Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-09-26
4 RAILROAD EXPERIENCE

promptly. but it is too bad to lose you so
soon after your return"
81 don't suppose l shall be very long in
Ireland" l remarked, again reading over the
letter in my hand. Although might stay,
and and 90 and hear some of those trials that
are coming on soon."
l had so much TO see to during the few
hours at my disposal that Mr.. Ohasuble soon
took his departure, promising TO call for me
in time for the Irish mail. / waited until
the last minute, but he did not put in an ap-
pearance. Finally, not a little piqued at be.
ing so treated l went of like the independ-
ent woman l am, and soon myself and my
travelling impediments were comfortably en-
sconced in a second-class carriage at Euston.
l had the compartment all to myself, upon
which l congratulated my lucky stars, as
had observed that the three or four other Sec
ond class carriages were pretty fully occu-
pied. Looking at my watch l found that it
yet wanted eight minutes to the time of start
ing, and decided to walk up the platform
and give look for my fathless friend
Sure enough, there he was, hurrying down
the platform. He was profuse in his apollo
gies. l forget what they we're, but believe
/ considered his excuses valid and forgave his
breach of faith.
"Going the whole way, miss 2" inquired a
guard, approaching US and touching his cap.
Yes" 1 replied. 81 am going over by the
Holyhead mail to Dublin"
Thank you, miss, " and he walked away.
Il am so glad Mr. Chasuble," said, THAT
I have got a compartment all to myself, as l
like to take off my hat, tie my head in
shawl and lie down and make myself COM
Portable"
"Quite so, he assented. 81 see them put
ting in the foot warmers don't you think
you had better take your seat?"
He was looking into the carriage as he was
speaking and passed the one in which my
shswls and rugs were deposited.
(which is your carriage?" he asked peer
ing into each one. "They seem to be more
or less alike"
"This is mine" 1 replied, indicating the
carriage he had just passed. "What a nui-
sance," added in an under tone. "There is
some man in the far corner he has come in
since 1 got out"
Two minutes more aud the train steamed
slowly out of the station. Mr.. Chssuble walked
by the side of the carriage, and l kept chat
ting to him out of the window until he could
go no farther. l threw up the window, drew
down the blinds and seated myself near the
lamp, in order to improve my mind by the
perusal Of the last number of London Soce-
ty, and scarcely glanced at my travelling com.
panion. Presently, there is no use denying
it, began to feel very hungry. The mental
Bhuuluul uhu hOl IbllcbhSh lhO ph9
and longed to attack the sandwiches with
which had been careful to provide myself.
l laid down the paper, retreated into my
corner and looked at my companion.
was in the corner of the opposite seat at the
far end of my compartment. Suddenly it
struck me there was something odd in the
way in which he was wrapped up on the seat
He was evidently atall, powerful man-Icould
see that plainly. He sat with his back on a
Al a. L. l. 49, I
on the seat l noticed that he wore a tall
hat, rather slouched over his forehead, and
a heavy dark overcoat, inside of which
was folded a soft, warm-looking cashmere
handkerchief his hands were beneath the
well tucked-in warm rugs with which he was
enveloped from his wrist to his feet, and his
eyes were closed. Congratulated myself up
on the latter fact, and furtively opened my
paper of sandwiches.
My companion apparently slept on sound
ly be never moved a muscle. He might
have been wax-hgure of a good-looking man
of about forty, with short brown beard and
slight moustache. My impression is that
am somewhat of a romantic nature-my
friends call it romantic, my enemies hysteri-
oal-and could not avoid giving rein to my
imagination and thinking there was some
thing uncanny in the way in which this wax
or wooden man sat there for two mortal hours
and made no movement. Not even the faint
est flicker of an eyelid demonstrated whether
he were alive or dead.
All this time 1 had not laid down. 1 had
been dipping into the magazine at intervals,
but feeling tired 1 proceeded to take of my
hat, tie little wooden shawl over my head,
and then settle myself OF the seat in pretty
much the same position as my motionless fell
low-traveler. There / sat- looking at him.
was almost fascinated by him. 1 began to
think of all the horrible crimes had ever
| heard of in connection with railroad travel
| ing and 1 wondered if this man was only
pretending to be asleep, and then, when 1
was off my guard, he would suddenly rob me-
| and perhaps murder me. Or could it be that
he really was dead, and that in some way or
other his murderers had managed to place
him in the carriage? l also surmised he
| might be under the influence of some narcot-
10 and even more ridiculous thoughts forced
their way into my brain. But one resolution
firmly resolved to adhere to-I would not
fall asleep on any account whatever.
We stopped at a station for a minute or
two. / drew aside the blinds and looked out.
The mail-bags were handed in off we went
with the speed of the wind, yet my oompan-
ion made no sign. Like the majority of hu.
man beings, regret to say, l took my part
in macadamizing Hades for, despite my
good resolutions, l sucoumbed to the bland
ishments of the drowsy god and was soon
fast asleep.
Some time or other during my life had
read book on the philosophy of dreams, in
which the writer said that dreams, no matter
what period of time they seem TO have OK
tended over, always occurred at the moment
of waking. / cannot vOuch for the theory
l only know that began to dream that my
fellow traveller was standing over me, that hC
was dragging of my muffiing; and 80 vlviC
and real was my terror that started up will
a little scream, TO find my heavy railway rul
slipping off me from the oscillation of thl
carriage, and, glancing at my companion, Il
perceive that his hat was slightly raised ant
his eyes were wide open.
, Yet his position was unchanged so wer
his travelling rugs They were not in an,
way affected by the motion of the train. Ap
, parently he never took the least notice Of M
scream, but stared calmly at me with pal
! of the most mournfullooking, beautiful
fawnlke, soft brown eyes it has ever been no
lot to behold in the head of any human be
ing.
l again seated myself on the seat and trie
TO concentrate my attention upon one of tn
( discarded magazines. But ii was Of no use
r Ever and anon my restless and inquisitiy
eyes wandered from the pages before me an
8 rested upon the man at the end of the apar
Q ment. The large, beautiful brown eyes weT
r fixed upon me. Now and again the lid
q dropped heavily over them, but wheneve
a the eyelids we're raised he surveyed me wit
! the same strange, mournful gaze.
o Suddenly the speed of the train beoam
A slower | tried 10 recOllect the next static