The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-08-20
MY TWO PEARLS.


Lightning express, gentlemen All
aboard p shouted voice in the station
at Rochester, at II o'clock at night.
stepped on board the train, choosing
a palace and restaurant car, "through
to Chicago"
"Section ?" said the conductor, with
egraphed, sir. Only one berth left, and
that's mere accident. Here it is-No.
8. Gentleman who engaged it missed
connection at Syracuse"
Congratulating myself on my good
fortune, L speedily crept into No,
9, a lower berth, and fell fast asleep.
When opened my eyes the gray dawn
of an October morning October of
1S69-was stealing in through the cur
tanned window.
l lay some minutes in half dream,
listening to the multitudinous noises of
the train, with scarcely a thought of
where was. Then, as the light grew
stronger, I raised myself upon my elbow
and looked about me, only to fall back
a moment after with start of surprise
that was almost disnay.
Right before my eyes hung a white,
shapely hand, with dark seal ring upon
the third finger. It took me minute or
two to collect my scattered senses
enough to discover that it belonged to
the occupant of the upper berth,
dropped carelessly from his quarters to
my own, in the heavy abandonment of
sleep.
I lay and looked at it-a white,
shapely hand, as I have saba hand
unmarried or observation-disclosures the
word for yourself-by the seams and cal
louses of manual labor. The fingers were
long and tapering, the nails oval and
we'll cared for. The wrist was not large,
but well-knit and sinewy and half
buried in the fine linen of the shirt
sleeve I caught the sparkle Of q dia-
mOnd.
The hand had strange fascination
for me, half uncanny though it looked
in the weird, struggling light of early
morning. L watched it, vaguely won
dering what kind of face would assert
with It, till there was stir overhead,
and it vanished. Then made my toilet
as l best might, and went out on the
platform for breath of fresh cir.
When, efter the lapse of half an hour,
I leisurely stole back to my place again,
all vestiges of the night were removed,
and a gentleman in plain gray travelling
suit occupied one seat in the compart-
ment allotted to me. He held a newspa-
per in the hand. I recognized it at
once.
He lifted his eyes long enough to sa-
Lutte me with courteous bow as took
the opposite seat, and then resumed his
reading. I opened my paper also; but
the attempt to eugross myself with its
contents was a vain one-my eyes and
my thoughts continually wandered to
my visa Wis.
Describe him? Not an easy matter.
Neither is it easy to account for the
fascination that he wore as an invisible
mantle. Knight tell you that he was
tall and slight; that his complexion
was clear and dark, that his black,
crisp locks curled closely around we'll
shaped head; that his mhssache was a
light and graceful penciling on the
firm, thin lip; and that his imperial
was above reproach. But, having told
you this, should expect you to say
with glance of inefable meaning that
you could find his counterpart in any
BARRIERS shop on Broadway; or, if not
there, in your sisters French dancing
master.
You think SO? Perhaps it is not
strange. You see I cannot put into
words the individuality of the man
the certain indefinable something that
at once set him apart from the crowd,
and made him notable.
He dropped his paper presently, and
turned to me with some remark upon
current events made with d slight
foreign accent. Thus we fell into con-
versation.
breakfast served whenever you
please, gentlemen" said the porter
passing through the car.
My companion bowed, smiling.
"As we are to be second mates for a
day or two," he said, sit is well we
should know each other. Shall I do
myself the honor to present you with
my card ?"
"Hippolyte L'Estrange, Strasbourg."
I read from the little white PARALLEL
gram. So had not been mistaken in
supposing him Frenchman. may as
well tell you here what he read from
the card gave him in return edward
Ripon, New York"
We breakfasted together at his re.
quest. 1 found MY "chance acquaint-
ance" to be a most intelligent and
cultivated man, and great traveller.
So much of the world had he seen, 60
wide was his knowledge of men and
things, that to my comparative mex
perience, it seemed little less than
marvellous. He was years older than
myself was just twenty three-or at
least lie seemed so. A Frenchman is
older than an American of the same
age, always. But, allowing for all that,
NJ. L'Estrange was, doubtless, ten OF
twelve years my senior. He was al
once reticent and communicative as tc
his plans and projects. I soon discov,
cred that he was on his way to San
Francisco-so much further off then
than now.
"But what circuitous route % ]
exclaimed. "You are going round
Robin Hoods barn."
Robin Hoods barn ?" he repeated,
with half-laugh, his eyes lighting as
he caught my mean. "But, my friend,
I had just come from Panama. was
tired of the ship, the sea, the monotony,
so go this way"
Overland the whole distance ?" ]
asked.
"Oh, no Look here, l shall have
the honor to show you" and he drew q