Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-09-26
NO. 80.

that we had passed Stafford IL so, the next
station would be Chester. The fixed stare Of
the motionless man was making me thorough.
ly nervous therefore, as l knew the train
delayed for few minutes at Chester, de-
termined to call the guard aud change car
riages.
We drew up at the platform, aud hurried
y put on my hat and pulled up the blind
But as L did 80 l reoollected how crowded the
other carriages we're, and / certainly had no
valid excuse for wishing TO shift my quarters
Yet 1t was humiliating to think that 1, Aspa-
sia Bricks, honorary secretary to the British
Spinsters' Society for the Reformation Of
Man, should thus be coRod merely by the
eye of one Of those whom had vowed to bring
into subsection.
While deliberated lost my opportunity
The engine gasped, snorted and groaned, and
away we were again whirled into the darkness
of the night. l did not settle myself to sleep
again felt TOO painfully wide awake to do
80. There sat, with my hands in the pock-
ct OF my ulster, my feet on the now stone
cold foot warmer, and my eyes on the eyes of
the man in the corner, who fascinated me as
though he we're a snake aud l some helpless
animal he wanted TO lure.
Should l speak to him l asked myself
So maddenly restless did l become that
could not ait still l stood up, let down the
window, and again looked out From hav-
ing 80 often travelled by the same route 1
knew quite well the part Of the country we
had arrived at. We were rushing through
! Wales and knew there was no stoppage un-
til the tickets were collected. | sat down
again, and another half hour passed away in
the same manner without my having muster.
ed up courage enough to address my fellow
traveller. closed my eyes to shut out the
gaze of his, when l was aroused by a thun-
derous roar.
started up. My companion was motion
less as before, although we were careening
madly through the great tubular bridge over
the Mental Straits. My heart was beating
violently, and when we had got some distance
on terra frma again. l arose, walked over to
him aud said
Don't you find this long railway journey
very fatiguing2"
Perhaps he thought the question too insane
one to reply to, for he did not seem to hear
me. But l was not to be bsffled and re-
turned to the attack.
"You must find it particularly tiresome sit
ting there in one position, l said in my most
dulcet and insinuating tones.
No reply, but the dark, soft mournful eyes
looked into mine. Flesh and blood-at least
my flesh and blood-coud stand it no longer.
seized his arm, gave it good shake, and
almost shrieked:
Il
mad, or dead, or something on wires p
At my touch the hitherto motionless figure
seemed as though galvanized into life. Slow
he withdrew his hands, slowly he divested
himself of his rugs, slowly he rose from his
seat and stood calmly before me-a man of
| splendid physique, with his arms hanging
loosely by his sides.
There he stood and there 1 stood looking at
him. He swayed to and fro from the mo-
| NJ fhaso 81 hr,N nj atf orNt tn
steady himself.
"Oh!" 1 exclaimed in some trepidation, 81
hope have not disturbed you? Won't you
sit down again." l inquired Hospitality,
touching his arm.
Instead of which the colossal figure follow
ed me down the compartment, several steps
Not muscle of his face moved, and his eyes
were yet fastened upon me. l retreated into
my corner terror-stricken, while over me
stood this stony looking Frankenstein which
had raised and had not the power to lay.
1 am ashamed to confess that several times
1 almost lost control over myself and very
nearly tainted At length the train stopped,
and a clergyman and the guard entered the
carriage where 1 sat more dead than alive.
"Oh, dear me" exclaimed the clergyman,
in distressed voice. II hope my poor broth
er did not annoy you. We did not think he
would move he never does unless touched"
| . put niu heIe' shiu Tue SuaIui oeSauso
there was only this lady, and she was going
the whole way. 1 would not, of course, put
| him where there were lot of passengers"
told my story. The clergyman told me
that of my Frankenstein. Twice a year the
latter made the same journey, being placed
in carriage at the end of the route and
met by some one at the other end. He lived
six months at a time with each of his broth
ers-one lived in London and one in Wales.
He was their eldest brother, and he was deaf
dumb and blind. .-EHgLsh Paper.