New Ulm weekly review., 1885-03-18
THE TIDAL TRAIN.
From the London World.

There was a gre;tt rush for the tidal
train that morning from Paris. It start
ed at very convenient hour, $40, and
it was patronized by crowd Of people.
Mossoo was there, of course, in fine
form, fur coated, although summer was
already come; but the fur coat is de
rigueur with the travelling Gaul, no
less than the courier bag slung over the
shoulder, and the modest portmanteau
of dirty white canvas containing a still
more modest allowance of linen of the
same ambiguous character. Americans
too, returning from tour through
Europe and heightened halt in Paris,
our own compatriots in every variety !;
cads, captains and countesses; bridal
pair homeward, no longer blushingly
self-conscious, but Enthusiastically bored I;
several sets of exclusive people who
somehow had secured a caisse louce to
their two or three selfish selves.
AS the time for departure approached
there was the usual outcry for Seats
The French officials if asked shrugged
4heir shoulders and pointed to the near
est carriage; what they meant was there
was still room and to spare if people
did not cover up extra seats with their
belongings, and so monopolize more
than their share. Late arrivals thus
neglected wondered miserably up and
down the whole length of the train,
seeking accommodation excitedly and
in vain.
Among the rest were two ladies, one
of whom, the elder, seemed greatly
Hurried and put out. II knew how it
would be-" she cried, in despairing
voice, "every seat is occupied! What
shall we do? why we're we so late?"
She was middle-aged, somewhat
pletheric looking dame, with an air of
much Importance marred for the mo-
ment by helplessness and i'll temper.
eve shall find places presently, my
dear Lady JONES'" replied the younger,
who had the rather sycophantic air of a
humble friend. "The guard will help
u.s."
"They never do, and they don't un-
derstand. Dear, dear! why didn't we
come In time? It was all your fault,
Hester" r"-this to the maid who followed
them as they ranged backwards along
the platform you ought to have
packed last night. What shall we do? ?
o, thank you so much!" she cried sud-
denly with efusion.
A gentleman who apparently had
been watching her distress, pushed
open the door of the carriage he occu-
pied and invited her to enter. His COM
panion, another man at the far end,
made room by removing rugs and bags,
land presently Lady Jones with sigh
@of relief sank back into the cushions.
Then with feminine selfshness and
-forgetfulness Of the trouble she had
just escaped, she proceeded to prevent
any one else from getting in.
"Cover up the seats we'll, Millicent,
she cried "and do keep that door shut.
Oh, thank you sir, " she added, to one OF
the mon, who seemed to fall in readily
with her idea of keeping the carriage to
A. aasthemselves.
y There was nothing very remarkable
h about Lady Jones new found friends.
Zone was tall dark man, with clean
shaved face and very dark eyes which
11 80 &c. ~ = :
black felt hat; the other was smaller
Ia restless little freckled face man
with short red beard cut and trimmed
toapoint. They didnot look like Eng
ishmen, but they spoke the language
fuently with slight American &C
cent
The firm, somewhat fierce, demeanol
sof the dark man had the desired effect
When he said abruptly, III ny pas dc
place" people retired discounted, and
as time was nearly up, Lady
Jones began to hope that their privacy
and comfort would not be disturbed
Almost at the last moment man came
to the door, importunate and persist.
ent
"Any room?" he asked in English, al
he stood on the door step. Then, getting
no answer, he repeated the question II
French. How many are you?" Still NJ
answer, so he counted for himself and
went away.
Lady Jones was delighted, but he1
triumph was Of fshort duration. The las
arrival came back at once with q Who'll,
posse of French offic ais at his back, th,
chief Of whom, in a voice of authority, re
peated the inquiry. s5j5
How many are youu -Four. Nor
to come? Impossible. The train i
sstarting. Entrez, donsisur;; 81 entrez
vite. !" and the next instant the strange
was bundled into The arriaf the doc
was shut with y bsn - \ A. 4 sound q
$3.50 4 Z 'sSzs=a'
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