Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-12-02

SO even before we arrived at Lamothe, the
junction point for Arcachon. The only
passengers besides myself in the compart-
ment were an elderly couple who sat at the
father end and looked out of the window.
scarcely ever exchanging a word. and a
stout, rather flashily. dressed man of about
80, whom from the nature and extent of
his baggage took to be commis-veysgeur.
de had yawned away the first half hour
alter our departure from Bordeaux and
had finally dropped asleep, or appeared to,
II the corner seat opposite mine.
The reader will therefore easily under
stand that 1t was with sense of positive
relief that on our reaching Lamothe l saw
pretty young woman, bag in hand, peep
lnquiringly in at the door OF our carriage
The glance seemed to reassure her, for,
with the assistance of the conductor, she
entered and sat down. The old couple at
the further end gave her a moments cur
sorry inspection, and then resumed their
melancholy contemplation of the beauties
of nature without. My commits voyageur,
opposite opened his eyes as she crowded
past between him and me, and closed them
again with supreme indifference. 1t was
reserved for me, in the lack of some more
serious employment, to study and pass
muster upon the newcomer.
l have said che was young woman, and
repeat 1t that is to say, she could not
certainly have been ever %. and there are
a good many charming ladies of my &C.
quaintance who insist on calling themselves
young and yet who will never see % again
in this world at least. l have also said
that she was pretty, and that, too, not.
wlthstanding subsequent developments, !
will stick to until my dying day. She was
rather tall, and was dress ed in travelling
robe which, though falling nearly to her
feet, did not entirely conceal the very
graceful figure inside of it. The only CO.
quettish feature in her toilet was a jaunty
Partisan bonnet, perched saucily back of a
wealth or wavy raven hair, parted at one
side and falling partially over her forehead
as # to match it's blackness with that OF
her clear flashing eyes-eyes that flashed
all the more brilliantly by reason of the red
cheeks and rosy lips that kept them con.
stant company. Though travelling alone,
she seemed not in the least abashed. Be.
fore | could tender assistance she had put
her bag away in the rack above, seated her
self with good. natured smile midway be-
tween the commis-voyageur and the ole
lady, and, after rapid survey, such al
only woman can take of any new com
pany in which che finds herself, drew 6
book from her pocket and composedly set
tied herself down to read.
Since that day have often in leisure
moments endeavored to recall the many
trifing, and then apparently unimportant
details connected with or leading up to the
events that followed. l recollect that hal
an hour or SO after we started out from
Lamothe the commis.voyageur suddenly
woke up, yawned, and looked about hin
with the air of a man who required few
moments In order to ascertain where h,
was and how he had got there. Appa
rently he had not before seen the new
conner, but his glance rested on her onl,
for moment Then he sat up straight il
his place, and after one or two ineffectua
attempts to begin conversation with me
relapsed into silence. didn't particularly
like his looks, remember.
at Monceaux, where we had an hour t.
wait, all of US except the young woman go
out, the old couple evidently not to return
for they took all their traps with them
and great fuss they made il
doing so. l had a glass of beer anC
sandwich in the buffet, afterward smoked
cigarette, and then climbed up again to m,
place in the wagon. The COMMENCEMENT
was there before me, but he had taken one
OF the now vacant corners at the further enc
while the young woinan-I was glad of il
had planted herself in the seat opposit,
mine. She looked pleasantly up from tn,
q 1o'a I
moir as l got in, and then she went Oh
reading again.
began to think that, notwithstanding
our new acquisition, the ride babe fair tt
be as stupid as before, when suddenly my
vis.a-vis looked up and pointing to the
window inquired, Would monsieur minG
having the glass open, just little bit ?"
Not in the least, | answered, and
let the window pane half way down. evil
that answer"
Perfectly" she said; 81 am very
much obliged indeed" and then with
bewitching smile she added, "Does mon
sieur travel far? ?"
"Only a few hours beyond the frontier,
l answered. "And you, mademoiselle p
She colored slightly. Pardon. l an
madam, and not mademoiselle, she salc
with smile. 81 am going to Madrid"
l don't envy you the journey" said l.
"Do you not dislike to travel such a dis
tarce alone ?"
Undoubtedly" she answered, with
shrug. a." Mails que voulez vous. It cant
be helped. My poor husband has beer
taken suddenly i'll there, and his physi
clans have telegraphed for me to come i'm
mediately."
could not help looking at her move
and rejecting that she was taking the mat
ter very coolly en- route. But, then, wha
philosophers these French women can b,
about such things
l have never travelled alone before,
she continued. "Can monsieur tell me-
at what hour we pass the frontier ?"
About 2. | think. They open the bag
gage at Irun."
Fortunately, have but little with m,
to be examined, she said, "but l am 81
unused to travel, and dread these Spanish
officials"
You have no occasion for uueasiness
madam. said. cit is a simple formal
ity, an every day affair, and you will havs
no trouble, imagine"
II hope not" she said thoughtfully
" Tor II L did'-and she hesitated. CT
am all alone, and to whom should
turn ?"
1t was said very innocently indeed. Per
haps l was too compassionate. What man
can be otherwise to pretty woman in dis
tress, whether real or pretended. recol
leet it flashed through my mind that an,
had not the look of either an adventures.
or smuggler AT all events my reply wa.
instantaneous O. You will have no trou
BILE, madam, but in case you should, cal
on me.
She modestly murmured "Merci." and
then she fell to talking about other things.
Did l know Arcachon? What a lovely
place it was. She had been stopping there
at the Legallais for a month to get the
fresh air, while her husband was away il
Spain. Had she any children? On, yes
two, but they were with their grandma al
Paris. All! that dear Paris, how she had
regretted leaving it even for only month
or two. II the bon Dieu would only gran,
that they might all be back there together
by Toussaint-and so she ratified on in the