The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-06-16
THE 1886 EXPRESS.


ing marriage-then howl of wild derision.
What you going to be married-you,
the hardened bachelor-thc skeptic and
scoffer at matrimony-yo to be married
Come, tell us oil about it is she blonde or
brunette, maid or widow Z"
6 Widow" said Valentin, solemnly, ga
beautiful widow from the Provinces, but
the story is as simple rs two and sixpence.
Come with me to the engraveras about the
cards, I'll tell you all about it as We go. 1t
happened in this way
g In the month of February last started
to the carnival at Nice, and having horror
of night travelling took the 8:35 morning
train, which, if nothing went wrong, would
land me in Marseilles at midnight. There
hld made arrangements to stop over twen-
ty-four hours with my old friend Rombaud,
and start for Nice again the following day
There. was q tremendous crowd at the Care
lie Lyon station, but thanks to the courtesy
Of Monsieur Regnoal, chief of the line,
was finally installed in carriage with but
one other occupant, an immensely decorated
individual, with severely administrative
appearance. He can't be going far, equip
ped in that Style said to myself as I no.
ticed that his only baggage was huge port
folio. shall soon have the coach to myself,
really the only thing which renders rail-
Dad journey endurable.'
just as we were about to pull out, how
ever, the noise of dispute arose upon the
platform
l tell you, monsieur, said woman's
voice, clear, sweet. and with decidedly
Southern accent, that commanded n
sleeping car and q sleeping car must have'
1t is impossible, madame; beg
thousand pardons, but there is none on the
train
OF course you will add carriage
them
Equally impossible we already have
our regulation number but, madame, can
give you two excellent places here, and the
polite official unlocks the door of our car
riage and throws it open.
% The lady puts her head into the OPEN
ing for minute, but as quickly withdraws
it, and we hear the discussion begin anew.
:" It is out of the question carriage
alone We can not give you, and, madame,
the train must start / am about to signal,
take eare-take caren
Stop, monsieur, stop I must go !; but
you will have me sleeping car at the next
stationT
Yes, madame, yes
"' Without fail you promise it, you will
telegraph immediately
OF course, madame, of course
Surrounded, swallowed up in noun
tain of wraps and rugs, the lady enters the
coach. The whistle sounds and we are off.
Rising courteously the administrative
gentleman seated himself beside me, thu
leaving the whole side free for the new
conner But red with vexation, and all in
autter, the lady would not even look in our
direction, and busted herself arranging her
parcels in the usual manner of a traveller
who anticipates long journey.
@ I saw from the corner of my eye that
she was beautiful, and no matter how bitter
ly one opposes matrimony, it is always more
agreeable to travel opposite young an6
pretty woman, than an old and ugly ono,
Shortly after starting it began to be ex'
tremely cold. The country covered will
snow, and lighted by pale sun, seemed te
fly by the side Of the carriage.
Swathed to the chin in rugs and furs,
the lady obstinately gazed from the window.
The administrative gentleman assorted his
papers, and continued to examine the
books and magazines bought at the station
TO pass away the time. Ten o'clock came,
eleven, twelve. We stop at Laroche. Here
the Administrative gentleman, folding his
documents, bows politely, and descend
from the coach. He Is received with great
respect by the station master, who calls him
Monsieur, the Inspector.
:" Monsieur, monsieur, cried my fellow
passenger, rushing TO the door as she hears
ais title, have you received telegram from
Paris calling for o sleeping carp
"' am just about to send for one, ma
dame
40 Why am / not going to have 1t now p
go There is none to have, madame-none
this side OF Lyons. You will get one there
this afternoon at five o'clock.
a. But, monsieur, my journey Is nearly
over by then. l can not, will not remain
in this coach until that hour
g Take care-take care, madame, the
train is startingv
The train was starting, in fact had
started. With q moan of despair my neigh
Dor fell into her corner positively raging.
9 AS for me, was seemingly absorbed in
my tenth paper, but to this hour have no
idea of its contents. Like all men, / no
sooner find myself alone with a pretty
woman, and unquestionably lady, than l
am possessed with q desire to know and talk
TO her. But could not accost her without
apretext.
q The train stopped at Tonnerre for break
fast, while was still racking my brains foi
some means of introduction. Laying aside
her wraps, she with the rest of the crowd
took her way to the buffet. / followed
her closely, admiring the supple elegance
of her figure, and the soft, brown curls at
the nape of her neck peeping from beneath
travelling cap Of gray fur. Hastily swal-
lowing succession Of dishes, each one
worse than its fellow, hastened to install
myself in the coach again, unwilling to lose
sight of my beautiful neighbor for mo.
nent II could help it. But she had not
returned. could see her, however, stand
Ing just across the platform looking over
the books on the newsstand. Her back
was toward me, but recognized her at
once by the long seal cloak and gray cap.
The hair seemed little lighter than I had
taken il to be, but that was doubtless due to
the distance.
g AT last, when, ms everybody had return
ed to the train. the guards were fastening
The doors and she still remained ct the
library, began TO be uneasy. In another
moment we would be off,
:" Madame, madame I cried from the
window, the train is going now at once.
Coma