The Republican journal., 1875-10-07


"A Romance of Palace Car.
r. OVERLAND.
John Longmirc spun the ball with Fate
in this fashion: ~ am failure thus Ial
in the New World In making this long
Journey will stake ali, and travel first
class, like Il gentleman" lie laughed
when he had arrived at this conclusion,
after nights and days OF painful medita-
ton. But the laugh was not pleasant to
hear, because bravado was foreign to his
nature. The purchase OF his ticket left a
margin of twenty-five dollars. the rem
nant Of his slender fortune.
Early summer had come to the city,
promising bloom Of flowers to the upper
streets. promising noise, dust and the eX-
halations of intense heat in the thorough
fares through which John Longmire,
humble pedestrian, took his way An
amused sense of possible adventure and
romance succeeded previous sharp anNie-
ty A carriage rolled along in the direc-
ton he was following, with glttering
trappings and lretting steeds.
That is the sort OF equipage my wife
shall have thought the young man,
glancing at the interior, where the satin
cushions were scarcely visible, because of
India shawls and travelling bags, not to
mention Il young lady in elaborate toilet.
Just as the vehicle came abreast Of
our pedestrian, a Skye terrier struggled
toward the window, Il plump hand, deli
cately gloved. caught the victim, and u
massive gold bracelet rolled at the feet of
John Longmire. To rescue the trinket
from crushing wheels. and restore it to a
stout lady, as the carriage paused, was.
the work OF an instant, and would have
passed from remembrance, among other
trivial occurrences, but for two distinct
impressions produced. The stout lady
stared, bowed aflably, and prepared to
offer him money; the girl enthroned
among the shawls on the opposite seat
checked her with the warning -" "Mam-
ma he is gentIeman.'
John Longmire went on rapidly, the
color burning in his checks, while in his
heart dawned the first sweet impulse OF
gratitude toward the daughter for recog-
uizing him at his true value. Perhaps his
coat was shabby, placing him on that in
definite boundary which is but II step above
yagabondage, and he had learned already,
from sad experience, that if u millionaire
y
habliments it is vital to the poor man
that his wardrobe appears to lack moth
mo. A French maid holding the Skye,
had glanced at him with q scarcely per-
ceptible mockery in her black eyes, as if
the proximity of the stout Lady alone pre-
vented her from Struggling her shoulders
with a, ''Io on see how it is"
A last glance at the city, and our ira
weller stepped on board terry-boat, and
stood on the deck watching the blue
waters OF the bay, flushed TO crimson by
the sunset and the tunnels OF steamships,
the lacP-work OF masts and spars, all sug-
gestiVe OF the other side OF the water
The carriage had rolled on board the fer
ry-boat; the young man, leaning against
the hulWalk ana taking a last farewell of
the ocean, did not observe it.
sThere was no room for me ut home, :"
he reflected, a mist in his eyes. perhaps
from the dazzle of the water, and recog-
nizng himself, in the sternest sense, one
of the fugitive birds cast out OF the nest
from oyer-crowding.
After that momentary pang OF home
sickness he turned his face resolutely
toward the West. The party OF the car
riage were already established amid the
hustle Of departure Why did a blonde
young man hasten along the platform
with u bouquet Of rare eXotics for the
daughter? Why did she turn shade
paler and cling to his arm, while the
Stout lady applied a lace pocket-handker-
chief to her own eyes, and even papa, Il
stiff oil gentleman with a military bear
ING, look grave? John Longmire OBJ
served these things from his corner with
vague curiosity. lie would like to know
more about this girl who understood him,
even though social position sundered them
by an impossible abyss. The blonde young
man was her accepted lover, evidently,
and the separation would be Il painful one,
Well Nobody watched the train bear
John Longmre away with Il smile or Il
tear He was q stranger among Stran-
gers. and his departure made no differ
ence to soul on this whole American
continent.
Among the throng i'll the depot he had
noticed two persons in conversation; one
a tall thin man, with nervous energy be-
traycd in every motion, and the other an
olive-tinged Chinaman, who blinked i'm
passivcly at the throng. The tall, thin
man now entered the palace car. his late
companion having sought humber ac-
commodation.
Curious fcllers, them Chinese" he
said with nod and 4 shrewd smile at
John, as if it was the most natural con-
clusion possible that any one should be
interested in his own reflections.
The train moved away, night settled
down. folding the hills in gray obscurity,
and hedges seemed to fly past in groups
OF dark shadow like the phantoms of
dreams. TO the villages and farms by
the way-side this train was nothing. a
mere passing flash Of intelligence from
the great world but even this one palace
car of which we write represented many
different spheres of individuality gathered
in gilded cage and meeting for the first
time. Here was John Longmirc, watch
ing the trees and clouds minele beyond
the window pane, who had staked his all
taken the burden of life on his broad.
young shoulders, his whole future appar-
emily lay within the limits OF the United
Kingdom. In his capacity of civil engi-
neer he would lay railroads in Wales,
perhaps dwell amid the rugged wildness
OF the Scotch coast, and might even be
sent out to the East Presto! A change
OF Ministry dis5anded the corps, and John
Longmirc was left with ample leisure on
his hands and f200 in his pocket to gaze
westward for future bread-winning. The
prospect had excited the same animation
which was now again stirring in his veins,
as. he looked out of the Car window at the
gathering night. Fame. riches, power.
we're easily reaped in the New World
he had gathered all the golden fables of
rumor into his crucible. Two years OF
Encouragement and truitless exertion had
not quite melted the gold to dross with
him. Fugitive from the crowding human
race that he was. the cities of the Atlantic
border had no space for him either; all