Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-08-26

the lady. She thrilled me with the
lightest and quickest touch possible,
as il she did not wish to offend a
stranger by declining what he meant
for ciyility; but she did not say
'1hapk you The husband touch
ed his hat to me with a cold, proud
look, which / shall never forget.
l entered the omnibus again and
going 70 the Burnett House, took a
good bath and breakfast and then
went and heard some fine music at
the beautiful cathedral My rail-
road vision I laid away in the vast
storehouse Of memory.
At nine o'clock in the evening, l
left in the ears for Cairo. The Ohio
was frozen over. As I entered the
cars my heart beat as | caugh sight
of La Signora. The only vacant seat
was near them. l received no salu-
tatiou and made none. l knew that
she saw me but she did not raise her
eyes. The gentleman looked at me
as he might at any other traveller,
but without a sign of recognition or
emotion, unless there was a Slight
darkening of the broWs. | could not
see well 10y the lamplight. They
made their arrangements like prac-
tieed travellers, and slept, or seemed
to sleep. l sat still and thought.
Did you ever feel . super-human
beauty sinking into your heart, deep
er and deeper, with every moments
presence %
"Well-"
mo matter. DON'T answer now,
| must tell my story. In the morn
ing, and all the day we were still on
the cars. l did not intrude even by
look. Two or three opportunities
had to give them some slight at
tentions. | had the latest New
York papers which l loaned them.
| brought glass of water when
there was none in the cars. | was
lucky enough to shaye some nice
oranges and the lady was thirsty.
AS the day went on the general grew
neighborly. He spoke very little
English. His lovely 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 had deter
mined he should learn.
She was English by birth. I knew
it by many indications. 4 high
bred English lady, of the refined and
delicate type-more Celtic than Sax
on, and more American than English
according to common notions, in her
appearance.
At Sandoval, the junction of the
st. Louis and Illinois Central, they
left the train, as / did, and we wait
ed together for the Chicago train for
Cairo. There was a crowd waiting,
little room, and no supper l man
aged to procure some oysters and a
little bottle Of claret wine, which /
| begged my fellow yoyagers to share.
Ina few hours we were on a mag
nifcent New Orleans steamer. How
| splendid and comfortable she SEEM
ed to us after our days and nights
! Of the rough, noisy railroad. need
not tell The bright saloon-the
| luxurious furniture of the ladies'
cabin-the home look Of the piano
and centre table with vases of flow
ers and pretty children-the nice
tables set for parties Of eight or ten,
with each passengers card on his
plate, and clean, active colored
walters, all this comfort going under
a full head of steam down the mighty
! Mississippi, while the banks grew
! greener and the air grew warmer,
day by day, as we approached the
tropics was something very enjoya-
BILE after the frosts and snow and
hard travelling Of the north.
by some good fortune,as thought
it, l found myself ticketed at the
side of La Signora, at the table. BY
an attraction / did not attempt to
resist, was near her very often.
/ She sang as though all the beauty of
her matchless form had found ex-
preston in music She played not