The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1879-08-28
$torios for the ,5firosido.
THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS.

"Of all things, night Journey is the
most tedious" said Clarence Hatfield, as
he let himself fall heavily into the stiff
and uncomfortable seat of the railway
car, with the faded velvet cushions, and
its back at exactly the wrong angle for
aught approaching the luxury Of nap.
Il say, Clifton, do you think we might
smoke ?'
''Well, / rather imagine MOI" said /,
with a motion of my head toward the
other passengers.
''There appear to be ladies on board" F"
Hatfield shrugged his shoulders.
''Such ladiesw
"Well' laughed l, "they don't appear
to be particularly stylish in manners or
costume, but nevertheless, my dear fell
low, the divinity of their sex hedges them
around like wall y
DIVINITY is their humbugw shortly
interrupted Hatfield. Gas if these half
dressed dowdies, with babies and band
boxes, could possibly belong to the same
world with Beatrice HaleP'
To this / made no answer. 1t did not
seem to me exactly appropriate tolug the
sacred name of Beatrice Hale into dis
cussion, in place like this. Yet what
could | do except to feel my face flush,
and I'D roots Of my hair tingle? For ]
was iiig ablyi in love with Bee Hale,
and so WIS aseace Hatfield.
If I were y waste quarts of ink and
reams of paper I'll trying to describe her
manifold charms and excellencies to the
reader, it wouldn't do any good, Such
things have been tried before and failed.
Let him imagine the fairies brunette that
the sun ever shone on, and he may come
somewhere near the mark. Suffice it to
say that she was as beautiful as dream,
and that Hatfield and / were both slaves
at her feet
Which of us did she like best? All;
that was the question! 1t was something
like the children's old game of see-saw,
Up 90, down you come. Sometimes
! fancied had the ghost Of q chance, some
times | was convinced that Hatfield was
altogether the preferred, and that had
better emigrate to Australia at once.
S'Hello!" cried Hatfield, breaking un
tremendously in upon the thread OF my
musings. "there goes the whistle. We
shall be off directly. Thank goodness
for that!"
And he put up his feet ON the eppD
site seat, and prepared for as comfortable
a four hours ride as possible.
Clarence Hatfield and [, be it under
stood, were employees in the extensive
business of Messrs. jenkins Junpertor
& Co, auctioneers, and had been down il
the country putting up sale Of swamp1
lots, cut into streets and squares, accord
ing to the most improved metropolitan
methods of doing such things.
1t had heen 8 dismal business. No
vember is not an inspiring month at th
best, and three days fog had conspiret
against the success of Mount Morr;
Park, as Jenkins JumpertOn & Go. has
| christened their new speculation. Yet
we had done reasonably well, and well
now thankful to get back to New York
As the train gave its starting lunge
the door flew open, and in came tai
/ old lady, in a pro-ligious black bonne
and a fur cloak, surrounded by perfee
eheaveaux de frise of squirrel cages
leather bags, brown paper parcels am
sandwiell-boxes. STE was followe
closely by a younger lady, dressed i
black and closely veiled, and paused he.
i itatingly in front of our seat.
young man, said she, in a low voic
as gruff ms that Of a man, Is this sea
! engaged Y
5Yes, said Hatfield, 'tit is
"For your feet?''
sfNo matter what for,n superciliousl
replied the head clerk Of Jenkins, Jun
perton e. Go. s'Pleasc to pass on, d
lady. You'll find seats enough b
yond. .
But this was stretching of the trutl
There were no seats beyond, as the ol
lady could easily perceive, unless sh
chose to sit directly opposite a rcd hC
coal fire, or upon one Of those. corner a
rangements close to the door, which 81
equivalent to ne seat at all.
The old lady hesitated and changed h'
heavy carpet-bag from one wearied arr
to the other. ] thought Of my ow
good Aunt Polly ut home and rose
once.
PRAY take this seat, ma'anl, . said
And let me put your parcels up N Il
rack for you.
Clifton, whata fool you are erie
Hatfield, in an impatient sotto voie
Why couldn't you have sat still an
minded your own business
It's my own business | ansver'
; brnsquely. ito see that every lady
made as comfortable as It IS in the n
Il ture Of things 10 be. Now the sqrrirr
cage, ma aIn-it'l 20 very co.nfortatt
under the seat ItltiIlA.
j Hatfield utteretla q eontelnpt gTiif
bat he never offered g tstke llis feel frg.
s ofE the opEos cushions although q
/ Younger woman tood - the aisse, Y
{ Comfortably ea ne back yard aud fc
z ward vita the motion ct the Efalils ais
S a woman Degafld. asf sig the tate
(. affairs. dFef aeping CHILD into b