Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-05-02
A HORRIBLE NIGHT.
BY LOUISE CHANDLER MoULroN.

.Ibought nay ticket through TO Venice
of Blank & Sen, in London. ''You will
seeour agent in-every statioL,- and he
will save you all trouble with your lug
gage, finding yoxr train, and so on" said,
with bland smile, the head man Of
Bank & Son, as he handed me my little
book of coupons and bowed Inc out into
the chill fog of the November day. |
went next day to Paris, and spent the
day after in the gay shops and streets OF
that needless, happy, care-fJrgetting
town. | was to leave for Turin from the
Care de Lyon at 7:15 in the evening.
When the dusk !ell the clouds gathered.
ali d drove alone through the pouring
rain to the station. My friends had
brought me flowers and fruits, and they
would have gore to see me of, but re-
fused. They were women-why could |
not do as well as they? And then there
Was the agent of Blank & Son! He was
sure to be there. What could l waEt
more?
Iresche1 the station. The rain beat
on my unsheltered head as L paid the
driver twice his fee, for the truly femi-
nine reason that he demanded it. ]
went in. No agent of Blank & son was
to be seen. had my ticket dated, my
trunk registered. and then followed a
porter laden with my hand luggage to
the train. All the length of the train
for Turin we wanCered-there was but
one first class carriage to be found. !
had my first class ticket in my hand,
and l went up to this one carriage and
would fain have entered it. A stolid-
looking old priest sat there in solitary
state, and as l was about to climb up he
said grimly that it was all taken. l
pleaded for one little corner, but in vain.
i said:
"But, Monsieur, my ticket is first class,
and there is no first class carriage but
this"
1T is all taken, Madame" came his
reply, inexorable as fate. / turned
away in despair. Clearly I must either
20 second class or give up my journey
for that night. could not do the latter,
for the friend of my heart was waiting
for me in Venice. and her plans depend
ed on mine At that moment caught
sight, for the first time, of limp man
wearing the livery of Blank & Son. He
was the most knock. knee1, weak look.
ing creature you could imagine-still he
was Messrs. Blanks agent. Expiring
hope was rekindled in my breast.
cried out 70 him. I showed him my
little book with my first class ticket
Slowly, as if he were going to execution
he went up to the surly priest in the
single first class carrisee, and slowly ht
came back to me.
.'He says it's all taken ma'am."
ayes, but can't you speak to the chic
of the station?"
There's no time" and he pointed t.
the d5ck, jds on the dusreepastee seven
He was SO utterly helpless, so pitiabl.
.Ee& i turned from him desperately
Even the second c.ass carriages haC
been filling fast. j, saw, q vacancy il
only one. l plunged into it and th'
porter hands d in my baggage. 1glanceC
- then at my conpanions-two beetle
browed, black looking men, evidently
Italians, smoking fiercely. Terror tool
hold on me. uttered a last cry o
despair, and kindly voice, speakin.
English with French accent, said:
Madame, can be of any service?
and at the moment the speaker sprar,
into the carriage, took his seat in tn,
corner opposite me, the door was shu
with a bang, and the t1ain moved away
told my tale, and the young French
man-who was after all more Englisl
than French, >ince he had lived in Eng
land almost from his boyhood-tried t
comfort Inc. At that moment had re
allied that had draw of my glove:
the more readily to get out my ticke,
and the small change for my porter, an
that on one hand ruby ring was catch
ing the lamp Sght and on the other
duller gilt Ter betrayed large sapphire
i had worn the rings for safe-keep;n.
but my mind misgave me as saw no,
earnestly the smoking Italians were I,
garding them. / settled back in In
corner and drew on my gloves, but no
some evil attraction conpe' led me
look steadiastly at my companions an
try to take their measure.
1t was task beyond ne had ne