Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-10-23
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"Why not take 2 hEckP'
He scOlded her smiingly:
'.And that is your idea OF economy,
Ell? A hack for five minutes ride at
the rate of six sous d minutel You could
not deny yourself anything -ehY'
"HOu are right," she murmured, feel
ing a little confused.
A big omnibus, drawn by three horses,
came along at full trot.
Lebrument shouted.
"Driverl-hey, driver"
The ponderous vehicle paused. And
the young notary, pushing his wife be-
fore him, said to her in q very quick
tone;
"Get insidel I'm going Oh top to
smoke a cigarette before breakfast"
She did not have time to answer. The
conductor, VINO had already caught her
by the arm in order to help her up the
step, almost pitched her into the vehicle:
and she fell beWiIdered upon a bench,
looking through the rear window with
stupefaction, at the feet Of her husband
ascending to the top Of the conveyance
And she sat there motionless between
big tat man, who stunk Of tobacco, and
an old woman, who smeiled Of dog.
All the other passengers, sitting
dumbly IN hne-a grocery boy, a work
ing woman, an infantry sergeant, a gold
specialized gentleman wearing a silk hat
with an enormous brim, turned up at
each side like a gutter pipe; two ladies'
with a great air Of self importance and a
shabby manner, whose very look seemed
to sPy, 1--WE are here, but we do not put
Ion a
two good Sisters, a girl with long bair
and an undertaker-an had the look Of
a lot Of caricatures, q museum OF gro
| tesqUe, a series Of ludicrOus cartoons of
the human face-ike those rows Of alb
surd puppets at fairs which people
/ knock down with balls.
The jOlts Of the vehicle made all their
heads sway, shook them, made the fac
cid skin Of their cheeks shake; and as the
noise OF the wheels gradually stuPefed
them they seemed so many sleeping
/ idiots.
The young wife remained there, inert.
"Why did he not come IN with me p
she kept asking herself
a vague sadness oppressed her. Sure
/ ly he might very well have afforded to
deny himself that one cigarettei
The two good Sisters signed to the
driver to stop, and got out, one after the
| other. The omnibus went on, and stop
/ ped again. And a cook came in, all red
faced and out Of breath. She sat down
and Put her market basket on her knees.
/ A strong odOr Of dish-water filed the
omnibus.
"Why, it is much further away than I
D IA a. III
The undertaken got out, and was sue
ceeded by q cOachHnan who smelled of
] the stables. The long haired
| girl had for a successor "a messenger
whose feet exhaled an odor OF perspira-
! ton.
The nOtary's wife felt i'll at ease, sick,
ready 20 cry, without knowing why.
Other persons got out; others got in.
/ The omnibus still rolled on through in
terminable streets, stopping at stations,
and proceeding again on It's way.
"HOW far is t?' said Jeanne to her
self Suppose that he forgot, or went
to Rleepl He was very tired, anyhow"
Gradually all the passengers got out.
She alone remained. The driver cried
out:
"Vaugirard"
As she did not stir he called again:
"Vaugirardr'
She stared at him, vaguely compre-
hending that he must be addressing her,
since there was no one else in the ON
nibus. For the third time the driver
yelled:
"Vaugirardl'
! She asked him:
"XVhere are weY'
He answered in a tone Of irritation:
'sWe're at Vaugirard, parbleul That's
| the twentieth time I've been hollering
Iitf"
rs it far from the bOulevardY" she
asked.
"What boulevard2"
THE Boulevard des Itaiens."
I'VE passed that ages ago"
"Ah! Please be so kind as to let my
husband know"
your husband? Where's her"
Cup on top"
up on top. There hasn't been any
one outside for ever so lOngl'
She threw up her hands in terror:
"How is that? 1t can't be possible
He came with me, on the omnibus
Look again, pleased He must be thereF
The driver became rude;
Here, herel that's enough talk fol
you, little one. One man lOst-ten tC
be found Scoot nOwl-the trips over
You'll find another man in the street, il
you want one"
Tears came to her eyes, she persisted
"Oh, sir, you are mistaken. I assure
you you are mistaken. He had a great
| big pOckatbOok under his arm"
The employee began to laugh.
"a great big pocketbOok. All! yes
he got down at La Madeleine. It's all
the same, he's dropped you pretty
smartly-hal hG! hai'
The vehicle had stopped. She sol
out, and in spite Of herself glanced VI
instinctively at the roof OF the omnibus
1t was absolutely deserted.
Then she began to cry out loud with.
out thinking that everybody would heal
her and see her. She sObbed:
s'What is going to become Of meP
The superintendent Of the station ap
peared and demanded:
'sWhat is the matter?'
The driver responded in misohievoul
tone:
'Irs a lady whose husband gave hei
the slip on the trip"
The other replied:
''Wel, that Is noghing to you-yOr
lust mind your own business
And he turned on his heel.