Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-03-31
oGiye them to that lady over there,

The man caught the things, and went
toward the lady at the bookstall AT the
same moment, from the other side OF the
train, came my pretty companion in great
perturbation, hustled by grumbing oili-
cial, but safely on board, just as the train
moved off. Horror! had mistaken the
lady traveller; the one at the book-stand
was not the right onc-samc cloak, same
hat, same outlines, but not the same wo-
man! She had scarcely entered the car
when she uttered cry:
"NIy things! Some one has stolen my
things"
For the first time she looked at ne
with what an eye! shall never forget
that look. mo, Madam" | said, ''youF
things are not stolen; they ars--thcy are
left at Tonncrc"
cat Tomcrrcl How"
Icxplaincd everything, Bless me!
could never describe the second look she
cave me-but | believe shall remember
it longer than the first one.
Tam very sorry, Madam, u stammcrcd'
II am greatly distressed, but the motive
was good. l thought youwould miss the
train, and you would be cold, and dldnot
want YOU TO suffer Pardon mc---dont fear
for your things. They arc in honest hands
"A railway official, AT the next station
you can tclcgraph--I shall tclcgraph-wc
will tclcerorh--w will soon get them. An!
YOU shall have them, lswcar it, if have
TO return myself to oTonncrrc TO get them, v
"That is sufficient >ir," shc said. 81
know what must do"
She sat down, severely twisting her
gloves in wrath. But alas. poor little
thing, She had rcckoncd without the cold.
She no lonscrhad her good wam wraps.
1t was scarcely ten minutes before she
began TO shycr She shrank into her
self, drew her otter cloak around her line
form and positively shook.
'lIadam,' l said, "lbcg upon my
knees that you will accept my shawl.
You will take a cold; it will be my fault,
and could never console myself in all
my life
Il do not speak to you, sir she said,
naughty.
was furious at having made myself
ridiculous. MADAM" said /, ''acccpt
this shawl, or swear I will jump of tho
train"
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 oi
your hcadw
"Takc the shawl--or l shall spring of '
She took the shawl, saying: "Bu
you, sir. you will perish from the cold.
Don't be uneasy about me, madam
am not delicate, and even if | shoult
be cold it would only be a just punish
mcnt for my objectionable stupidity"
Say for your too great haste, for yo'
are rght.--thc intention was good, bu
how could you take that lady for mcE
"Decausc she looked so charming"
She smiled; the ice was brokcn--th
ice of conversation, for otherwise | shiv
cred. But how quickly forgot the cold
the Journey and ALL She was delicious
exquisite, adorable! Dainty, peculiar
gay and original She loved travel as
do. She had been in Italy, like me; il
Spain, like me; she always dreamed o
going to Egypt, like me. In literature
in music, in every way our tastes wcr
the same. And then, just imaginc-lot
of the same friends. Perhaps had me
her twenty times without rcmarking hcl
Where was my hcad2 Heavens. whcr
was my head? While eagerly converse
, | did cv. v.rything in the world not t
have the air of being chilly, but goo
Lord! how cold | was At Dijou IN
, right foot was numb. We tclcgraphc
TO Tonncrrc for her things. At Maco
nv left foot was numb. We heard frol
, Topncre that her things would be
Marscilcs next day. AT Lyon-Pcrracf
I nv left hand became inscnsiblc. 81
S forgot to claim her coupc.Ht. At Vaent
S my right hand followed the example I
, the left. | learned that she was awidov
2 without children. At Ayignon my no
: turned purple. l thought lunderstoc
+. that she had never loved her first hu
II band. At last, ut Marscillcs, | Sncezc
4 violently three times. She handed II
: my shawl, saying graciously: "Good-by
Il till wo meet again."
t Till we meet againw l was wild.
=! passed the night in a hotel, and rose
y the morning suffering from terrible co
in the head, Ought !, in such a stat
n to call ON my friends, the Rombaud
/. They must take me as | am, and to-mc
4 row will start for Nice and cure mySt
| in sunshine. What surprise! TIL
1t excellent Rombaurd had invited sol
II people to meet me, and among them W
d my lcllow-tr traveller, my charmcr, Wh
1t was presented there was IN impcrccp
bic smile on her lips. | bowed and mt
" INJURED: "And Tonncrre" Il ha
le them" she answered, in the same lc
ID voice.
lie We took our seats at the dinner tab
lc "What a cold, my goodness"
Mt claimed that excellent Rombau
ly "Whcre in the world did you catch su
e. n cold1 In the cars, perhaps"
1T at is possible" replied, "but rea
&c [ do not regret it."
'h Nobody understood this uccrrespon
but | felt the sweet and compassion'
IT, gaze of my lovely travelling companl
H. coming to me across the ordorous fun
of a superb soup.
r. Wlnt ,,nr, uh,ll coy2 Npyt ln