond.
Evidently bride and groom" |
asserted, for
" Both were young and one was fair,
and there were the usual unmistakable
symptoms Of recent ownership quite APP
parent in the air of the young man, who
Just then folded the lady's wrap more
closely, and caught her futtering vail
till she had fastened it securely ; and in
the act she turned her face toward us,
startling me with it familiar look.
"Isn't she beautiful ?" said my friend.
answered her absently, since | was
hunting every nook in memory for the
counterpart of the fair girl before us.
| was sure I had known her-but
where?
An impertinent wave came hurrying
up the beach, and in a moment the
brides dainty boots would have suffered,
but MILFORD clGsped her swiftly, and
raising her, ran back few steps, com
ing close to rs. / knew then where ]
had seen the happy pair, but | went
very sob erly toward them. only quietly
saying:
$50 this is what came of that jour
ney!"
"By JoveW calculated my hero in
round English tones seizing both my
hands in grip that nearly crushed
them, while the bride blushed, laughed
and added her graceful greeting.
Wasn't it an odd encounter? | last
saw those young eople at Cheyenne, in
September, 1873; now they met me
strolling on the shore of the gulf, and
my friend asserted that we had picked
up something better than shells this
time for she de handed the story at
once and | will tell it to you just as ]
told it to her.
On Friday, Sept, u, 1871 like to
be accurate-the San Francisco train
stood on the track at Omaha waiting
the arrival, from the opposite side of
the Mis- ouri, of eastern passengers.
There were four Pullman cars attached;
three were already filed, or engaged by
telegram, and the officials in charge
were grumbling because "Boss Tweed"
and his party occupied six entire sec
tions. The "Boss " stayed closely in
his compartment, for Mast had made
his face so perfectly familiar to every
one that he encountered more staring
than he liked. His daughter, a stately,
dignifed lady, waited the start with
evident impatience, while the young
gentlemen-his sons and their friends
stood in a group on the platform, smok-
ing. apparently enjoying the curious
looks which were naturally leveled Mt
them. They were bound for the GO
Semitic, and / have always marveled
that, when once so far away from
Gotham, the "Boss" didn't know
enough to sail for Hong Kong and stay
there but that "marvel" is not essen
tial to my story.
We were picking away at lunches,
eating California grapes, and doing the
hundred listless things one always does
while merely waiting" till the scream
OF the approaching transfer train
sounded shrilly out, and we looked with
interest at the new passengers. Some
OF them deserved our regards, Others
didn't; but we watched them all, men.
tally summing rp each particular case,
and utterly ignoring them thereafter,
or else resolving to win their friend.
ship.
The first group comprised man, his
little, inefficient, washed
wife, strong.minded nurse, and two
children, destined to be our torments
Next came widow and Ter daugh
ter; the daughter wore glasses and wa!
a.goose; the mother only, paying for
single berth, grumbled and frettet
most impolitely when the other sea
and berth OF the section was assigned
to tall, spirited-looking English girl
with whose splendid eyes and aueenl,
ways fell directly in love. But, dea
friends, don't jump at conclusions, 70