Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-03-23

Who claim for thee that freedom is thy right.
Chambers Journal.
tFrom the Fife, Scotland, News)
A MOMENT OF HORROR.
One November evening few years
ago had occasion to travel from Cannon
street to Spa Road Station, on the South
eastern railway. It had been cold,
foggy day throughout, and there were
comparatively few passengers. The
compartment which I entered-a second
class-had but one previous occupant, a
stoutly built man Of thirty five or forty.
He was attempting, with evidently small
success, to read book, and he fdgited
about on his seat in rather a testv
fashion.
Having doubt as to the regularity of
the trains on such an evening, I said:
II suppose this stops at Spa road ?"
"Spa road! OF course it Does" said
this gentleman, with what considered
unnecessary vehemence. "All these
trains stop at Spa road.
"Don't thank me, sir, - he said, mo-
ment later. II only answered simple
question: fool or mailman could do
that
Here the train slowly moved off, and
the speaker, whose face had not vet
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 q
stop, and for the first time found N.Y.
self in position to obtain good view
of my iellow-passenger. Hitherto lie
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 I 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 un-
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. "Trouble
yourself to look out of this window"
"Oh, that!' 1 said smiling. "You
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 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 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 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.
"Have you been much of traveller ?"
he asked suddenly. He was standing
with his back to the door watching me
curiously.
Ihave never been out OF the ISL
and" replied.
"Ah" he said, II have been every
where-Italy, Russia, India, China,
I1mbuctoo, Ashantee-anywhe re-every-
where. I have been near the North
Pole and quite at the South"
Indeed, you must be very great
traveller, sir" I 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, just 50! And yet 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 ~
Not quite, " I said; "for my own part
I'd much rather be at my fireside."
" You would, would you? Look at
that, smell that, taste that cursed fog."
He threw open the window, and certainly
the fog which poured in was bad enough
in all conscience.
II grant you it is not pleasant, either
II knew you would" continued my
glad to get out Of it. The man who
would free you from it would deserve
your thanks, would he not?'
There was light in the speakers eyes
which I did not like, and there was q
movement at the corners of his mouth
the opposite of pleasant. While not
feeling the least dread of him I was vet
not without strong desire to reach Spa
road. As bad luck would have it, while
yet we had not made half the short Jour-
ney, the train again came to sudden
stop.
Yes, he would be public benefactor
who could deliver the people of London
from fog," said.
'He would, would he not?" whispered
my companion, eagerly. "Then I am
the man"
AS he spoke he crouched down and
looked up at me with glare that made
me start. He buttoned his coat and
pulled up bis sleeves as he whispered
again: III -
II am the man. can free you from
these fogs-I can free myself.
For the first time the thought now
flashed into my mind that I was alone
with madman. recognized now that
wild Light in his eyes, that strange
twitching at the corners Of his mouth.
DO not suppose that I am constitution
ally more timid than most Of my neieh-I
bors; yet at this moment Ifeit 3 cold