The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1876-11-30
to the tall thin man again and

hSulU.
The train moves away. and
Boulogne-sur Mer, with tho bathers
already on tho beach, the skaters
already preparing for another day
of aimlcss circling around tie rink,
the English tourists already focking
toward the Etablissement for q
morning gossip, is left behind in the
hot sunshine, Napoleon I. in bronze
gazing ever across the waters from
his pedestal on the cliff toward tho
England he failed to conquer.
There is little conversation in tho
railway carriage; the French couple
quietly simmer in their corner, and
madame's black dress is preserved ;
the apoplectic English papa pants ;
the English mamma, with symptoms
ofasphyxia, gazes at the roof of the
conveyance, which resembles q
padded box without ventilation the
tall thin man dozes and Mr.. Jere-
miah Swan, by happy inspiration
discovering that q draught endan-
gors his right car, pulls up tho side
sash, thus considerably increasing
the discomfort of his fellow crea-
lures.
81 shall die!" exclaims tho British
matron, waving her large fam
despairingly.
Perhaps Mr.. Swan would lower
the window again, but for several
very powerful reasons with one of
his organization. In travelling on
the Continent he is especially de-
sirous Of appearing az foit with the
situation, and he has SO ear been
emincntly successful in claiming the
best for himself, with the aid of coin
of the realm. Again, he is q man of
small wits, proud of the confidence
rcposcd in his own sagacity by tho
proprietors of Moons Polish, proud
Of his business knowledge and pow
ers of penetration III dealing with
humanity. Altogether he feels him
self to be equal to any emergency,
and intends to impress others with
the fact as well. Always equal to
the emergency, Mr.. jeremiah Swan,
with the tall thin man gazing ut you
stealthily through his eyelashes.
The German traveller feels the
waste of tissue. He produces II
pocket flask of Rhine wine, roll
and sausage; his fat checks
wrinkle into smile as his mouth
expands.
Il wait not for re buffet at
Amens, nc says to Mr.. Swan.
"No. returns the latter, aH.bly.
"Thcle's nothing like knowing how
to travel in all countries. I am nu
old traveller myself"
The English papa purses up his
lips and frowns; the English
mntron's face assumes still more the
purple hue of her own tlounccs the
tall thin mans face twitches us if
with suppressed smile. All the
landscape seems to Slumbcr in the
heat. Soil of brown and chrome
tints intersperscd with fields of gold
On grain, where rcapcrs toll at the
harvest, and thatchcd cottages. On
one horizon stand, a windmill, on
the other the sea makes ND in
marshes and creeks, and tho salt
b;ev@e comes fresh from that sani-
tnrinm of the coast, Bcrck.
At last Montreul is reached, and
tko British matron dcsccnds to the
platform like bombshciI; protest
ing that she is sulfocating, and will
go anywhere else if she is only per
mitted to breathe.
1--WE can't all be first" Mr. Swan
remarks. with,a little cachling laugh,
and places his umbrella on the seat
lately occupied by tho pretty Eng
lish girl.
At Abbcvillc the German departs ;
at Amions the French couple fol-,
low.
81 call this comfortable" says Mr..
Swan, with a sigh of satisfaction.
y @ tall thin man makes some
umbling, inarticulatc response,
and settles himself for nap. Mr..
Swan gazes at the two little spaces
Of mirror inserted in the opposite
wall, with tho notice, in French,
English and German attached
SIN case of any extraordinary
emergency requiring tho attention
Of the guard, the passenger is ro-
questcd to break tho glass with his
elbow, pull the tag inclosed, attached
to the engine, and signal with his
arm from the right-hand window If
passenger checks the train without
sufficient cause, he will bo prosecuted
by law"
"Wo do things botto than this
in America the open car is safer,
and has more air. How is man to
signal the engine and wave his hand
from the window if he is being mur-
dcred for instance ?" Mr.. Swan
meditltcs, with n yawn, and also dis
poses himself for nap.
Ho may have slept minutes or
hours, 81 complete has been his
oblivion, whom a hot breath scorchos
his cheek, and a voice Kisses in his
car,
"Snakes !"
"Whcro ?" AS he rpcns his owes.