Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-02-06
HOW LOST MY WHISPERS.

.Do YOU object to smoking, sir?'
THIS I asked in my blandest manner
of an old gentleman who sat with his
| face hidden by newspaper opposite to
me in a railway car.
All the seats in the carriage were
filed. / and four others were on our
wav to Cambridge to enjoy the Christ
mas vacation. We were in high spirits,
for there is delight in banishing for
while all thoughts of comic sections,
Newton's Principal" and the little-go.
and entertaining in exchange, visions
of chops" skating parties, and all the
orgies which every right minded family
| holds at this season OF the year IN
| honor Of King Christmas.
But l must introduce you to my
chums-for chums we were, although
our tastes did not all lie in the same
direction. John Stirrup is-or rather
was at that period-a riding and hunt
ing man, and was not unfrequently to
' to be found at Newmarket; Stretcher,
on the other hand, loved boating, and
preferred the sight of we'll developed
biceps to that of the best bred hunter
in the world, and would often say to
Jack, Chow on earth can you say that
YOU would rather see the Two Thous-
and than the Time Race in the Col
uuhoun Sculls,' cannot for the life of
me make out" Edwards was poor
and reading man, but whose wits and
talents made him universal favorite;
while Davies was rich, Open-handed,
good hearted fellow as ever lived. For
my own part, don't think had any
we'll defined popularity but did little
bf everything | read a little, rowed q
title, hunted q little, had fair income,
in short, if I had any characteristic
i all it was love of laziness and prac-
cal Jokes.
We congratulated ouselves on getting
carriage by ourselves-with the ex-
option of the old man named-for
intended to keep out the cold and
guile the time with sundry pipes
d cigars. We had got out our cases
ID were prepared to light up, az Il
after of course, when we were aston
he'd by my uis-a-uis dashing away
le paper which had concealed his
ice.
"Do | object to smoking? Yes, sir, l
% object. | object very strongly, sir:
|nd beg that you will instantly replace
Jour cigars in your pockets. | insist
IN having no smoking in this car
iageN'
We looked aghast at the sudden burst
pr old gentlemanly wrath.
Might ask if you intend travelling
ar on this line, sir?" inquired Edwards,
N his comically polite tone.
What is that to you, sir? What bust
ness Is 1t Of yours where may be going
to-"
81 merely wished to suggest that in
ease OF your travelling far, pleasing and
'lellghtful as it world be for us to enjoy
your agreeable company, yet, neverthe-
less, we would try to bear the loss.
should you prefer to change carriages at
the next station"
No doubt you would wish to get rid
ol me; but no sir; l do not move NV
seat, and the first one who smokes | will
report to the guard"
In that case l fear we shall be
obliged to tear ouselves away" l said.
rs we stopped at a small station.
fortunately we found the next com.
partment empty, and as we started
gam we pulled out our cigar cases, this
Time to light their contents.
The old boy had certainly got out Of
pea on the wrong side this morning"
Ead |.
Or has made a mistake in his bet
ng-book," remarked my sporting
liend. We'll give him benefit now.
any rate; l move we take it in turns
pun smoke through the key-ho]e
lets look at him; ha ! cooled down a
i'tle; Is about to compose himself to
leep. I'll trouble you for his nigbtcan.
fome and look at it, Fred"
did so, and roared on seeing a red
oven cap of conical shape, which
dded very considerably to the irasci.
liity of the wearer's features.
with perseverance which deserved
etter cause, we each made q tube of
aper and putting the end through the
,mp-hole took our turn at smoking
I'm OUT and l blush as now think
%" heartily we enjoyed the enraged
tt'e IA which he paced up and down
l e, empty carriage, like Gagged lion.
he next time we stopped, however.
ne guard put his head into our carr;aoe
lndow and said, with wink:
uentl m In next compartment COM
ans am OF your smoking, sir"
smoking We exclaimed, with
ocS Indignation. "Do we IooL as Il
hsd been smoking? What non.
use and added in a myster;mIs
sinner. You see there's one yacan,
IsS 81 course WEI not going to tell
. !. OF the man who occupied that
All 'ight' said the guard, laughing.