Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-11-07
MIscEIlAHEoU S.,
SLEEPING CAR DEVILTRY.

SLEEPING CAR DEVILTRY.
An Indianapolis schoolmarm of doubtful.
age left Indianapolis few evenings since for.
the purpose of visiting friend in Cleveland
who,was very i'll, which was proper enough.
as every one must admit Soon after the
train pulled away from the suburbs, Satan, in
the form of sleeping car conductor, passed
down the nisle.in which were piled the In,
diapapolis maiden's wardrobe, done up in
band boxes shawl straps, etc, soliciting GUS
toners. The schoolmarm in a moment of
weakness subscribed for,a lower half. of a
| middle section, and in due time was trans-
ferred to the sleeping car, and soon after beS.
gan ber preparation, for retiring. Il was her
first Experience, and no wonder she blushed
as she hung her corkscrew curls on the foct
OF her berth and tied stocking about her
neck as a preventative of bronchitis. After
becoming accustomed to the joting of tho car
she dropped off in contented dose, fully ex>
pecting to find herself in Cleveland when she
awakened, Suddenly she was startled by a
snore, the first male snore that had ever fall
len upon her maidenly ears. She sat up and
listened, and blushed again when she saw
her shadow upon the walls of her berth, but
hearing nothing, and preparing again to court
the rugged embrace of Morpheus, began to
fall back upon her pillow, when her sharp eye
detected something suspended from the re>
gions above. In the excitement Of the mo-
ment she pl1cked at the object and with
scream of fright leaped into the aisle, for the
thing proved to be mans foot. Tho con-
ductor Immediately put in an appearance, and
explaining to the trembling schoolmarm that
sections were composed of upper and lower
Sberths, and she was occupying the section
with sore-eyed man from Syracuse, who
would not harm her, as he was out Of reach,
being separated from her by the bottom of
his berth and the accompanying bed clothing;
but the female would not consent TO the man
remaining, and willingly paid for the entire
section, and the man generously consented to
remove himself to the lower portion of the
adjoining section. This arrangements, when
completed, gave satisfaction all around, and
the night wore on undistnrbed except by an
occasional snore from the sore>eyed individ,
ual and hysterica tvitter from the Indian,
| apolis woman. Just as the clock in ST. John q
Cathedral tolled the hour OF three the schools
marm ,awoke with yawn which awakened n
wicked Chicago drummer across the aisle, aud
also sigpaied the catastrophe which fate, was
rapidly bringing down upon the occupants Of
| the car.
After the maiden had adjusted her night
cap and attended to few other necessary
matters, she made up her mind to arise and
get q drink of water, habit she had indulged
| herself in for. many years. Before doing SO
che drew back her curtains and peered forth:
the most perfect quiet reigned, which iustiIl,
| ed courage into her heart, and boldly turning
back her covering, she sprang into the aisle.
with all the freedom OF a brayado or glads
iator. Before she took up. her march TO the
i water tank, however, she procured from one
of her numerous bandboxes a small piece of
/ paper, which she proceeded to pin upon the
\ curtain of her berth, SO that when she return
!; ed she would not make mistake and get
upon the wrong bed.
And then she started for the reservoir.
4 And then the Chicago drummer lay down
\ upon his back and laughed and kicked him.
self with joy, after which he glided from his
lair, and with demoniao chuck1e proceeded
to remove the paper from the schoolmarm's
berth and pint upon tha one occupied by
the sore eyed ,Syracusian. Then he sluuk
back and was soon lost in the soundest of
sl1mbers
just then the engine shricked for the
crossing this side of Crestline, which fright
/ ened the schoolmarm so that she shrieked
aloud, scurried for her berth, which she pro-
.ceeded TO spring upon in q manner entirely
/ herown.
There was,an omnious silence for two SEQ.
onds: and then came the climax. Shrek after
Shrek and curse after curse were heard in
the immediate proximity of the sore eyed
1nan's quarters, and in an instant later two
forms, one tall with white Taiment and the
other short with merino sccompaniments,
stood glaring at each other in the center Of
the aisle.
i The indianapolis woman had gotten into
the wrong pew. - - sfaf :
i And the ehicago man laughed long and
loud. and beat his shead, and fore his hair with
ecstscy, while the Syracuse man swore and
the schoolmarm tainted. 81
Its almost needless to add that Che train
arrived at the Union Depot on time aud that
when the Indiana woman again travels, she
will do so during the day time or not at all
- lCIeoeland Leader
s. An Elktop, Nd, paper mentions the case
of Mi. T. Deenen, of that place. whosuffsred