The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-02
TEN TERRIBLE MINUTES.

.o TEN TERRIBLE MINUTES.
One November evening few years
ago had occasion to travel from Can
nan Street to. Spa road station, on the
Southeast IN Railway. 1t had been a
cold, foggy day throughout, and there
were paratively few passengers. The.
compartment which entered-a sec
ond -class--had but one previous occu-
pant, stouly built man of thirty-fiye or
forty. He was attempting, with evil,
IDENTIFY small success, to read book,
and she tidgeteds about on his seat in
rather q testy fashion. son RIOS
Having O. doubt.as to the regularity of
the trains on such an evening L said, 81
suppose this stops at Spa road?"
.1fSpa foadi aOf course it does" said
this gentlemane with what considered
unnecessary vehemence. "All these
trains stop at Spa road. "n.at ...
.,''Don't thank me, sir" he said, a mo-
ment later. ~ only answered simple
question: fool or mailman could do
that" ...s5o4 .c...t .aii...
Here the train slowly moved off, and
the speaker, whose face l had not yet
seen, resumed his efforts to read, NUT
tering now aud 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 position to obtain a good view
of my, fellow-passenger. Hitherto he
had obstinately 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-
duoed was decidedly unpleasant. Yet,
save for the eyes, which had a peculiar
and indescribable glare in then, the face
was not an unhandsorne one. '''t
e'sI did not know that we were go
close to the Crystal Palace" he said
1.-THE Crystal Palaoel" 1 said, in
some surprise. ave are not near the
Crystal Palace" 't4.."f....''
"The fog has affected your eyesight,
my friend, was the reply. "Trouble
yourself to look out of this window"
"Oh, that" said, smiling. "You
like. your joke, sir, perceive. The Bor-
ough market must feel battered, indeed,
TO be mistaken for the Sydenham pal
ace"
% Borough market! OF course, it was
only my joke" laughed my com panion.
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
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. s srs .y,r,sd p3l7ao Ia I'LL
The moment we were outside the sta
ton a 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 own
thoughts, given little heed to him. Now,
without knowing why, felt myself fas-
cinated. There was light in his dark
eyes, an EXPIRE sion in his mouth which
at once repealed and attracted me.
"Have you been much of traveler?'
he asked, suddenly. He was standing
with his back to the door watching me
curiously.s .Y.. ll
I'll have never been out of the island, .
Ireplied. .-.,e bn,e ~,
"Ah!" he said, az have been every.
where-Italy, Russia, India, China,
Timbuctoo,. Automatically lev
erywhere. have been near the NORTH
Pole and quite to the South"
"Indeed, you must be very grea
traveller, sir, NJ said.sI %
sl'sI have never been to the moon. M
man can be great traveller who has no
been there"
In"Tnsh I'm afraid that, with the ex
ception of those famous heroes of julie
Verne, there are very few about.n ua4
"Just o,just 80! And yet a trip VI
above this detestable fog, beyond tn
clouds, would be enjoyable. In a nigh
Ike this 1t would be peculiarly 60 don
you agree with mea'' iR .r1')ofI boa
s'"Notl quite" 1 csaid; for my owl
part I'd much rather be at my freride.
You would, would youp Look d
that, smell that, taste that cursed fog.
He threw open the window, and Ger
tainly the fog which poured in was ba'
enough in all conscience. All Ia. 20 -.
~" grant you it is not pleasant, eithe
for eyes or throat" said.
"l knew You would" continued m
strange companion. "Anyone woul
be glad to get out Of IL. TIE man VIII
could fires you from II would desery
your thanks, would he note" Anoli@ 7f
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