Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-05-28
TIE SNOW BLOCKADE.

Northern Pacific road to San Francisco.
II wal late in the season, and ! feared a
blockade. However, l provided myself
with a basket of provisions, for use in
case my fears were realized, and started
on my journey.
When l reached the depot, ! found a
gentleman and lady seated in my sleeper.
had scarcely time to take a good look at
the latter-and in fact l could not make
much out Of my inspection, for she was
heavily veiled-when Hall entered, and
passing me with a hasty "good-morn-
ing" went up to the lady's companion.
was busy storing away my numerous
traps, and did not hear what was said,
until, as it was getting near the time to
start, Hall observed that he must go and
see all clear. Then l caught these
words:
Look well after Mrs. Forsyth, Hall,
and when you give up the train, speak
to the next conductor about her"
Il will do my best for the lady, sir"
said Hall, who a moment after left the
car.
You'll have the drawing-loom to your
self" continued Mrs. Forsyth's escort,
"and need not be bothered with any
one."
My back was toward the speaker, andin
a little side mirror between the windows
l saw that he cast a suspicious and sig
nificant glance in my direction IS he
spoke the last words.
In a moment more he was gone, and
we were started on our long journey.
My solitary companion retl eated to her
room, and l was left a rather desolate
master of the situation.
With the help of newspapers, books and
an occasional word with Hall as he
passed through the car, the morning
passed quickly enough, We were tc
carry a dining-car the first day or day
and a half--a fact that also added tony
sense of general satisfaction.
When the first call for dinner wa
made, l was not long in answering it, but
quick as l was, many others had been
before me, and l was fortunate in secur
ing the last table. Scarcely had l com.
fortably seated myself and settled on thu
details of my dinner, when Hall entered
plotting the lady who had been spokeno
as Mrs. Forsyth. Seeing that all the ia
bles had one or more occupants, 1t
brought her over to the II at which
sat. He introduced me, placed her op
posite, and to say that l was charmed
with her face would be to give only
a very faint indication of my feelings
She appeared to be about % or "a year
of age, and was dressed in mourning
though not of a sufficiently distinctly
character to tell whether or not she wa
a widow. / must confess, however, tina
even at the moment the question oc
CURED to me, | wished that it might b.
decided in the Affirmative.
The meal passed off delightfully."-, a
least to me, and | managed to ascertain
that l should have Mrs. Forsyth's com
pany for the greater portion of tn
Journey, her destination being Seattle
l took her back to our car, when sh
again withdrew into the drawing-room
and l resolved to smoke the soothin
cigar. In search Of company and a chat
sought the smoker of the next cal
which was occupied exclusively by mer
who after a time dropped one or tw
quiet hints about the enviableness of m
position, and their desire to exchang
berths. By-and-bye a little game {
poker was proposed, and would hav
doubtless helped to pass a good deal {
time, but a clergyman read us such
lecture on the sin of gambling that n
one felt quite disposed to materialize {
one of his terrible examples" So, aftC
a while, 1 went back to my own car an
my books. At supper time, as Mr.
Forsyth's door was open, l ventured
ask her if l might have the pleasure
taking her to the table, and was rewarde
with a gracious smile and a prom
acquiescence. Although | tried, withol
seeming to be inquisitive, TO skirt roun
the subject, l did not succeed in gainir
any information as to her matrimoni
condition. The next day, however,
was fortunate enough to discover that
hadtwo or three times met Mrs. Forsyth
single sister, when she had been visitir
some mutual acquaintance in San Fra.
cisco. This fact served as a far bett
introduction than Halls had been, al
in the more intimate conversation tn
followed | at last learned with delig
that Mrs. Forsyth was a widow Of over
years standing, and that she was inten
ing to make her future home with h
sister.
We lost our dining-car, much to your l
greet, on the second day. The third d;
saw snow necessarily descending, al
Mrs. Forsyth began to prophesy all kin
Of disasters. and even suggested the a
visibility Of her lying over at the ne
station of any size. From following Il
course she was, however, dissuaded
the joint eloquence of Hall and myse
Each hour that 1 spent in her society q
ded to the charm that was rapidly ste
ing over me, by discovering new simil;
tiles in tastes or ideas, and even by
occasional warmly contested argume
on slight points of difference.
When / awoke on the fourth morni
the windows were thickly crusted wi
ice, and though l could not scraps
place through which to observe our II
Of progress, l felt sure from the mott
1ALI