Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-11-06
A RAILWAY EPISODE.

They came into the car at wayside
station together. She was in the lead;
O position she is not likely to surrend-
er so long as they travel together. A
tall brunette, with sharp face, and
piercing black eyes, hair black rs the
ravens wing, II long aquiline nose with
a mole on the side of it, and mouth
the cut of which betoked determination
and force. She had pissed beyond the
shady side of the teens, and had climbed
to the apex OF q quarter of q century.
He was a guleless youth over whose
tow-colored head eighteen summers
had passed, an innocent hobblede-hoy,
Just released from his mothers apron
strings. On him she cast loving glances,
and his face suffused with bushes, was
turned with tiinid, appealing look to
her.
The car was crowded, and eligible
seats not easily obtainable. About the
middle of the car sedate traveller oc-
cupied seat all to himself. Thither
the irrepressible lady pressed her way.
The sedate traveller rose, and with
much courtesy invited her to take seat
next to the window, and when she was
seated he calmly esconced himself upon
the vacant half OF the chair. By this
time the young man whom she was es-
corting had come up. He placed his
hand upon the back of the seat, looked
appealingly into the face of his protect
ress and timidly around the car. He
was evidently embarrassed and didn't
know what to do with himself. The
sharp nosed brunette eyed the sedate
traveller by her side with sharpness
that almost amounted to maligninity.
But the traveller seemed all uncon-
cious of the scrutiny to which he was
subjected, and looked away over the
fields through an opposite window.
The brunette could endure to see her
callow beau standing forlorn no longer,
and thus she addressed the sedate trav-
eler, whose eyes were wandering far
away, and whose thoughts were with
the dear ones at home.
/ say, stranger
"Well, say on" responded the Sc
date traveller.
ct say, look here, stranger!
Well, what have you to show me, >"
said the sedate man.
"Stranger, I want you to know that
this young gentleman standing upthere
is my feller."
"Ah! I'm glad to hear it. How
long have you had him? Taking care
of him, I suppose ?"
Now you just look here stranger;
this young man is my feller and I'm
bound to see that nobody shall impose
upon him. You hear me. Now if you
had any manners you'd just git right
up and let him have seat by me-"
"Oh, am very" happy in your So
ciety. You cannot imagine how much
pleasure it has given me to furnish you
miis aaat wi2eys you can SEES otat
through the window. Besides I al
ways took especial delight in being
near charming ladies like yourself" re-
piled the sedate traveller.
But, sir, he is my fellow, sir; my
beau, do you understand"
"Is that so? Who would have
thought it! And does his mother place
him under your protection when he
goes abroadY p ....
"Now, you look here, stranger, me
and that young man expects to be en-
gagged, and we've been keeping COM
pany together, and me and him wants
to have o talk together, and you are
real mean if you don't give him a seat
by me so that we can talk; that's what
I think" The imperturbable traveller
Strengthened up, then leaned over in
the direction of the sharp-faced bru-
nette, smiled most benignly and low
ingly on her, and thus spoke:
Charming lady. would be most
happy to accommodate you, but you
see I'm a pilgrim and stranger, way
worn and weary, and long way from
home. Besides my heart is just now
beating tattoo of ecstatic satisfaction,
because of your charming presence.
Being bachelor, and 80 near one so
lovely and engaging, how can forego
the great pleasure I now enjoy. 1
have had dreams in my time-bright-
dreams-as / have wandered through
this great big world, of some time meet
ing with one to whom could reveal all
Ills 6tu uctIl VI Woui0 AhAh uOb
longer conceal. You are the imperson-
alton OF my dreams, and now would
you drive me from your lovely side ?
Say has no bird sang in your heart? /
saw you come as star rise above the
horizon, and the light Of your eyes
has illumined my soul. Say beautiful
stranger, will you drive me hence ?"
The sedate traveller ceased to speak.
The fire had gone down in the bru
natt's eyes, the severe expression had
vanished from her face, her stern lips
had relaxed their rigidity, and apart
just enough to reveat the ivory struc-
ture within: and in tone that was soft
and low. she asked:
Did you say you was bachelorw
"Aye, beautiful stranger, that's my
fortunate station"
Then the brunette turned her eyes