The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-03-31
THE BLUE SATIN SLIPPER.

journey.
"All aboardp" shouted the conductor
Just as the train was about to move, an
elderly man sprang or the step, and en-
! tered the compartment. The door slam
/ med, the bell struck, and the train moved
away. Although annoyed by the intru-
sion, the young couple continued their
conversation in English, when they were
interrupted by their fellow-traveler in a
much better English than their own:
Monsieur, said he dryly, "if you have
| any secrets to relate, / would advise you
not to do so before me in English, as I
am conversant with that language. I am
sorry to intrude upon you, but this is
the only compartment could find place
in. However, / will try to go to sleep"
And he faithfully tried to do SO. But
his efforts were in vain, and finally he
drew book from his valiss, and began
to read. When he plunged into his sack
he drew therefrom large roll of Bank of
England notes, and showing them to Leon
asked if he could change them at the next
town. Leon replied that it WAS probable
that he could do SO, as the road vas much
frequented by English travellers.
When they reached the next town the
Englishman descended first. After him
came Leon, who endeavored to conceal
his wife's ankles as she descended the
steps. Such are young husbands! Sud
denly there darted from the group of
loungers on the platform young man of
peculiar appearance. He was sallow and
unshaven; his eyes were bleared and
bloodshot; his clothing was shabby to the
last degree. His once black coat was
buttoned closely to the chin, probably to
conceal the lack of shirt. He advanced
toward the elderly Englshman.
"Uncle," said he, humbly.
sis that you7" said the other, angrily;
"be off don't want to have anything to
do with YOU
"Come, uncle" said the other, with
mixture of menace and humility, "don't
be so hard on man."
He seized the elders arm, and led him
aside. After some moments converse
tion the uncle seemed to soften, and op
ening his valise gave the other some bank
notes. The nephew devoured the remain
ing roll with his eyes, and after curt
word of thanks, disappeared in the crowd.
Leon and his bride entered the hotel,
and were shown to the best room in it,
Their status as a newly married couple
procured them that honor. The walls
were covered with paper representing
scenes around Naples. Unfortunately,
certain idle travellers had added mustach
es to all the female faces, and pipes to
all the male, so the effect WAS, to certain
extent, lost. The room was called the
"blue-room, the furniture having once
been of that color.
Leon ordered dinner to be served in
their room. The difficulty in procuring
it excited his wonder, and on inquiring
he found that officers of the Fifty-second
Russars were giving a dinner to their
comrades of the Si1ty-f Chasseurs
that very evening, hence the confusion.
TO his horror he found that the banquet
was spread in the room Immediately ad
joining the blue chamber. However,
there was no help for it. The host swore
by all the gods that the officers were the
Guietest men he ever sawtn mis- life; that
excepting the chasseurs-there were no
more lamb-like individuals in the service
than the hussars. And besides, they al,
ways rose from the table before midnight.
AS Leon, somewhat troubled in mind,
returned to the blue chamber, he noticed
that his English traveller occupied
the room on the other side. The door
was open, and through it he saw the Bri-
ton seated before bottle and glass, and
contemplating the ceiling.
"Well, it makes no difference after all, 4"
said he to himself, "the Englishman will
soon be tipsy, and the officers will be
gone by midnight.
When he entered the blue chamber
Leon looked to bolts and bars. On the
| officers side there was no door, but a
very thin partition.
The young couple had a mediocre din
ner, which they would have enjoyed more
| had it not been for the talk of their mill
| tary neighbors. The conversation of
| those gentlemen had nothing whatever
to do with tactics, strategy, or the art of
war in any way. On the contrary, it con-
sisted of highly seasoned stories. And
such storiesl They were followed by
roars of laughter, and even our friends
of the blue room found it difficult at times
to preserve their gravity.
But the stories grew broader, the laugh
ter grew louder. From des histories de
coltetees they became to,ttes nues. AL
though he was not prudish, Leon thought
the situation rather embarrassing for his
bride; and, sending for the landlord, he
requested him to beg the gentlemen not
to make so much noise, as there was an
invalid lady in the next room. The host
entered the banqueting room, and his
request was followed by a roar of dissent.
Finally one voice prevailed over the 9th
ers and cried:
"What sort of a woman is shel''
"Well, gentlemen" replied the host,
'I don't know for sure, but think she s
a bride, and that they're on their wedding
tour"
"a bride!" roared the revelers; "bring
her IN. Fetch 'em both here; we want
70 drink to the bride and talk to the hus-
band"
| Our friends in the bue room trembIed
on