Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-03-23
tFrom the Fife, Scotland, News.]
A MOMENT OF HORROR.

n MUMENI UT nUnnUn- .
One November evening few years
ago / had occasion to travel from Cannon
street to Spa Road Station. on the South
foggy day throughout, and there were
comparatively few passengers. The
compartment which entered-a second
class-had but one previous occupant, a
stoutly built man of thirty-fve or forty
He was attempting, with evidently small
success, to read book, and he fidgited
about on his seat in rather testy
fashion.
Having doubt as to the regularity of
the trains on such an evening, | said:
81 suppose this stops at Spa road ?''
''Spa roadi Of course il does" said
this gentleman, with what I considered
unnecessary vehemence. "All these
trains stop at Spa road.
'sDon't thank me, sir" he said, mo-
ment later. ct only answered simple
question: fool or mailman could do
that
Here the train slowly moved off, and
the speaker, whose face / had not yet
seen, resumed his efforts to read, NUT
tering now and then an imprecation at
the expense of the fog and the cold.
When we reached the glass dome of
the borough market the train came to a
stop, and for the first time I found my
self III position to obtain good view
of my feilow-passenge Hitherto he
had absolutely kept his back or shout
ders toward me. Now he threw his
volume down on the seat and faced
about He was, as | have said, man
IN the full prime of life Rather over
the average height, he had the broad
shoulders, full chest and nervous hands
of an athlete. The impression which
his features produced was decidedly IN
pleasant Yet, save for the eyes. which
had peculiar and indescribable glare in
them, the face was not an unhandsome
one.
Il did not know that we were so close
TO the Crystal palace" he said, brus-
quely.
"The Crystal palace!' [ said, in some
surprise. We are not near the Crystal
palace"
"The fog has affected your eyesight,
my friend" was the reply. s'Trouble
yourself to look out of this window"
F'Oh, that!'' / said smiling. 'sYou
like your joke, sir, I perceive. The
Borough market must feel hattered. in
deed, to be mistaken for the Sydenham
palace"
Borough MARKET Of course, it was
only my joke, laughed my companion;
but there was no mirth in the laugh.
He now took up his book again and
made another attempt to read. Though
he fixed his eyes on the page
and even now and again turned q
leaf, it was evident that his reading was
little more than pretense. Indeed, il
was SO dark in the carriage that to see
the small characters in an ordinary vol
ume had become quite impossible.
While he was engaged the train reached
London Bridge The moment we en-
tered the station nay companion, who hao
drawn nearer me, returned to his seat liz
the corner farthest from the platform
From this he gazed with evidently eager
interest on the people passing and re.
passing the carriage door. AS at Can
non street, the number of these was not
great. and we were still alone when the
train again moved off
The moment we were outside the sta.
ton change came over my fellow pas
senger. He threw his book on the floor
and rose to his feet. Hitherto I had
being pre-occupied with my owl
thoughts, given small heed to him
Now, without knowing why, I felt my
self fascinated There was a light Ii
his dark eyes, an expression in his
mouth which at once repealed and at
tracted me.
"Rave you been much OF traveller q
he asked suddenly. He was standing
with his back to the door watching mt
curiously.
II have never been out OF the isl
and, y [ replied.
'sAht'' he said, 81 have been every
where-Italy, Russia, India, China
Tlmbuctoo, Ashantee- anywhere-every
where. [ have been near the Nortl
Pole and quite at the South
Indeed, you must be very grea
traveller, sir" [ said.
- have never been to the moon
No man can be great traveller who
has not been there"
"Then I'm afraid that, with the ex
ceptlon of those famous heroes of Jules
Verne, there are very few about.
"Just SO, just so! And yet trip ur
above this detestible fog beyond the
clouds would be enjoyable. In a night
like this it would be peculiarly SO; DON
you agree with me %
Not quite, [ said: ''for my own part
I'd much rather be at my freside.' %
You would, would you? Look at