The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-05-12
SELECT STORY. ,
INNOCENT FILTRATION OR THE
BEAUTY MET UN THE TRAIN.


'Do you mean to say that all the
glorious fctions that have enchained,
that have thrilled the world are true p
] asked 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 actually happened. Now, in this
story which have read at your rec.
ommendation, there is no such incl.
dent. The characters are not alive,
and the events never occurred at least
within the writer's knowledge. [
can tell you a dozen real, true sto lie,
that woulk beat it all hollow"
"Doubted."
"What will you bet?"
"Who's to decide?"
"You shall decide yourself Come,
I'll tell you one t. begin with; aud If
you don't say it is better than this
namby pamby affair I have been re ,d.
ing, I'll pay for the supper
SO ! set myself to listen.
II took the night train at Colum
bus," said Harry, setting himself back
to spin his yarn more comfortably.
"Then yon are the hero of your own
story" said |
Don't interrupt me Wh) said |
was a hero? You will see. The cars
were full; but found a seat behind
la and gentleman, who had ap-
propriated a couple to themselves, and
were wrapped up in shawls sleeping
very comfortable.
The light from the car lamps fell
OH their fac $. The gentleman, who
seemed a foreigner, and who proved
to be Mexican of some distinction,
was of middle AGA dark, fne-looking
somorc, quiet man But the lady, young
enough to bc his daughter, was of daz-
zling beauty. a pale complexion,
tlushirg with the slightest tint of rose;
an oval face; features as regular as those
of a Grecian statue-waSn't she beauti-
ful?"
81 suppose she was,' said |, wishing
to be amiable, when thus appealed to.
IL don't want your opinion Oh that
point. | had been among rough people.
| had seen few that could be called ie-
fined, or beautiful for long time; but
making allowances for all that, she was
certainly one of the most loveable
women | ever behed.
"When she opened her eyes in the
pale morning light, they were of that
linge of violet gray. shaded by long,
dark laShes, so rare and exquisite. Her
little hand, with its long tapering white
fling, rs, TIPPED with rose, her slender,
delicate feet; her foim and movements
of perfect grace, all held me in a kind
ot.encha tmert.
THE cars ratified and roared along
down the Little Miami, and we were
| nearing Cincinnati, when I heard her
speak. 1t was some ,r.tling question
II had the petrlenca of a spoiled child
and spoiled beauty; but there could
be no mistaking the pure, high breed
ing 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
Cincinnati until evening We rode up
town from the depot in the omnibus,
and sat opposite, and so quite near
her.
GAS l looked, what | supposed must
be my last look at her, and must have
expressed all the admiration and inter
est l felt-saying with my eyes:
'Who can you be, o, beautiful one
she appeared to see me forth first time,
Something must have told her what |
was thinking A flush came over her
fac, very slight, indeed, but still per
cep,ible. 1t was little surprise and
something which was not Indignation.
81 had given my checks for the Bur
nett House it was with pang that |
saw my new acquaintance preparr to
alight at the Spencer. But while the
General,'as heard him called after,
ward, was picking up shawl that had
been dropped, | sprang out into the
snow, and with look-I doubt not OF
mingled respect and admiration, and
grief-gave my hand to the lady She
thrilled me through with the lightes
and quickest touch possible, as if she
did not wish to offend a stranger, 10y
declining what he meant for civiIity,
but did not say thank you The hus
band touched his hat to me with cold
proud look, which | shall never for,
get
81 re entered the omnibus, went to
the Burnett House, took good bath
and breakfast, and then went and heard
some fine music at the cathedral. Ny
railroad vision | laid away, with sigl
or two, in the store house of memory,
AT nine o'clock in the evering, left
in the cars for Cairo. The Ohio wa,
frozen. As entered the car, my hear
beat as ! caught sight of La Signora
The only vacant seat was near them
received no salutation aud made none
II knew she saw me- but she did no
raise her eyes The gentleman looked
at me as he might at any other traveller
but without sign of recognition, o
any emotion, unless there was IA yer,
slight darkening of the brows coulC
not see we'll by the lanphght, They
made their arrangements like practice
travellers, and slept, or seemed 10 sleep
! sat quite near and thought Did yol
ever feel superhuman beauty sinkin!
INTO your heart, deeper and deeper will
every moments presence
"Wrll-'
| NO matter. Don't answer now.
must tell my story, In the morning am
lall day, we were still on the cars. | di
not intrude even by look. Two O
three times had an opportunity to giy
them some slight attentions. | had tn
latest New York papers, which ! loane
them | brought glass OF water whe
there was none in the cars, | was luck
cnough to have nice oranges, and tn
lady was th rsty, As the day went o
the General grew neighborly, lie Spok
very little English His lovely viii
would talk othing else He change
from Spanish to French, but she refuse
to speak but a word or two of eithe
and kept him to his English, which
was evident she vas determined