Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-01-09


twinkling. Then the bell rang, the
whistle blew "All aboard w and the
train was again jogging along.
AS the car was now not more than
half full, Vivian debated with himself
rs he walked toward the seat, whether
or no he was not bound in politeness to
sit elsewhere. The lady solved the
knotty point for him by again making
room and looking an invitation to take
his old seat, which we may be pretty
certain he did.
"Of course you lost my purse in tho
crowdw
An electric battery couldn't have pro-
duced greater shock.
upon my word" (recovering) 81
never thought of it from the moment
you handed it to me till now. Lose it.?
No; never lose anything" said he re-
turning the article.
"You have pot taken out the pay for
my snpper," she said.
" Nor SHALL; it was pay enough to
see you enjoying your meal"
Some observing soul has told the world
that young ladies lose their charms
when eating, and this one was evidently
familiar with the old maxim, for she
smiled knowingly at the intended COM
pliment, and merely replying, II bate
flatterers," was proceeding to reopen
her novel-it being yet light enough to
read-when Vivian made bold dash,
and inquired the name of the book.
1t was Dickens Little Dorritt," and
the mention of that admired author led
to an interesting discussion of writers
and their works, followed by discussion
on other subjects, and general draw
ing out" of each others opinions and
characters. Thus it happened that
when old Sol had gone to rest, ard night
had fairly come, they were so much in
terested in the conversation, and the
cars made 50 much more noise than be-
fore, it became necessary to put their
heads quite close together, and Vivian
even presumed so far Tor forgot him.
self as to place his arm over the back
of the seat, with handresting lightly
on his companions shoulder.
The cars and their tongues ratified on
together, but finally the former got the
best Of it, and a gradual silence seem ed
to settle over all the passengers. On,
on, sped the putting engine; drowsy
grew the weary travellers; close and
closer did Vivian get to his sleepy
charge, and at last, laying aside her
bonnet, she gave herself up to Nor
pheus, and leaned her tired head against
our hero's manly breast.
Whew How they did go!
"Singing through tho forest,
Rattling over ridges,
Shooting under arches,
Rambling over bridges
Whizzing through the mountains,
Bless me! this is pleasant,
Riding OH rail-"
Vivian-ah, Vivian. That would
have been the Nleasantest ride of all
thy life, had it not >been tortoise hor
rible suspicious for the second time
Yes, they would be heard spite of him;
he couldn't ward them off.
Look at it calmly, now. Here she
was feigning sleep at his side-and in
such close proximity, too Had she
not enticed him to sit by her. when the
cars was half empty? Had she not en-
couraged him to become familiar? Had
she not shown in a dozen ways that
she was partial to his presence? Ger
tainly she had and he would keep his
eyes open-he wasn't to be caught nap
ping-not hep Thus it was that his
first pleasureablc emotions in his
imaginary role of guardian angel"
were turned to watchful care-nOt Of
the sleeping maiden-but fhis pocket
book
Eleven o'clock was striking on the
city bells as the cars rushed into the
depot at Chicago. The stopping of the
train became, as usual, the signal for a
general hustle of departure, and our
unknown heroine. waking up in hur-
ry, began, in rather unheroic manner.
to fasten on her bonnet and to the usual
number of miscellaneous bundles that
women will carry when travelling. Wv
ian had got on his overcoat, and-must
it be confessed?-was examining his
pockets First, the left-hand trowsers:
all right. Then its compatriot on the
other side; all r-i-g-h-t-where was that
check? Sure he had put it into that
pOcket-twasnt there now-perhapssin
his vest-no--must be in his coat-not
there either? Strange He tries all the
pockets over again, and by this time
our young lady, being ready to depart,
notices the search, and innocently in
qu'res what he has lost.
" You haven't noticed a baggage
check lying around loose, have YOU Y5
No, sir. Is that what you are look |
ing forr
Yes, it is, madam; and what's more.
believe more you have got it,"
"Sir r'
20. you needn't put on your dignity
i know you now. and if you don't give