Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-09-10

seemed to be suffering from face-ache, TO
Judge from the amount OF handkerchief
passed under his chin and knotted on the
top OF his head. He seemed any thing but
pleased to find a strong fresh current OF air
sweeping past him, and motioned to her
imperlously to put tho window down. He
waved his hand toward it second time,
and seeing that she had no idea giving in
to his wishes, bounced Violently out Of his
seat and under her very nose seized the
sash and brought 1t down SO emphatically
that the pane was cracked in half and that
a fow pieces of glass fell out on tho floor.
Such an exhibition Of violence and bad
tomper paralyzod Miss Roberta and sub
dued hor. II ho could do this what was he
not capable of so that beyond "Your
conduct nmazes me, sir; it is disgracefull !
disgraceful!n ~ she made no attempt TO as
sert her rights, and he seemed perfectly in
different what she thought SO long as he got
his own way. At least he made no reply to
her indignant little speech, but fell TO nprs-
ing hisswollen cheek again, too absorbed In
his woes and the application OF liniment
apparently to even look toward her again
Miss Roberta noticed with chagrin that
tho other passengers had maintained 0
most apathOtic attitude in this fracas
Most of thom, indosd, paid no attention to
1t whatever Those who were reading did
not so much as look up from their books
and on her expressing her views very hotly
to the lady Immediately behind her that
person looked studiously out of the win
dow, as though holding herself aloof from
vulgar disturbance, not committing her
self by so much as u single phrase either
OF sympathy or condemnation. This an
noyed Miss Roberta extremely. "Just as
ii were in fault The idea OF their not
taking the least notice OF such scandalout
treatment of lady. Why, in Virginia he
would almost have been put Off the train
I'm sure! 1t Is so exactly what should
have expected OF the West,n thought she
as she stifened perceptibly and leaned
back in hor corner.
So little breeze sftel in through the
window that Miss Roberta was uncorh.
Portable enough, and seeing that lady
opposite (who looked up from soma knit
thug just then and smiled pleasantly on
meeting her gazs), had two palmetto fans
lying by her unused, Miss Roberta forgot
her wounded dignity and asked for the
loan Of one,
The lady ignored her request calmly,
and with her portmanteau and shawl I'M
provisel couch and lay down.
We'll, do think these people are hra-
zen ~ thought Miss Roberta. "Keep your
old fan, then I'd be burnt to a cindur
rather than take 1t now, il you offered it,
What would Sister Anastasia aud Sister
Elizabeth think OF youlm She stornly do.
termined TO have nothing more to do with
them.
"Ive ofton been told that Northern peO-
pie were not demonstrative AMI cordial in
manners, and that in travelling especially
they werD very much on thoir guard against
strangers and very reserved, but had no
idea they were so quiet aud formal and
hateful,h mused she, judging OF thom en-
tirely by her recent experiences and draw
ing the most sweeping conclusions.
Five minutes later she again forgot hcr
anger, for the train curved boldly away to
tho right and came upon beautiful river,
on tho banks OF which she caught glimpse
OF large building with tall towers and an
extensive facade. Anxious for better
view she crossed over to o seat occupied by
A. richly old lady, who was sitting
ALONE, and with evorY apology begged to
10 allowed to look out Of her window for
moment Tho woman did not heed her
apparently, and shY walked with swift i'm
patience further down and made the same
request to young man yawning over his
newspaper. The same silence met her
eager little speech, and she saw the
Passengers gazing at her curiously across
the way. Utterly confounded she walkel
rapidly hack 70 her seat, thoroughly
perplcxed and seeking III her own
mind for .somo explanation Of such
strange behavior, Hop head vhirled
with the rush of thought, Where was she
What did it meant How was it that no
one had answered single remark of hers
from first to last What did this stillnois
meant Something sinisteri Had she really
spoken out loud, or only fancied that she
hadt Like u fash all this canle, and more.
She remembered that the doctor who had
attended her tho winter before in a severe
attack Of bronchitis had said that ualess
she was very careful she might loso hs:
voice, and at onco she felt sure that this
was it. Her voice was gone But how could
she be sure after all She would put it to
tho toSt at once by giving a loud call aud
watching tho effect, BY this time she was
wrought up TO the highest pitch OF nervous
oxaltation and was as white as her hand
kerchief She sat still, her hands clinched
In her lap, and proceeded to put her idea,
into execution First she gave u little
shrek, then louder, louder, LoUDRRl Hor
eyes were fixed intently on the faces OF the
passengers, not one OF whom stirred hand
or foot or noticed it in the least. Tremb-
ling in every limb, her heart beating to
sutfooation, Miss Roberta yelled out In a
frantic, despairlng way: Cant you hear
mel O-o-o-ohl" and having her worst sus-
picions realized by the dead silence around
her, she tore wildly at her bonnet, dashed
off her mantle, and gave such violent OK.
preston to her grief and fright that two
gentlemen rushed forward and, seizing her,
forced her back into her seat, from which
compose her, nor did the alarmed
faces Of the passengers nor did tho fact
that when she turned TO the man who
clutched her right arm SO savagely and
made last appeal to him ho only shook
his head and began to talk TO her on the
fingers OF his right hand. His companion
did the same, and she saw several Of the
others at it. There was no longer any
doubt in her mind. Her yoice was gone
Or was it her hearing, or other sensesi In
an hysterical frenzy she broke away from
her captors, raced down to the other end OF
the car, scrambled up on seat, and rang
the bell-cord attached to the engine. The
two gentlemen gave chase, recaptured her,
and, after q struggle, in which Miss Roberta
gave livoly account Of herself, dragged
her down on the floor. The whole car was in
commotion. The train stopped. Asevere-
looking conductor and an elderly gentle
man hurried in to find Miss Roberta in hys-
terics and her fellow-passenger in an
almost equal state Of excitement.
When the heroine of this adventure conld
do so she sohbed OUT "You hear me
You are sure you hear me! And hoai
you Thank Heaven o, thank Heaven 7!
Copious tears followed, and then; "Whni
dead, or crazy, or whatm Explanations
followed, The car was a special one in
which the inmates Of the Hitchcock Deal
and Dumb Asylum were being conveyed
to new building awaiting their occupancy
in another part of tho State, Miss Roherta
had been put into it by mistake arrlvinga al
she did at the last moment In the wake o
the 'special,n They had been quite q.
! much alarmed by her conduct as she had
beon by theirs, fancying that she had gont
out of her mind. Many were the apologize.
OF the kind hearted superintendent, who
had been taking his ease in tho next
car; stern and gruff the comment,
OF the disgusted conductor who re
moved meekly-penitent much dishevell
cd spinster promptly to the very las
coach of tho train, where he mounted
| guard over her as dangerous character
from whom another outbreak was to bt
expected at any moment; endless the tele
graphing between her late fellow-passen
gers; immense the rolief OF Miss Roberts
when, a little later, she fell exhausted OF
the friendly bosom of an afectionate aunt
| thrilling the account she gave atterwarC
of what she had thought felt and suffered
during that awful journey. 81 spected t,
hear OF some skeery foolishness or udde
when Miss Roberta emanated out or di
hore house to go ramblin' and scramblin
bout de world wldout som, 'sponsbl,
person like me to take care OF hern wa
Florinda's characteristic comment on tb,
episode when she heard of it.-Frdnce
CourteHdy Baylor, in " Y Tribune.
"A comical case was recently brough
| hefnna the nrnhoto nonrt in I,itnhfiold