The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-11-24
OF THE RAIL.
j YOUNG WOMAN WHO WANTED A SEAT
FOR HER LOVER CHANGES
HER MIND.

the lead, position she is not likely
to surrender as long as they trave
together. A tall brunette, with s
sharp face, piercing black eyes, hail
black as a ravens wing, long, aqui
line nose, with mole on the side oil
It. a mouth the cut of which beto
kencd determination and force. She
had passed the shady side Of the
teens and had climbed to the apex OF
@ quarter of century. He was a
guileless youth over whose tow-col.
ored head some eighteen summers
had passed, an innocent hobbledde-
hoy, just released from his mothers
apron strings. On him she cast low
ing glances, and his face, suffused in
bushes, was turned with a timid, ap
pealing look to her.
The car was crowded, and eligible
seats not easily obtained. About the
middle Of the car a sedate traveller
occupied a seat 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 en-
sconed himself upon the vacant half
of the chair. By this time the young
man whom she was cscorting had
come up. He placed his hand upon
the back Of the seat, looked appeal
ingly on the face of his protectressi
and timidly around the car. Hewas
evidently embarrassed, and did not
know what to do with himself. The
sharp-nosed brunette eyed the sedate
traveller by her side with sharp
ness that almost amounted to ma
lightly.
But the traveller seemed all uncon-
scious of the scrutiny to which he
was subjected, and looked away over
the fields through an opposite win
dow.
The brunette could no longer en-
dure to see her callow beau standing
forlorn, and thus she addressed the
sedate traveller, whose eyes were wan
dering far away and whose thoughts
were with the dear ones at home:
81 say, stranger"
"Well, say on" responded the Sc
date traveller"
II say, look here stranger
"Well, what have you got to show
me| said the sedate man.
stranger, | want you to know that
this young gentleman standing up
there is my feller.''
ooh! I'm glad to hear it. How
long have you had him? Take care
of him, l SUPPOSED"
Snow you just look here stranger:
this Young man is my Teller, and I'm
bound to see that nobody shall! i'm
pose on him. You hear me? Now, if
you had any manners you'd just get
right up and let him have seat by
me-"
"0h, ] am very happy in your So
ciety. You can not imagine how
much pleasure it has given me to
furnish you seat where you can see
through the window. Beside, I al
ways took special delight in being
near charming ladies like yourself"
replied the sedate traveller.
"But sir, he is my Teller, sir, my
beau do you understand"
SIS that sop Who would have
thought it? And does his mother
place him under your protection when
he goes abroad?"
'Now, you look here, stranger, me
and that young man expects to be
engaged, and we've been keeping
company together, and me and him
wants to have 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
Th e imperturbable traveller
Strengthened up, and then leaned over
in the direction of the sharp faced
brunette, smiled most benignly and
lovingly on her, and thus spoke;
Charming lady, I would be most
happy to accommodate you, but you
see I'm a pilgrim and a stranger,
wayworn and weary, and a long way
from home. Besides, my heart just
now is beating tattoo of ecstatic
satisfaction because of your charm
ing presence. Being a bachelor, and
30 near one so lovely and engaging,
how can l forego the pleasure I now
enjoy2 I have had dreams in my
time-bright dreams-as Ilave wan
dered through this great big world,