The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-21
THE TUNNEL.
by CHARLES READF.

The 10 rs train glided from Padding
ton, May z. In the left compartment
OF q certain flrst-olass carriage were
four passengers of these two were
worth description. The lady had a
smooth, white, delicate brow, strongly
marked eyebrows, long lashes, eyes that
seemed to change color, and q good
sized, delicious mouth. with teeth as
white 90 milk. A man could not see
her nose for her eyes and mouth; her
own sex would have told us some non
sense about 1t. She wore an unpretend-
ing grayish dress, buttoned to the
throat with lozenge-shaped buttons,
and Scottish shawl that agreeably
eyaded color. She was like duck, 80
sight her plain feathers fitted her, and
there she sat, smooth, snug and deli
clous, with book In her hand, and q
soupcon of her wrist just visible as she
held IL. Her opposite neighbor was
what / call a good style of mantle
more to his credit, since he belonged to
q corporation that frequently turns out
She worst imaginable style of young men.
He was cavalry officer, aged twenty
five, He had moustache, but not very
repulsiVe one; not one Of those sub
nasal pigtails on which soup is sus-
pended like dew on q shrub; it was
short, thick and black as a coal. His
teeth had not yet been turned by TO-
bacco smoke to the color of Juice, his
clothes did not stick nor hang to him /;
he had an engaging smile, and, what I
liked the dog for, his vanity, which was
inordinate, was in its proper place, his
heart, not In his face, jostling mine and
other peoples who have had-in word,
he was what one oftener hears Of than
meets--a young gentleman. He was
conyersing In an animated whisper
with q companion, fellow officer;
they were talking about what it Is far
better not to-women. Our friend clear
Nv did not wish to be overheard; for he
cast ever and anon furtive glance at
HIS fair vis-a.vis and lowered his voice.
She seemed completely absorbed In her
book, and that treasured him. At last
the two soldiers came down to whis-
ts5r the Il i truth mnst be told), the one
w
to posterity, bet Gl0 to So that he who
was going down with US to Bath and
immortality would not kiss either of
the ladies opposite on the road. Done,
donel" Now / am sorry man / have
hitherto praised should have lent him
self, even in a whisper, 10 such specu-
lation; shut nobody is wise at all
hours" not even when the clock Is
striking five and twenty; and you are
looks, and the temptation-ten to
three.
After Slough the party was reduced
TO three; at Twylford one lady dropped
her handkerchief; Capt. Dolignan fell
on 1t like q lamb; two or three words
were interchanged on this occasion. Al
Reading the Marlborough Of our tale
made one Of the safe investments OF
that day; he bought a Times and Punch
the latter full of steel pen thrusts and
wood cuts. Valor and beauty deigned &c
laugh at some infiamed humbug or other
Dunctured by Pu11cE. Now laughing to.
gether thaws our human ice-at Swim,
dom 1t was talking match at Swim.
dom who 80 devoted as Capt. Dolignani
he had them out-he souped them
he tough. chichened them-he branded
and cochinealed one, and he branded
and burnt-sugared the other; on theil
return to the carriage, one lady passeC
into the interior compartment to inspec
a certain gentleman's seat on that side
of the line.
Reader, had it been you or I, thu
beauty, would have been the deserter
the average one would have staid with
us till all was blue, ourselves included
not more surely dt065 ctr eelliee Of hraaC
and butter, when it escapes from oul
hand, revolve 1t ever SO often, alight
face downward on the carpet. But this
was bit of a fop, Adonis, dragoon-sc
Venus remained In tete-a-tete with him
You have seen a dog meet an unknown
female of his species, how handsome
how empreSSe, how expressive he be-
comes; such was Dolignan after Swim,
don, and to do the dog justice, he got
handsome and handsomer; and you
have seen q cat conscious OF approach
ing cream such was Miss Haythorn
she became demurrer and demurrer
presently our captain looked out OF the
window and laughed; this elected an
fnquiring look from Miss Haythorn.
I'VE are only mile from the Boz
Tunnel"
"Do you always laugh mile from
the Box Tunnel?" said the lady.
Invariably"
s'What for?"
"Why, hemi it is a gentleman's
joke. !"
Capt. Dolignan then recounted to
Miss .Haythorn the following:
ga lady and her husband sat together
going through the Box Tunnel--there
was one gentleman opposite; it was
pitch dark after the tunnel the Lady
said, George, how absurd OF you e
salute me going through the tunnel:
did no such thiog. You didn't2' NO!