The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-04-23
from the Fife, Scotland, News
A MOMENT OF HORROR.

One November evening a few years
ago / had occasion to travel from Cannon
street to Spa Road Station, on the South
eastern railway. 1t had been a cold,
foggy day throughout, and there We're
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 a book, and he fidgited
about on his seat in rather testy
fashion.
Having a doubt as to the regularity of
the trains on such an evening, | said:
81 suppose this stops at Spa road 2"
"Spa road! Of course it does, said
this gentleman, with what [ considered
unnecessary vehemence. "Au these
trains stop at Spa road.
Don't thank me, sir, he said mo-
ment later. 81 only answered a 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 found my
self III a position to obtain q good view
OF my fellow-passenge Hitherto he
had abs olutely 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, a 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 I'M
pleasant. Yet, save for the eyes, which
had a peculiar and understandable glare in
them, the face was not an unhandsome
one.
81 did not know that we were so close
TO the Crystal palace" he said, br1ls-
quely.
"The Crystal palace!' said, in some
surprise. "We are not near the Crystal
palace"
1.-THE fog has affected your eyesight,
my friend, =" was the reply. "TroHble
yourself to look out of this window"
ooh, that" | said smiling. You
like your joke, sir, / perceive. The
Borough market must feel fattered, 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 a
leaf, it was evident that his reading was
little more than a pretense. Indeed, it
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 my companion, who had
drawn nearer me, returned to his seat in
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 a change came over my fellow pas
senger. He threw his book on the floor
and rose to his feet. Hitherto ] had,
being pre-occupied with my own
thoughts, given small heed to him.
Now, without knowing why, felt my
self fascinated. There was light in
his dark eyes, an expression in his
mouth which at once repealed and at
tracted me.
II h1a,, ,,,r,.l, &c 4rox-o1cr -
he asked suddenly He was standing
curiously.
"Ihave never been out OF the ISL
and" Ireplied.
"Ahw he said, 81 have been every
where-Italy, Russia, India, China,
Timbuctoo, Ashantee-any where-every-
where. l have been near the North
Pole and quite at the South.
"Indeed, you must be very great
traveller, sir, l said.
II have never been to the moon.
No man can be a great traveller who
has not been there"
"Then I'm afraid that, with the ex-
ception of those famous heroes of Jules
Verne, there are very few about.
"Just so, inst so! And vet a trip up
above this detestible fog beyond the
clouds would be enjoyable. In night
like this it would be peculiarly so; don't
you agree with me?'
mot quite, [ said; for my own part
ia much rather be at my ireside"
"YOu would, would you? Look at
that, smell that, taste that cursed fog. "
He threw open the window, and certainly
tie fog which poured in was bad enough
in all conscience.
q grant you it is not pleasant, either
for ewes or throat, | said.
Il knew you would" continued my
strange companion. ANY one would be
glad to get out of it. The man who
would free you from Ii would deserve
. your thanks, would he not? ?"
There was a light in the speakers eyes
which | lid not like, and there was a
movement at the corners of his mouth
I the opposite of pleasant. While not
feeling the least dread of him ! was yet
+ not without a strong desire to reach Spa
road. As bad luck would have 1t, while
+ vet we had not made half the short jour
ney. the train again came to sudden