The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-03-22


 know that began to dream that my fel- low traveller was standing over me, that he vas dragging of my muffing and so vivid and real was my terror that started up with little scream, to find my heavy railway rug slipping oti from the oscillation of the carriage, and, glancing at my companion, to perceive that his hat was slightly raised and his eyes were wide open.
 Yet his position was unchanged so were his travelling rugs They were not in any way affected by the motion of the train. Apparently he never took the least notice Of my scream, but stared calmly at me with pair of the most mournful- looking. beautiful. fawn-like, soft-brown eyes 1t has ever been my lot to behold Tn the head of any human being.
 l again settled myself on the seat and tried 10 concentrate my attention upon one of the discarded magazines. But II was all of no use. Ever and anon my restless, inquisitive eyes wandered from the pages bebore me and rested on the man al the end of the compartment The large. beautiful brown eyes were ye, fixed upon me. Now and again the lids dropped heavily over them, but whenever the eyelids were raised he surveyed me with the same strange, mourniul gaze.
 Suddenly the speed of the train became slower, and pulling myself together uied 10 recoiiect the next station we were 10 stop at. had an indistinct idea that we had passed Stafford ; if so, the next station would be Chester The fixed stare ct the motionless man was making me thoroughly nervous therefore, as iknew the train delayed for a few minutes at Chester determined to call the guard and change carriages.
 We drew up at the platform and hur- rledly put on my hat and pulled up the blind. But as did SO recollected how crowded the other carriages were, and certainly had no valid excuse for wishing 10 shift my quarters. Yet it was humil- lating to think that l, Aspasia Bricks, honorary secretary to the British Spin sters' Society for the repression of man, should be thus cowed merely by the eye l of one of those whom l had vowed to l bring Into sub)eetion.
 While I delibefated lost my opportu- nity. The engine gasped, snorted and groaned. and away we were again whirled | into the darkness of the night. did no, settle myself to sleep again. felt too painfully wide-awake to do so. There l sat, with my hands in the pockets of my ulster, my feet on the now stone-cold | foot warmer. and my eyes on the eyes of man Tn the corner, who fascinated me as | though he were a snake and l some | helpless animal he wanted to lure.
 Should speak to him, asked my seifs 50 maddeningly restless did be- come that could not sit still. l stood | up, let down the window and again | looked out. From having so often trav- eled by the same route knew quite we'll | the part Of the country we had arrived | at. We were rushing through Wales, and knew there was no stoppage until | the tickets were collected. sa, down again, and another half hsur passed away in the same manner without my having up courage enough to address my fellow traveller. l closed my eyes to shut out the gaze Of his, when l was aroused by thunderous roar
 started up. My companion was mo- tonless as before, although we were ca reering madly through the great tubular bridge over the Menai straits. My heart | was beating violently, and when we had | got some little distance upon terra frma l again l arose. walked over to him and | said:
 Don't you find this long railway journey very fatiguing:"
 Perhaps he thought the question too lnane one to reply to, for he did not seem to hear me. But was not to be | baffied. and l returned to the attack.
 You must ind it particularly ,iresome sitting there in one position" 1 said, in my mest dulcet and insinuatinp tones
 No reply, but the dark. soft, mournful eyes looked into mine. Flesh and blood at least my flesh and blood-could | stand 1t no longer. l seized his arm, gave | it good skake. and almost shrieked;
 :" What is the matter with you ?'' Are you mad, or dead. or something on wires 7"
 At my touch the hitherto motionless 1 ngure seemed as though galvanized into 1 life. Slowly he withdrew his hands, | slowly he divested himself of his rugs, | slowly he rose from his seat and stood | before me-a man of splendid physique. with his arms hanging loosely at his sides.
 There he stood and there stood look ing at him. He swayed 10 and fro a lit- tie from the motion of the carriage. but he did not attemp to grasp at anything to steady himself.
 Oh" exclaimed, in some trepida- ton. hope have not disturbed you. Won't you sit down again?' l inquired | hospitably, touching his arm.
 Instead of which the colossal figure followed me down the compartment, sew eral steps. No, a muscle of his face moved, and his eyes were yet fastened upon me. lretreated into my corner ter while over me stood this sony-looking Frankenstein, which 1 had raised, and had not the power to lay.
 am ashamed to confess that several times almost lost all control over my self, and very nearly fainted. At length the train stopped, and clergyman and the guard entered the carriage. where I sat more dead than alive.
 "Oh, dear me.r exclaimed the clergy