The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-04-07
Ten TERRIBLE MINUTES.

One November evening a few years
aeo had occasion to travel from Cam
nan Street to Spa road station, on the
Southeastern Railway. 1t had been a
cold, foggy day throughout, and there
we're comparatively few passengers. The
compartment which. entered-a Sec
und.class-had but one previous occu-
pant, a stoutly built man of thirty five or
forty. He was attempting, with evi-
IDENTIFY small success, to read a book,
and he fdgeted about on his seat in
rather testy fashion. .t,
Having doubt as to the regularity of
the trains on such an evening said,' 81
suppose this stops at Spa roadp'
"Spa road. OF course it does," said
this, gentleman, with. what I considered
unnecessary vehemence. "All these
trains stop at Spa road. -
"Don't thank me, SIR" he said, mo-
ment later. 81 only answered simple
question-a fool or madman could do
that"
Here the train SLOWLY moved off, and
the speaker, whose face l 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 wereached the glass dome of
the Borough market the train came to a
stop, and for the first time found N.Y.
self ina position to obtain good view
of fmy fellow-passenger. Hitherto he
had obstlnately kept his back or shoul-
ders toward me. Now he threw his vol
ume down on the seat and faced about.
lie was, as | 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 pro-
duced was decidedly unpleasant. Yet,
save for the;eyes,I which had 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
brusguely. az aA
"The Crystal Palace!" 1 said, in
some surprise. awe are not near the
Crystal Palace ti.a- s4,:sF
1.-THE fog has affected your eyesight,
my friend, twas thereby. " Trouble
Yourself to look out of this window
=, Oh, that" | said, smiling. "You
IKE your joke, sir, perceive. The Bor-
ough market must feel battered, indeed,
70 Be mistaken for the Sydenham pal
Borough market! OF course, it was
only my joke,n laughed my companion.
But there was no mirth in the laugh.
ne now took up his book again and
made another attempt to read. Though
ne liked his eyes on the page and now
aad then turned leaf, it was evident
laat his reading was little better than a
pretense. Indeed, it was so dark in the
carriage that to see the small characters
y y an ordinary volume had become quite
While he was thus engaged
'ae traln reached London Bridge. The
moment we entered the station nv COM
Panlon, who had drawn nearer me. re-
turned to his seat in the corner furthest
l.om the platform From this hlgazed
WIN evidently eager interest on the peo-
P'e passing and repassing the carriage
seol' y as at Cannon Street, the number
VI. y tnese was not great, and we were
o.si o,a aone when the train again moved
). Ihe moment we were outside the STA
s,oh change came over my fellow-pas-
senger. Lie threw his book on the floor,
aaa rose to his feet Hitherto, | had,
uelns preoccupied with my own
given little heed to him. Now.
milaous knowing why, felt myself fas-
s,natea. There was a light in his dark
s!es' an EXPIRE ssion in his mouth which
= !. :, once repelled and attracted me.
/ nave you been much of traveler?''
= n;.a asked, suddenly. He was standing
nma ,as ms back to the door watching me
IL, 4 nave never been out of the island"
f,spned. gsssFf-9 8enSE sesB
..s.Alhh! Alhh!n he said, 81 have been eyery- |
TEa,efne-Italy, Russia, India, China.
srra.h sra1haetoo, Ashantee-anywhere-ey-I
3 p1,mhere. | have been near the North |
Vae ana quite to the South.n
r.vaia aihaeea' you must be very great
naa ! nave never been to the moon. No
been there "Ao n"S no'
,en,;a men LIN afraid that, with the ex-
Ieptlon OF those famous heroes of .InIes
q Ie' mere are very few about
lbosa sas. so, Just soil And yet a trip up |
.5osSs sss lnis detestable fog, beyond the
- s. ~ would be enjoyable. In a night
~ nu ~ sals It would be peculiarly so; don't /
,a,t Io5t ms quite I said; "for nv own
Nv 4 much rather be at my fireside.' .
lou would. would rop