Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-09-20
w AITED FOR.

As I stood at my door, looking for a
passing cab, [ could not help wishing
that had taken my wife's advice, and
gone to Downley by an earlier train.
The weather had grown worse instead of
better, and uot only did the wind blow
as boisterously as it had done all day,
but its gusts now drove before them a
heavy rain which would have wetted one
through In very few minutes. As a
rule, disengaged cabs crawling slowly
past my house were a nuisance, and now
l had waited fully a quarter of an hour
without seeing one, and knew that the
margin beyond the number of minutes
absolutely necessary for getting to the
station was growing dangerously narrow.
There was a howl there was deluge (!
l could never walk to the station in this.
All there was one. In answer to the
mans hail l dashed through my little
garden, and in o few seconds was inside
four wheeler.
"Great Southern, sir? yes, sir, said
the man, as he stood at the door, the
rain pouring from his oil-skin in streams.
can uncommon nasty night, SIR"
So it was, and so I should fancy the
poor fellow found it; for when he opened
the door for me to alight at the station,
a complete ring of water formed where
he stood. We were in pretty good time,
after ali, and l got my ticket and was
seated comfortably in the carriage for
some minutes before the time of start
ing. There were very few passengers in
any of the carriages, and in the one by
which / travelled there was but two or
three, and I was the only occupant of
my compartment. The last bell had
rung. the whistle had sounded, the pro-
monitory scream from the engine had
been given, and then, of course, had fol-
lowed the first tug, when heard a voice
shout:
"This way, sir, this way"
A guard tore along the platform, fol-
lowed by belated passenger; my door
was unlocked, the stranger jumped pant
ing In, the door was slammed to, shill-
ing changed hands rapidly, and we swept
from the station.
"By Jove, exclaimed the new conner,
wiping his forehead as he spoke, "by
Jove, that was close thing"
every" [ assented, "and the last
train, too"
''The last train, certainly" said my
companion. CT believe there is no way
whatever of getting to Downley if you
miss this train"
"There is none" replied, (Which is
very announcement.
"Oh, excessively So" returned he.
"Ha7e you any objection ?"
Of course, as he SAID this, he exhibited
his cigar-case, and finding had no OBJ
lection, he pressed cigar upon me,
which, may remark, was one of the
very best / ever smoked, he reclined
with his eyes closed, as though in deep
thought.
He was tall, good-looking man, with
fine beard and mustache, very black and
full. But could not help thinking that
his head was little too much like a head
from hair-dresser's window, and his at
tire was trifle too much like picture
from fashion book. Somehow, every
thing was too new and glossy to please
me entirely, and his jewelry was also too
profuse, but it could not be denied that
his cigar was capital one
sank into reverie as deep as his own;
indeed L rather suspect had begun to
doze, when was reused by the stopping
OF the train. My companion reused him
self, too. [ was on the side nearer the
platform, and looked out.
ga rough night still, isn't 1t ?'' he
said.
sit is, indeed" replied. "Just put
your head out, and try how the wind is
blowing"
"No, I thank you," he returned.
with smile, 81 will take your word for
it."
I laughed in reply, and was about to
close the window, when the guard looked
in. The official passed on, but returned
in few seconds, and stared somewhat
curiously, fancied, into the carriage.