Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-03-19
TEN TERRIBLE MINUTES.

One November evening few years
ago | had occasion to travel from Can
nan Street to Spa road station, on the
Southeastern Railway. 1t had been
cold, foggy day throughout, and there
were comparatively few passengers. The
compartment which | entered-a Sec
-class--had but one previous occu-
pant, stoutly built man of thirty-fve or
forty. He was attempting, with evil
IDENTIFY small success, to read q book,
and he fidgeted about on his seat in
rather testy fashion.
Having a doubt as to the regularity of
the trains or such an evening | said, 81
suppose this stops at Spa roadm
"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, q mo-
ment later. Il only answered simple
question-a 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 again 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 in a position to obtain a good view
of my felloY-passenger Hitherto he
had obstlnately kept his back or shout
ders toward me. Now he threw his vol
ume 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 pro-
duced was decidedly unpleasant. Yet,
save for the eyes, which had a peculiar
and indescribable 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
brusquely.
"The Crystal Palace!" 1 said, in
some surprise. awe 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" l said, smiling. "You
like your joke, sir, perceive. The Bor-
ough market must feel flattered, indeed,
to be mistaken for the Sydenham pal
ace.n
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 now
and then turned leaf, it was evident
that his reading was little better than a
pretense. Indeed, it was so 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 my com.
panion, who had drawn nearer me, re-
turned to his seat in the corner furthest
from the platform From this he gazed
with evidently eager interest on the PEG
pie passing and repassing the carriage
door. As at Cannon 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, l had
being preoccupied with my owl
thoughts, given little heed to him. Now
without knowing why, felt myself fas
cinated. There was light in his darl
eyes, an expression in his mouth whicl
at once repealed and attracted me
"Have you been much of travelerP'
he asked, suddenly. He was standin,
with his back to the door watching m
curiously.
81 have never been out of the island,
replied.
"Ah!" he said, 81 have been every
where-Italy, Russia, India, China
Timbucteo, Ashantee-anywhere-ev
erywhere. have been near the Mort
Pole and quite to the South"
"lndeed, you must be very grea
traveller, sir" said.
"I have never been to the moon. n
man can be a great traveller who has NO
been there
"Then I'm afraid that, with the eS
ception of those famous heroes of julie
Verne, there are very few about"
"Just so, just so! And yet a trip u
above this detestable fog, beyond tn
clouds, would be enjoyable. In a nigh
like this it would be peculiarly so; don
you agree with meP"
"Not Nite," | said; "for my ow
part I'd much rather be at my Preside.
"You would, would youp Look {
thT, Smell that, taste that cursed fog.
lie threw open the window, and ceI
tainly the fog which poured in was ba
enough in all conscience.
~ grant you it is not pleasant, eithC
for ewes or throat,n | said.
a knew you would" continued m
strange companion. "Anyone woul
be glad to get out of it. The man WI
could free you from it would deserJ
81 your thanks, would he not?"
z There was ahght in the speakers eyt
which | did not like, and there was
=. movement at the corners of his mout
the opposite of pleasant. While n,
feeling the least dread of him, | was y
not without strong desire to reaC
Spa road. As bad luck would have
while vet We had not made half the sho
- Journey, the train again came to SUI
den stop. o
"Yes, he would be public beneta
tor who could deliver the people of Lo