The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-04-21
Ten TERRIBLE MINUTES.

One November evening q few years
agO I had occasion to travel from Can
non street to Spa Road station, on the
Southeastern railway. It had been a
cold, foggy day throughout, and there
were comparatively few passengers.
The compartment which / entered-a
sccond-class-had but one previous oc-
cupant, stoutly-built man Of IS or 40.
He was attempting, with evidently
small success, to read . book, and he
fidgeted about on his seat in rather
testy fashion.
Having : doubt = TO tho regularity Of
the trains on such IN evening, / said,
!" / suppose this stops ct Spa roadi"
"Sps road OF course IL does" said
this gentleman, with what considered
unnecessary vehemence. "All these
trains stop 1t Spa road"
Don't thank me, sir, he said, mo-
ment later. II only answered simple
question: fool or mailman could do
that"
Here tho train slowly moved Oh, and
the speaker. whose face / had not yet
seen, resumed his efforts to read, mutt
tering now and again an impiecation ct
the expense Of the fog and the cold.
When We reached the glass dome Of
the Borough market the train came to q
stop, and for the first time found my
self in position to obtain good view OF
my fellow-passenger. Hitherto he had
obstinately kept his back or shoulders
toward me. Now he threw his volume
down on tho seat and faced about. He
was, rs l have said, man in tho 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 pro-
duced was decidedly unpleasant. Yet
save for the eyes, which had peculiar
and indescribable glare in them, the face
was not an unhandsome one.
~ did not know that we were 20 close
tothe Crystal palace" he said brusquely.
1.-THE Crystal palacel" said, in
some surprise. 1--WE are not near the
Crystal palace"
The fog has affected your eyesight,
my friend" was the reply. Trouble
yourself to look ont Of this window"
Oh, that I" / said, sailing. You
like your joke, sir, / perceive. The
Borough market must feel fiattered, in
deed, 70 be mistaken for the Sydenham
palace"
Borough market! OF course, it was
only my joke" laughed my compan-
ion. 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 again turned leaf. it was evident
that his reading was little better than
pretense. Indeed, it was 90 dark in the
carriage that to see the small characters
IN an ordinary volume had become quite
impossible. While he was thus engaged
the train reached London bridge. The
moment We entered the station nv CON-
paniOn. who had drawn nearer me. re-
turned to his seat in the corner farthest
from the platform. From this he gaxed
with evidently eager interest on the
people passing and repassing the car
riage door. Az ut Cannon street, the
number Of these WASH OF great, and We
wore still alone when tho train again
moved Oh.
The moment we were outside the sta
uon = change came over my fellow-pas-
senger. He threw his book on the floor.
and rose 70 his feet Hitherto had.
being pre1ccupied with nv own
thoughts, given small heed to him.
Now. without knowing why. ] felt INV.
self fascinated. There was o light in
M dark eye, IN expression in his mouth.
which 1t once repealed and attracted me.
Have you been much Of traveller p
he asked, suddenly. He was standing
with his back to the door, watching me
curiously.
II have never been out Of the island, /"
/ replied.
"Ah !" he said. Ihave been every.
where-Italy, Russia, India, China. Tim
buctoo, Ashantee - anywhere every
where. / have been near the North
poe and quite 1t the South"
Indeed, you must be Q very great
traveller, sir. I said.
have never been to the moon. No
man Gan be : great traveller who has not
been there"
Then ! am afraid that, with the ex.
ception Of those famous heroes OF Jules
Verne, there are very few about"
just 80, Just sol And yet trip ND
above this detestable fog beyond the
clouds would be enjoyable. In night
like this it would be peculiarly 90 don't
you agree with me p
mot quite" said; "for my own
part I'd much rather be ct my Preside. !"
!" You would, would your Look at
that, smell that, taste. that cursed fog. !"
He threw open the window, and certain
" the fog that poured in was bad
enough in al conscience.
! grant you it j. not pleasant, either