Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-07-10

CLOSELY w MS compartment, LOT Vast nau
made his face so perfectly familiar to
every one that he encountered moro star
| ing than he liked. His daughter, n stately,
dignihed lady, waited the start with evil
| dent impatience, while the young gentle
men--hs sons aud their friends-stood In
group on the platform, smoking, appar-
emily enjoying the curious looks which
| we're naturally levied at them. They woro
bound for the Yosemite, and have al
! ways marvolled that, when once 30 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 at lunches, eating Cali
fUrnia grapes, and doing the hundred list
less things one does while merely "wait-
ing" ill the scream Of the approaching
"transfer train" souu,led shrilly out, aud
wo looked with interest at the new passen-
gers. Some of them deserved our regards,
others didn't we watnhed thom all, men
tally summing up eacl particular case, and
utterly ignoring them thereafter, or else
resolving TO win their friendship.
The first group comprised man, his lit
tie inefficient, washed out looking wife, a
strong minded nurse, AID two children,
destined to be our torments.
Next came n widow aud her daughter;
the daughter wore glasses aud was goose;
the mother only paying for single berth,
grumbled aud fretied most impolitely
when the other seat and berth OF the sec
ton was assigned to a tall spirited-look ing
English girl, with whose eyes and queen
ly ways fell directly and deeply In love.
But, dear friends, don't jump at conclu-
sous, for she isn't my heroine of the beach.
Listening to the ill-bred matron, hard
ly noticed bevy OF young girls who had
entered at the rear door, or two dreadfully
bridish brides and their spouses who had
likewise claimed their places. My Eng
lish beauty, utterly dlsgustod with hor
Vis-d-viS, asked for a place in my section
during the day, and We became so delight
fully confidential in ten minutes that l
learned she was from Nova Scotia that
this was the eleventh day Of her journey,
and that hor destination was Sacramento (;
while tho merry faced, handsome young
man whom she ordered about with such
supreme nonchalance was her brother.
Meantime, wo heard from the rear sec
tions peals OF merry laughter, the arore-
said infants gavo us peal on peal OF dread
full yels, aud we looked dishonorable peeps
in tho tell-ta.e mirrors 10 watch the "spoon-
ing" OF the brides. Our handsome young
man roamed up and down, and finally,
with wickedly mischievous face, casae to
his sister, suggesting that she should 60
and watch the view from the car. knew
his motive, so | went too; but he made
nothing that time, for his sister never
glanced at the pretty girls we passed. We
looked from the platform a few minutes
our hero stood twisting his moustache with
ve1stion, till, growing desperate, he re-
marked:
"Say, Madgei That girl with the dark
- eyes is stunning, isn't sho5 I wish you
would make her acquaintance"
"Indeed That's tho view you admired,
: was it? Well sir, shall De nothing OF the
kind. | have no vocation for stunning
girls. Come, Mrs. D., let's go back :"
Evidently used to such snubbing, Tom-
that wasn't his name, but wen rlay 1t was
made a mocking salute, and retorted
i laughing:
i "Well, madam, I'm equal TO helping my
sell. Il GU JUST Wall llll you WANT 10 Know
J. some stunning fellowr'
y Madge only gave him look OF supreme
IS contempt and walk ed Off tossing over heI
: shoulder a command to fetch the hamper
=, for she was hungry, and no supper coult
1t be had till we reached Grand Island then
II turning to me, she said, with an exceed
= ingly ancient air, positively, that boy il
- too ridiculous He gets silly over thos'
d American girls all the time but I won
of help him r.
IS "That boy! l repeated with lntens
Y, amusement for the delinquent stood 81!
t feet high, and was evidently older than hi
10 monitress who lectured him in the graves
le fashion all the while we were nibbling a
he the contents OF that never to- be- forgotten
IN hamper. It reminded me of the famou
l. one which Mr.. Wardle carried TO the races
lg and think we enjoyed II as much as Nj
X Pickwick and his friends enjoyed their q
l. Jresco lunch, though tho sleepy fat boy wa
not in attendance.
10 The usual funny scenes occurred durin
I'd the slowing away process at night but til
long hours passed swiftly, and the "lr
ID fants' greeted the morning with sundr
as howls Of misery and fretiulness, whic
TX walked us all loo soon. 1t was droll enoug
~ to see the way in which everybody peepe
Us from their sections TO investigate the "rei
ed son Why" and then, having Viewed ii
situation, each suddenly discovered all Ii
n other curious heads, and disappeared. TIL
ne lamenting wall was from the stout lungs
he four year old boy this time. His mothe
re arranging her toilet placidly, paid no hee
to his screams, and the little imp dance
'rt with passion. Suddenly Madge showed
vexed face between the curtains, and h
ringing voice called out imperatively:
- "Tom for heavens sake get sllpp
bo and spank that child He's quite loo o
a. to cry like that, and his mother doesr
he seem TO know enough TO manage him
Inc Then she vanished.
mo Fancy the laugh It began in a chorl
OF stifled chuckles, but she had spoken
us all, and hearty endorsement sound'
,os from every berth, while the amazed pare
he picked up her offspring, slapped hi
soundly, and looked round with a"Pleas
mas am- what -else-shall dor" face whit
mn was funnier than Madges prescription.
e's Our train was "behind time," and bres
~ last was o"'y ulih PIoIuVcJi SV po
ler guiled the hours as best We might watc
|. 1 ing for buffaloes which wouldn't appei
py spying several groups of the pretty graC
rds ful antelopes. passing swiftly throul
widespread settlements OF the funny lit
." prairie dogs, and opening our eyes wide
md at the cactus which grew in such prick
a profuson on either side OF the track.
the found the face OF my English beauty mo
her enchanting than anything else, for 1t "