, 1875-02-06
LONG AND SHORT.

1t was disappointing, cartsinlr.~ to sav tho
least OF it. ! had missed tho train by half n
minute, al portor-arparontly Tie porter of
tho etation-kndly exuiancd to me, although
was ni1cady Informed Of tho fact, thanks to my
own unai1ed powers OF observation. I had ar
rived lit tino ONLY 10 hoar the loud ringing Of
tlla bell, tic parting scream Of tha oDgino, and
the grinding and sroauing OF tho train us 1t
passed. out Of tho etation,-slowy at first aud
painfully, with much snthrnlic pantiug, then
m2re and moro rapidly, IS though 1t had drawn
a long brehth. and made up its mind for very
quick rim MIDGET, ,-thcro being no other courHo
open 10 it. A frsntic uhirling in the air Of col
oted tights, final scream In tho distance, and
then it Was completely gonc, c,.-tho rcd limp tc-
hind It. which Aal been glarinH upon me nfter q
mallgn and bloodshot fasblon. quickly fading
amt dlmnng Into nero spark, and nt last
dying oat and disappearing altogether.
It was Lie more Tc1atoua, that tho dos-catt
in which Ind been borne to the station ltkd
vanished. Tho diver had ssilol to alpreoau
my ppsfton. He WAS dgo~sy, had noticed,
anil no doubt, anxious to got homo ugain and
to bed. had been staying, should mention,
at 1ose I1ali tia country seat, il. Yorkshire, OF
my old friend Richard Roe. and I was Journey
ing back toWarla London. 1t was lato at night,
other sratn for some hourB. was left stranded
at Loudly country stntion, With very undecided
riews aa 10 ho;, should dispose OF myself. and
Of the moasurs Of .mo thAs had, like an inc on
veniont liabilisy. suddenly devoived upon me.
handed over my luggage to tho cLargo
Of tho porter, mud then, acting upon h,s
advice, / quilted tic esation-1le npolto
uf 1t d.srarngihGlY ~ 4 place whe1o no
drink could be obtained In yeu.ch Of a
In the immediate ueighborhood. found itwtli
tittlo dillcu!tEi new bulldinE-fn appearances
something between m ordinary pubIic-houao
aud what sllctioneosh calt ~ villa residence" !"
1t hme.t strongly OF Bze aud patnt, and raruish |;
potent flavor OF damp mortar pervadcd il very
completely. However, It afforded mo 1ofuge
md sheitor, advantages by no means to 10 ,l:-
derrAtcd, in viev Of tho ePocial circumstances Of
the anse. ...
ontered tbs cof1ee.roons--a lofty chamber
viii inap-Aae damp-stAius upon lis plain un-
painted walls, very barely furnished. aud feehfy
lighted by single jet Of gus Issuing from all
ugly rectangular arrangement of piping eus-
pended uear tho ceiling. rang tho bell, and
really need resteshmens OF any kind still less Of
that particular kind, for had but lately quilted
lsoe's hospEtabic table; but "tlo good Of the
house had to lie conside1ad. Moreover, fesl-
tnE Of depression wns fast canning over mo.
Tho room lCng very elouded with tobacco
| eznnxe, ! did not Ut Nrdt perceive that man, a
stranger, was sitting IN an obscure corner, read-
ing. or Affecting TO- isad, newsnaper widely,
furloubly. took out my ciGnr.casc: II seemed
to Ia ons Of those occasions when ii hehooyea 4
man 10 smoke ~ mutter Of aelf-defense.
l raised my hand to obtain = light from, tho
gas joy abosc, mo. failed to ranch 1t. waa
not tall enough.
"Allow NO." said tbs man behind The news-
paper.
Ihercupon a long arm res stretched forth In