The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-07-15

book-stand was not the right one-same
cloak, same hat, same outlines, but not
the same woman. She had scarcely en-
tered the car when she uttered a cry:
"My things! Some one has stolen my
thingsw
For the first time she looked at me
with what an eye! | shall never forget
that look. "No, madam" l said, your
things are not stolen; they are-they are
left at Tonnerre -
"At Tonnerre How p
explained everything. Bless me l
could never describe the second look she
gave me-but | believe shall remember
it longer than the first one.
" am very sorry, madam" | stam-
mered. 81 am greatly distressed, but the
motive was good. thought you would
miss the train, and you would be cold,
and did not want you to suffer Pardon
me-don't fear for your things. They are
in honest hands-a railway official. At
the next station you can telegraph
| shall telegraph-we will telegraph-we
will soon get them. All you shall have
them l swear it, if have to return my
self to Tonnerrc to get them"
"That is sufficient, SIR" she said. 81
know what | must do"
She sat down, severely twisting her
gloves in wrath. But alas poor little
thing She had reckoned without the
cold. She no longer had her good warm
wraps 1t was scarcely ten minutes be-
fore she began to shiver. She shrank into
herself, drew her other cloak around her
fine form and positively shook.
Madam" | said, 81 beg upon my
knees that you will accept my shawl I.
You will take a cold it will be my fault,
and could never console myself in all my
life.''
81 do not speak to you, sir" she said,
haughtily.
was furious at having made myself
ridiculous. Madam" said |, accept
this shawl, or swear | will jump off the
trainw
Throwing the shawl between us seized
the door-knob. My air must have been
convincing, for she cried:
You are crazy, sir-you are out of
your hcad" 3"
"Take the shawl-or | shall spring
OFF,
She took the shawl, saying " But
you, sir, you will perish from the cold"
Don't be uneasy about me, madam.
| am not delicate, and even if should be
cold it would only be a just punishment
for my objectionable stupidity"
Say for your too great haste, for you
are right intention was good, but
how could you take that lady for me-"
u Il. L. I.
She smiled the ice was brokcn-the
ice of conversation, for otherwise ! shiv
cred But how quickly forgot the cold,
the journey and all She was delicious,
cquisitc, adorable! Dainty, peculiar, gay
and original She loved travel as ! do.
She had been in Italy, like me; in Spain,
like me; she always dreamed of going to
Egypt, like me- In literature, in music
in every way our tastes were the same.
friends. Perhaps | had met her twenty
times without remarking her. Where
was my head? Heavens! where was my
head ? While eagerly conversed did
everything in the world not to have the
air OF being chilly, but good Lord! how
cold was At Dijon my right foot was
numb. We tclcgraphed to Tonncrrc for
her things. At Macon my left foot was
numb. We heard from Tonnerre that
her things would be at Marseilles next
day. At Lvon-Perrache my left hand be-
came insensible. She forgot to claim her
coupe-iit At Valence my right hand
followed the example of the left. |
learned that she was widow, without
children. At Nignon my nose turned
purple thought | understood that
She had never loved her first husband.
At last, at Marseillcs, sncezed violently
three times. She handed me my shawl,
saying graciously Goodbye, till we
meet again.
"Till we meet again - was wild.
passed the night in hotel, and rose IN
the morning suffering from terrible cold
in the head Ought |, in such a state, TO
call on my friends, the tombauds? They
must take me as am, and tomorrow
will start for Nice and cure myself in sun
shine. What a surprise! That excellent
Rombaud had invited some people to
meet me, and among them was my fellow
traveller, my charmer When | was pre-
sented there was an imperceptible smile
on her lips. bowed and murmured
And Tonnerre?" 2" 81 have thcm," she
answered, in the same low voice.
We took our seats at the dinner table
What a cold, my goodness - ex-
claimed that excellent Rombaud'
Where in the world did you catch such
a cold? In the cars, perhaps?' 20
1t is possible" | replied, but really
| do not regret it,
Nobody understood this queer response,
but felt the sweet and compassionate
gaze OF my lovely travelling companion
coming to me across the odorous fumes
of a superb soup.
What more shall | say? Next day. |
did not 90 to Nice-and we are to bc
married in two weeks !--FrOm the
E-enrh.
7