Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-07-30

lazy WHO look6u III very ueuclle u
health got into the carriage, and gen.
bleman with her. Mr.. Barnaby Chucker fl
felt ready to swoon Before he could in o
form the guard of his readiness to pay d
for whole compartment sooner than g
have his privacy in.ruded upon, the train t
was off again, and Mr.. Chucker fell to L
rejecting how he should effect his change a
of carriages at Slough, now that he was I
not in a fit state to step on a platform. 6
The train in which he Travelled was not I
bound straight for Windsor, but for Bir-
mingham, and Mr.. Chucker would have {
to change at Slough if he wished to dine
with his friends that evening.
Alas more urgent difficulty than
that involved in change of carriages
soon presented itss1r-io him, for no soon
er had the train started than the lady
who had just stepped in began to moan
and to shiver, saying that she felt cold
all over. Her husband sought to quiet
her, but it was all of no use, for she
was really i'll. At last the poor man
looked in despair at Mr.. Chucker and
said -
Excuse me for taking a great liberty,
sir; but would you be so kind as to lend
my wife yourrug? We started in hur-
ry and forgot to bring one. As it is not
a co day, perhaps you would not mind |
obliging us as far as Slough, where l
shall be able to buy rugP"
"Ehpn grunted Mr.. Chucker stupe-
fed. The request completely staggered
him, and he could find no words in which
to reply.
"Would you kindly lend this lady your
rug?" repeated the gentleman, rather
astonished.
''Hoo!" growled Mr.. Chucker, in a
voice like bears. 1t had just occurred
to him that the safest way of getting out
of his difficulties would be to sham be-
ing mad. A Frenchman would have
quietly beckoned the gentleman to the
other side of the carriage, and would
have explained the dilemma with laugh.
But Englishmen are persons full of nice
ness, and Mr. Chucker dared not confess
to stranger that he had no trousers on.
He repeated "Hoo!n two or three times
over, and his stratagem succeeded perfect
ly, for both his fellow passengers became
convinced that they were travelling with
a lunatic.
Instantly the gentleman jumped out ON
the offside of the line, so as not to pass
Mr.. Chucker, and helped out his wife,
=. whose screams had given place to fit OF
? shiyering. Mr.. Chucker thought him
: self well of his mCss, for the train would
= go on again, and he should be able tc
. complete his dressing. By way of in
- suring privacy for the remainder of his
+ Journey, he began by pulling the carriage
4 blinds down.
u The lady began to scream. Her nerves
IL were so unstrung that they could no
stand this extra shock; and that foolisl
IL Mr.. Chucker made things worse by th'
} fixity with which he stared at her. Th
gentleman armed himself with an um
III brella to protect his wife. Mr.. Chuck
" er, entering the spirit of his part, caugh
% up his own umbrella and brandished ii
~ ~ The travellers were in these attitudes
Ii vigilance and menace when the trai
- once more slackened speed, and Hanwe
~ was reached.
u Alas! he was not to get off so easily q
NC he had anticipated Already there wa
W a commotion on the platform. The hus
vi VI band of the fainting lady had eXplaine
40 matters to the station-master; some po
81 ters and guards had overheard him, an
'nV the rumor circulated that there was
lunatic in the train. Some passenge
=, poking their heads out of carriage vii
io dows, protested against travelling in ii
20 company of man who might comm
oi- some mad act-set the train on fire, thro
ui- himself out, OF emit awful noises. III
~, na station-master was obliged to pacify the
iUi murmurers by striding toward the {
ei- legged maniac's carriage. The all-unco
scious Mr. Chucker was rudely arous
'oy by the door being suddenly opened al
'N- gruff voice exclaiming:-
.in- '"Now, sir, what's the matter wi
ing youp"
ned "Nothing's the-the-matter with me
Mr.. S. .ammered Mr.. Chucker. "What Shot
ms, there beP" But so saying, he huge
his rug closer to him, with gui
as look.
1t it "Would you mind stepping out. sir
by "Why should IP My ticket is
his Windsor"
not "Change here for Windsor, sir"
the sponded tne guard, who was quite c
lself vinced by this time that he had gu
hes, character to deal with.
lself "Well, man, since you put me to
de- I've no trousers on" confessed
cam Chucker, lowering his voice. Wh'
shirt upon the station-master echoed in ans
He ment, "No trousers!" and the crC
coat, behind caught up the words,
cred trousers"
This Hes throwed 'em out of the v
ong- dow" suggested a porter.
his "Perhaps he had none on when he
dig into the train, opineo another'
tand- Had you any trousers on when
door got into the trainP inquired the stat
hero master.
room 'Of course l had, man. I've two
with me now. Let me alone, that |
luck- put one on" faltered Mr.. Chucker
Id me timidated and disgusted at the sigl
o my so many people staring at him.
But while he was speaking, some
riend. chnrl. seizing corner of his rug,