Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-18
Two Travellers.
Christie eleison!

1t was on the road from Paris tC
Lausanne. The scene: Interior of q
first class compartment on the through
night express. Time: A little after
o'clock A. NJ. The weather, well, tina,
was simply iniescribablc. 10 merel,
say that it rained, would. from the very
mildness of the term, provoke smile
OF derision. 1t came down in great
round drops, which thumped in weari-
some monotony upon the roof of the
carriage, and were driven by the VIC.
1ence of the wind and the speed with
which we dashed through them furi-
ously against the Window anes, even
trickling down upon them inside.
There was literally water, water every.
where, though my situation WAS SO far
better than that Of the Ancient Mariner
in that there were plenty of drops 10
drink had been so minded. Instead
Of being stagnant, the water was OF the
iveliest description.
We had made q somewhat lengthy
stop at Dion, but were again in mo-
ton. At that station gentleman had
entered my compartment, Of which l
had before been the cole occupant "a
Frenchman, knew, by the style of his
dress aud manner, the former showing
the latest Partisan mode, and the latter
that unmistakable air of native polite
ness which characterizes every true
Frenchman; also by the hearty profuse-
ness Of his apologies as he tripped over
my feet in getting in. An Engiishman
would have settled the matter in far
fewer wrods, and been far less demon
strative about it. My knowledge of
French was most inconveniently Ina
tied, but knew what he meant when
he said Pardong."i if 1 didn't under
stand the rest OF it. He ensconced
himself in the further opposite corner
from mo, and was soon apparently
sound asleep. If I could only have
conversed with him what relief l
felt it would have been to have broken
the monotony of this enforced silence.
/ could not help envyirg him the
ease with which he had dropped off; as
all my endeavors to WOO the approaches
of the balny god had been futile. In
deed, / never felt more wide awake in
my whole life before.
My travelling companion looked up
for moment-he had only been dezing
sitter all, I thought-then he gazed out
OF the window, shrugged his shoulders
Like true Frenchman, glanced towards
me, aud catching my eye, observed:
"C'est terrible, cette pluie."
Soul, monsieur" answered, though
not exactly catching his meaning. 1
blushed as spoke, and he Immediately
looked again out of the window, doubt
lessIy to conceal the smile, which he
was too polite to betray, at my bar
barous pronunciation. However, talk
ing bad French, even to Partisan,
was, under the circumstances, better
than not talking at all. 1 hoped he
would say something more, for DESTROYS
as was to loosen my tongue as an alb.
solute relief, did not dare to venture
first upon remark.
Presently he shook his head despond-
emily and said, "Quel tempsl" 49,.
knew that quel meant what and
temps time, but whether he was asking
me what time it was, or som ething else,
I was not quite sure. But thought
it better to pull out my watch, for,
rather than be thought impolite, I
would run the risk OF appearing ride
ulous. and holding it up before him,
would let him look for himself. It was
precisely half past 2, but how to ex-
press it correctly in French hadn't
the remotest idea.
My companion looked ct it, nodded
his head, said Merce," and sank back
into his corner. Presently he said,
looking up, and speaking with great
care and deliberation, no doubt for nv
special benefit, as my ineficiency in his
language must have been only too APP
parent to him:
"Nous arrivons O Pontarlier les six
heures, je pense; nest.il pas, monsieur?'
Now what the deuce did he mean |?
/ blushed, stammered, hesitated, but
catching at the word Poutar,ier, the
frontier town where our trunks would
be examined, repeated in q vague
sort Of way, and with obvious CON
straint Of manner "PoHtalier
My companion himself blusbed-no
wonder-at ny stupidity. and said,
"Oui, Pontariier, six heuies"
"Oui." l repeated, "six heures;'
and sank back relieved. There was
silence for some few minutes, and than
my companion again spoke, slowly aid
distinctly, SO that might catci every
word. 1t @ss very kind snd con.idpr-
ate of hin, 10 be sure, but then lie was
a Frenchman--co orc else would have
taken the trunDie.
Nons aliez Lsussn7eP
l h@2.flcG "OGi, 4 linen ire
ble3 il s.l4nc5 ultli lee '4ol ID
more.