Madison times., 1886-01-23
Ial'S SabV.

limited express for New York at Chicago,
and were enjoying cigar i'll the smoker.
He had fallen asleep, and was busily alb
sorbed in my own reflections. 1 glanced
casually and with little interest at the scenes
through which l was being rapidly whirled.
1t was only when twilight shut out visible
objects and the lowering clouds overhead
grew black, that L awakened to the con-
sciousness that it was night, and that Hal
had been sleeping an hour.
Come old fellow" l said, shaking him,
wake upp'
"HellOr' he exclaimed, rOusing himself
and looking little stupid.
Mice sOciable chap for companion,
must say"
'How long have been asleep?" sitting
upright and looking around him.
about an hour, l should judge"
"Well, between you ard me, Will, need
ed it. didn't go to bed at all, last night;
so much to be done, all at the last moment. ~
That's fine excuse for you to give" L
said, dryly. Hal laughed. He was the best
Datured chap in the world. A big, strap
ping fellow, standing six feet high, with
merry blue eyes, clear cut features and fair
almost to womanlineSs. He was a great
swell and universal favorite.
"Abominable night" he muttered, little
irritably for him, land cOnfOundedly cold,
too. L had just about half enough sleep.
Will, and if you don't mind I'll get to bed. )"
That suits me-" l replied, IL am with
you."
We crossed the platform and stepped into
the other car. A gust of wind and snow
whizzed past as we opened the door, which
called forth another grumhling imprecation
from Hal relative to the weather. Decided
ly he was sleepy.
There were not many passengers on board
and these the invariable travellers one is sure
to encounter. First came a garrulous old
gentleman, very thin, with white hair, who
occupied four seats and essayed to read by
the uncertain light of the railway lamp
which was of no more use than those lamps
usually are, and quite as ornamental. Them
came the commercial traveller who was dis
posed to take things as he found them, and
wore an expression rather bland than other
wise.
A portly old lady with bird cage and
several bandboxes next attracted nv
attention. A spinister who sat nm.
right in a most rigid position, and an inspir-
ed miss O. seventeen or thereabouts travel
ing in care of the conductor, together with
short, stout, thick-set man of uncertain
age and occupation, made up the list of pas
sengers. No, there was another: I had
quite overlooked him. He came ON the
train while we were in the smoker-a tall.
dark man of about forty years with a pale,
haggard face and hollow sunken eyes. His
berth had been made up and he was seated
on one side of it, his head resting on his
hand, when Hal and entered the car. A
shrill little voice which echoed through the
silent car caused every one to turn round in
the direction whence 1t came.
by all that's unlucky," groaned Hal. ga
babyr' "'
Not doubt of it." agreed.
And good lungs it has too" he went on.
pettishly. Il wish it would be auiet.n
But the baby hadn't the slightest notion
OF this. To speak the truth it had not vet
louder; the passengers commenced sfarinss
hard at the berth and harder at one another
The garrulous old gentleman laid aside his
magazine mae and remarked, sarcasticalIy,
This Is pleasant"
The portly lady opened her watery ewes
as wide as she could and exclaimed, s'Dear
mep "'
The spinister wore an air of virtuous fri.
umph and said nothing. | dare saw she
cor graduated herself upon her lucky escape.
Inc commercial traveller looked wicked.
Hal, am sorry to say, swore, and tunIbled
INTO bed In no enviable frame of mind.
Presently every one sought his or her
restlng place, the lamps were lowered, and
the porter made himself as comfortable as
the rules of the company would permit'
BUT through it all that baby cried. The
storm raging without was mild i'm cOmpari-
SOD with the storm raging within.
by Jove!' exclaimed Hal, ''bed is mock
cry. VI all the nuisances l ever came in
contact with this takes the palm. What do
that? Why don't they attend properly to
their business?' "
At this he opened the curtains, looked
out, and calling to me, said:
:. VIII, the father has it, and he's holding
The tall, dark man was striding up and
gown, carrying, and most clumsily at that,
years old, and who beat him with her little
nsts and struggled to get on the floor. ali
tne whlle crying Justify.
Inc dark gentleman was perfectly un-
moved; ne paced the car in a mechanical
way, paying not the slightest heed either to
.ne Dapy or the many uncharitable remarks
ne could not fail to overhear.
An hour passed, and still the night was
made hidecus by those piercing screams.
,.Ihunderation?' roared Hal, twill the
Ilttle 0eggar never have done?' Seemingly
not. 10r at that very moment she burst into
IreSn ana more vigorous cries.
fltch ner out the window" suggested a
DO something" murmured the CONNER.
=, Let her cry; it's likely to kill her," put
In the spinster, complaeently.
In the name of heayen.O exclsimed Hal
springing out of bed in desperafion and in,
tercepting the dark man in 6is marrb. "whv
gon,t you give that child to her notherp |
nat Is what she wants. Give her TO her |
ihotner and be done with it."
on, sald the dark gentleman. stunning |
nnu Speaking deliberately, "apd Won alf |
iauies ana gentlemen, +" turning and address
ing tne heads bobbling from behind the cnr-
sans, peg TO apologize for the distnrh-
dnce my little one has caused. and the great |
annoy ance you have been forced tn endure
beileVeme, would have done anvthing in
ny power to prevent it. You" 10 Hai
suggeSted give her to her mother. Sir
ner 4 motner IS IN the front car in her comm
NO one spoke word, and every head dis /
Ppeared In MS or her curtain in a trice
hen drawing himc q IL nv, a anu