Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-08-01
.TNNOCENT FILTRATION"

.TNNOCENT FILTRATION"
"Pshaw l" said Henry, and tossed the
"Don't you like it ?" 1 ventured to in.
quire. 81
The only good stories are true Ones"
"Do you mean to say that all the glo-
rious fctiOns that have enchained, that
have filled the world are true ?" I ask.
ed little triumphantly.
"Not true In all their details and
combinations, of course" said he, "but
whenever you find any incident really
affecting, you may be sure that it actual
ly happened. Now, in this story which
I have read at your recommendation
there is no such incident. The charac.
ters are not alive, and the events never
occurred at least, within the writer's
knowledge. I can tell you dozen real
true stories that would beat 1t all hol-
low"
Doubted"
"What will you bet ?"
"Who to decide ?"
"You shall decide yourself. Come,
| you don't say it is better than this nam.
I'Il pay for the supper"
II took the night train at Columbus" ,"
said Henry, settling himself back, to
spin his yarn more comfortably.
4 "Then you are the Zero of your own
story" said I.
Don't interrupt me. Who said
was hero? You will see. The cars
were full but found seat behind q
lady and gentleman, who had appr0pri-
ated couple to themselves, and were
wrapped up in shawls, sleeping very
comfortably.
The light from the car lamps fell on
their faces. The gentleman, who SEEM
ed foreigner, and who proved to be a
Mexican of some distinction, was of
middle age-a dark, fine looking, SOM
Der, quiet man. But the lady, young
enough to be his daughter, was of daz.
zling beauty. A pale complexion, flush
ing with the slightest tint of the rose |;
an oval face; features regular as those
of Grecian statue-wasn't she beauti-
ful?"
"Isuppose she was" said I, wishing
to be amiable, when thus appealed to.
II don't want your opinion on that
point. had been among rough people.
! had seen few that could be called re-
fined, or beautiful, for long time; but,
making allowances for all THAT, she was
certainly one of the loveliesc women /
ever beheld.
4 "When she opened her eyes in the pale
morning light, they were of that tinge
of violet gray, shaded by long, dark
lashes, so rare and so exquisite. Her
little hand, with its long, tapering,
kwhite fingers, tipped with rose; her
slender, delicate feet; her form and
movements of perfect grace, all held me
in kind of enchantment.
"The cars ratified and roared along
down the Little Miami. and we were
nearing Cincinnati, when / heard her
speak. 1t was some trifling question.
It had the petulance of spoiled child
and spoiled beauty; but there could
be no mistaking the pure, high.breeding
Of her articulation. By the time it was
broad daylight, had studied her well,
looking over my newspaper. 1t was
Sunday morning, and no train left Gin.
cinnati until evening. We rode up
town, from the depot, in the same omni-
bus, and I sat opposite, and so quite
near her.
"As looked, what I presume must
be my laet look at her, and must have
OA DICSbSQ III bldt 1OOh a11 tA0 dOA11A0-
ti0n and interets felt-saying with my
| she appeared to see me for the first time.
Something must have told her what I
was thinking. A flush came over her
face-very slight, indeed, but still per-
ceptible. 1t was a little surprise and
something that was not indignation.
, II had given my checks for the Bur-
n, TT House; it was with pang that I
COW my new acquaintance prepare to
o1iobt at the Spencer. But while the
ronoral ss heard him called afterward,
was nickin z up shawl that had been
dro,,ned an rang out in the snow, and
With a look + t.soubt not of mingled re-
snect and admirstion, and grief-gave
INV hand to the lady. She thrilled me
with the lightest and quickest touch
nossible as II she did not wish to offend
3 stranger by declining what he meant
for a civility; but did not say thank
vou.' The husband touched his hat to
me with q cold, proud look, winch L
shall never forget.
"I Ire.entered the omnibus, went to the
Burnett House, took q good bath ana
breakfast, and then went and heard
some fine music at the beautiful! cathe-
dral. MY railroad vision laid away.
with sigh or two, in the storehouse OF
memory.
"At nine O'Clock in the evening, left
in the cars for Cairo. The Ohio was
frozen As entered the car, my heart
beat as caught sight of La Signora.--
The only vacant seat was near them. 1
| received no salutation, and made none.
I knew that she saw me but she did
not raise her eyes. The gentleman look
ed at me, as he might at any other
traveller, but without sign of recogni-
ton, or any emotion, unless there was
very slight darkening of the brows. l
could not see well by the lamplight.
They made their arrangements ike
practiced travellers, and slept, or seemed
to sleep. I sat still and thought. Did
you ever feel q superhuman beauty sink
ing into your heart, deeper and deeper,
with every moments presence?"
"Well-"
mo matter. Don't answer now,
, must tell my story. In the morning,
/, and all day, we were still on the cars.
did not intrude even by look. Two OF
three times had an opportunity to give
them some slight attentions. had the
. latest New York papers, which loaned
them. 1 brought glass of water, when
there was none in the cars. 1 was
lucky enough 10 nave sOme u1ce OianSeoi
and the lady was thirsty. AS the day
, went on the general grew neighborly
He spoke very little English. His love
ly wife would talk nothing else. he
changed from Spanish to French, but
: she refused to speak more than a WORD
or two of either, and kept him to his
English, which it was evident she was
determined he should learn.
"She was English by birth. | knew
, it by many Indications. A high-bred,
vel. bred English lady, of the most re-
) fined and delicate type-more Celtic
+ than Saxon, and more American than
: English. according to common notions
in her appearance.
"At Sandoval, the junction of the st.
Louis road and the Illinois Central, they
; left the train, as did. and we waited
together for the Chicago train for Cairo
There was a crowd waiting. little room
and no supper. I managed to procure
: some oysters and little bottle OF claret
wine, which begged my fellow-voya.
r gers to share.
, "In few hours we were on magni'
ficent New Orleans steamer. How
I splendid and how comfortable she seem
! ed to us after our days and nights of tht
rough, noisy railroad. I need not tell
1.-The bright saloOn-the luxurious furnl-