San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-06-22
shillingsp 1 ,oiH finish my cigar, and

abide by the consequences.
My companion is evidently as unac-
customed to opposition as I to dictation.
and for a few minutes he stares at me
dumbfounded, then he lets fly his own
version of King James's Counterblast
against Tobacco. On my part l pre-
serve an obstinate silence. My compan-
ion pulls up the window on his side; l
put up that on mine, which produces a
violent fit of coughing on his part, when
down 90 both windows in hurry.
We have arrived at Peterborough,
and the guard is again called. 1 have
almost finished my cigar, and I throw
the end away. My companion can not
let the matter rest, however, and when
we are started again he reads me anoth-
er lecture, couched in such unaccepta-
BILE terms that for reply light another
cigar.
"Sir, here is my card; and I insist
upon knowing your name and address"
1 take his card, open my card-case,
put his card in, and return the case to
my pocket without giving him my card
in exchange. finish my cigar amidst
a volley of threats of getting my name
and address by force. r"m.
We are at Finsbury Park now, and
tickets are being collected. This is the
nearest station to my home, and here
intend to leave the train. My COM
panion follows me up the platform, and
calls the guard to take my name and
address. Being under the scrutiny of
the other passengers, who evidently
think I have got into trouble for card
sharping, and having made up my mind
to pay the penalty, 1 lose no time in
giving my card. .s-E.It...L
At home I am received with open
arms, and am hurried into the dining
room by my boys to inspect device
over the sideboard for my especial ben
eft-'Welcome' in blue letters on a
white ground. My wife is full OF in
quiries after all our friends in Edin-
burgh, and what sort of journey 1 have
had. ..., t. .,E
Having informed her that individually
and collectively all our friends are as
we'll as could be expected, considering
the wintry weather they have had, and
that all were as kind and hospitable as
ever,I briefly tell her of my smoking ad-
venture.
"And who was your companion?"
asks my wife. e.,
How should knowP" .....
Why, you have his card" ...
To be sure; quite forgot that"
says 1, producing my card-case. |
search it through carefully, but no card
other than my own, can find.
"Iknow I put it here. Why, bless,
me! 1 must have given it to the guard
instead of my own. How odd!"
have almost dismissed the adven-
ture from my mind, when few days
later my wife, in Swimming over the
paper at the breakfast-table, breaks out
into a merry laugh. What on earth can
she find so amusing in any other than
the agony column, which 1 can see is
not the portion under perusal. tits the
police reports, and she hands me the
paper, pointing out the place for my at
tention.
At the - Police Court, j b,
Of Verandah House, Crouch Hill, was sum-
moned by the Great Northern Railway Com
pany for smoking In a carriage not smok-
ing carriage, to the annoyance of other pas
sengers. The guard having proved identity,
and the accused's card, given up by himself,
being put in as corrObOrative evidence, the
Magistrate asked the defendant if he had
any thing TO say in reply. An attempt was
made to prove that the accused was really
the complainant, and that he had given the
card produced to the real offender; which
the Magistrate characterized as an impu-
IDENTIFY lame defense, and fined the defend
ant in the full penalty of 40 shillings.
"My DEAR" says my wife.
swell, my dear?" respond.
Verandah House is that pretty place
that has just been finished little far
ther up the hill. Don't you think that
you behaved in rather an unneighborly
mannerP'
"Did our neighbor behave any bet
terP"
CAT all events he has suffered I'M
justly. This can not be allowed to pass.
Don't you think you had better call and
apologize?"
swell, I'll think about it."
On my way home from the station
+bo+ o,,on;,o, 7 ropp tho v;citnr,c hall of