The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-10-29

lost to him. AS the train moved of, |
I told Jack my story, which you
know already. Il ss'
"Weli done, Philip! Your bread
is buttered for you," he exclaimed,
when he had heard me to the end.
What a glorious chance! Man alive,
l wish / were in your shoes, that
ALL"
Eyes, yes, my hoy. All right"
l exclaimed. "Well, it's shame III
| don't secure good smoke now, be-
fore the light Of my pipe goes out in
obscurity.. Do you object to smoke
sir?" y s a
This latter question was addressed
to the old gentleman in the corner,
who appeared curious mass Of old
coats, railway rugs and newspapers.
Il do object very much," was the
gruffly spoken reply. vs. n s
a"Very sorry, sir,'' said l. "I'llA
keep my head out Of the window,
then.'' '.... "
Shame seizes me when I recall
this incident. In lieu Of attending
to the old, mans wishes, I cooHy lit
my pipe, and thought / knew the
wind would blow the, smoke right
into his eycs-though / heard him
growing with rage-Ip pulled on heed
lessly. I should be sorry to be so
rude now, but I was young and ex--
cited. 1
The short afternoon was drawing
to close, and very soon after we
we're dependent for light on the lamp
that hung from the center Of the
carriage roof.
Whether it was the old mans ex-
ample who had gone to sleep, or the
monotonous noise Of the train as I'll
sped along, or that our powers Of
chatting were, exhausted, I knew
not, but anyhow W., too, began to-
feel inclined for nap. But we
found the lamp an into!erabIe nut
isancc with its necessarily pickering
Hight. s7'
.Bother it! Can't we blow IL out
. said IT.
"Not if we cracked our checks.
But I've a notionp cried ever ready
1 wiLted Jack. '1Iand me tllesold boys
hat
''Wliat for7" as / handed him the
article in question, It was worn,
and rusty, but well brushed and well
shaped.
go make an extinguishers Of re-
piled Jack; and SO saying, fitted it.
on the lamp, making the globe act
Hike that bald-head Of the owner Of
the hat. 1t fitted to q nicety, and so
Tightly as to keep we'll in its place. =
The arrangement answered splen-,
ldidly, and not q glimmer Of light was
to be seen.
!: When the train stopped at Swim
don we awokc and rushed out Of the
carriage to get refreshments, quite
forgetting our fellow passenger and
his hat. On returning, We found
they had both flown. The train star
ted, and when we arrived al Glouces-
ter, Jack left me. / had cool, lone-
" journey to my destination, little
station just below Hereford. When
Il arrived it was 8 o'clock; a dark,
raw night; ! was very sleepy and
tired. For some moments / could
, not find my portmanteau; then my
, hat was missing, and while / was
searching the guard was exclaiming
) against the delay Of the train. At
last it was all found, the guard wills
tied, the train moved of. and / was
standing on a little country platform
in strange place.
"Any cabs or fys to be got herer'
I / asked the station-master.
Dear me, no, Sill" was the reply.
"But we can get you something down
in town. Where is it to 60, STRIP
Il want to go to Mr.. Fosberry's OF
Castle Hail." / replied.
] packed the wretched little sta
tion till the conveyance came, with
|, my mind full Of the coming meet
ling. / asked tie driver how far we
had to go.
"How far, air2'' said he. Aoh,
] |about four miles, S.
! got in, and we bowled along the
dark, narrow lanes. After half an
hours drive, we entered some hand
some iron gates, and drove into,
what seemed to me now, in the dim
light, a very extensive park. The
whole aspect impressed me with the
idea Of a grand estate, and / qucs-
Itioned the driver on tie subject.