Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-04-09

same moment, from the other side of the
'ra'n' came my pretty companion in great
perturbation, hustled by a grumbling off
clal, but safely on board just as the train
moved of. Ilorrorl had mistaken the
iauy traveller; the one at the book-stand
was not the right onc-same cloak, same
nat, same outlines, but not the same wo-
man! She had scarcely entered 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! I shall never forget
that look. ''No, Madam, " | said, ''your
things are not stolen; they arc-they arc
left at Tonncrcrn
"At Tonncrrc! HOWE"
Iexpaincd everything. Bless mel l
could never describe the second look she
gave mc-but believe / shall remember
1t longer than the first one.
u am very sorry, Madam, u stammered
i 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 mc-don't fear
Tor 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 thcm swear it, if have
to return myself to Tonncrre 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 rcckoned without the cold.
She no longer had her good warm wraps.
1t was scarcely ten minutes before she
began TO shiyer. She shrank into her
self, drew her otter cloak around her fine
form and positively shook.
Madam" l said, 81 beg upon my
knees that you will accept my shawl
You will take cold; it will be my fault,
and | could never console myself in all
my ife."
81 do not speak to you, sir" she said,
haughtly.
/ was furious at having made myself
ridiculous. MADAM" said !, accept
this shawl, or l swear l will jump off the
tramp
Throwing the shawl between us l
seized the door-knob. My air must have
been convincing, for she cried
''You are crazy, sir-you are out of
goursheadl"
.s...s',..is.. 1s.asssanl or shall spring of z
She took the shawl, saying: ''But
Tou, 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 punish
ment for my objectionable stupidity"
"Say for your too great haste, for you
IRE right--the intention was good, but
how could you take that lady for me?"
Because She looked so charming"
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,
exquisite, adora5lc 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. And then, just imagine-lots
of the same friends. Perhaps l had met
her twenty times without rcmarking her.
Where was my hcad2 Heavens! where
was my head? While l eagerly conyersed
did everything in the world not to
have the air of being chilly, but good
Lord! how cold | was! At Dijou my
lght foot was numb. We telegraphed
70 Tonnere for her things. AT Macon
my left foot was numb. We heard from
fonnerc that her things would be at
next day AT Lyon-Perrache
ny left hand became insensible. She
orgot to claim her coape.W At Valence
ny right hand followed the example of
he left. | learned that she was widow.
without children. At Avignon my nose
.urned purple. | thought l understood
hat she had never loved her first hus-
'and, AT last, at Marseilles, sneezed
VIOLENTLY three times. She handed me
ny shawl, saying graciously: Good bye,
Ill we meet again"
It'll we meet againl" was wild. l
'assed the night in a hotel, and rose in
nc morning suffering from terrible cold |
Il the head, Ought l, in such state,
Q call on my friends, the Rombauds?
lhey must take me as | am, and to-mor-
ow will start for Nice and cure myself
sunshine. What a surprise! That
Acellent Rombaurd had invited some
'eople to meet me, and among them was
ny 1ellow-trayeler, my charmer When
was presented there was an impercepti-
lie smile on her lips. l bowed and muir
lured; ''And TonnercYn Il have
nem, she answered, in the same low
oice.
we took our seats at the dinner table.
What cold, my goodncsslo ex-
lalmed that excellent Rombaud.
F" here in the world did you catch such
cold' In the cars, perhaps?"
II Is possible" l replied, obut really
do not regret it."
Nobody understood this queerresponse.
VI ielt the sweet and compassionate
a1e oi my lovely travelling companion
''nihg to me across the ordorous fumes
superb soup.
!. " nat more shall I say? Next day I
- not go to Nice-and we are to be
larr;o1 :. W W