Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-03-31
WE MET BY CHANCE,

w - L'L L. l. - l. >-
Twas going to Nice for the carnival.
Only one other person was in the coupe
with mc-a Still, mogi>tcrial appearing
man, whose only baggage was apo'lIollo'
Just as the train was starting sounds OF Il
disputc arose at the door of my coupe.
"No, sir! no." laid woman's voice.
Il ordered = couyC-W, and Imu:t have t.'
"But, Madam, since we have nonc----"
"You ought to have needed my letter"
"Wc received no letter, Madam!' ~
Make them add another car, then"
"Impos,jblc! We have the regular num-
bcr. Come, come, hasten-thc train is
going"
But l must have some place."
"Thcrc, in that coupe
"ThcreI"
eyes, there
A little brown head was thrust in and
suddenly withdrawn, as if frightened.
There are two gentlemen there"
"Eh, madam, l cannot give you car
to yourse!l.'
Very well, will not go"
"As YOU please. The train leaves! ]
give the sienal!'
"stop, sir, stop! am obliged to go
and since there is only that coupc--but
they will give me a cowe-!N at the first
station"
'Ycs, madam-ycs, madam
''You will telegraph for that"
Eyes, madam--ycs, madam"
The door opened, the little brown head
entered. surrounded with bundles and
wraps. There was Il piercing whistle; We
| had started. The stiff gentleman gallant'l
took scat by nc, leaving all one side free
for the new arrival. Without gIAnclng a
us, brcathlcss and crimson with wrath, sht
arranged her things as if for a long jour
ncy-onc bag, two bags, three bags, ant
cloaks and shawls. looked on out Of th'
corner of my eye, and saw with pleasure
that she was charming in appearance. a
Laroche the stiff man arranged his paper
and left us. lie was received by the dcpo
master as Monsieur rinspcctor.' TN
lady rushed to the door.
did they telegraph from Paris for
coupe-W"
eyes, Madam, sent the dispatch on.
"What! l cannot have ii at once"
'Impo3siblc, Madam. We have no car
mere. They will give you one at Lyo
Perrachc."
"Not till thcnl But cannot stay her
all that timc--it is impossible. l wi
uot.---"
Take a care, Madam--thc train
starting"
,gac cars were in motion. She rctumc
to her corner, furious, never glancing m
way. ] opened my tenth ncwspape
Shall Town tit occupied ne longer tina
the nine before it. read the same lint
twenty times. Ibclicvc held it sometime
UPSIDE down | wanted to talk with he
but where was the pYctcNt2 ConSidcrn
tic temperature the classic resource Of raj
ing Or lowering windows did not cX!s
What could | dol | saw she was a womf
of the world and Of the best class. | cou
only attract her notice by somevcry ORIG
nal speech. But what-what? ! mediate
in vain. was still studying the poiI
when the train stopped. "Tonnerr
twenty-five minutes for refreshments
was shouted at the door.
Ny fair ncighbor rose, dropped h
wraps and left the car. 1t was moo
Hunger made itself felt. S,R went iowa
the refrcshmcnt room. followed.
could then admire at my ease her clcga
figure, distinctly outlined by a long ott
cloak. | also remarked that she HI
pretty curls in her neck, gray felt h
and very small feet.
Iquickly swallowed several things. j
fair traveller took bowl of soup. T
time soon passed, and the travellers rae
A back to their cars. | went to mine. L
u lady had not come. saw her at Il lit
book and newspaper stand, looking
: the row Of books. Although | saw OF
her back | recognized her pretty ligu
her otter cloak and hcrgray hat. Her h
did not look so dark to mC.-doubtless
I effect of distance. Everybody was
board; doors were slamming.
She will miss her train" / thoug
!. and then | called to her from the W
dow: "Madaml Malam'
was too far away. She did not he
!, The whistle sounded the train was sta
. ing. What should be done' An idea fla
!, ed through my head. She was going
e remain there, in this horribly cold wea
~ y, or, without any baggage. The poor lit
d woman must have her things. | snatch
n the three bags, and all her shawls a
y wraps, and flung the whole out to II
standing near the car.