The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-04-27
WE MET BY CHANCE

Will ATc-a SILL, uidSlStcIlul appearing
man, whose only baggage was portfolio.
Just as the train was starting sounds Of q
dispute arose ut the door of my coupe.
mo, sir! mol" said q woman's voice.
II ordered a coupe-ht, and I must have it,"
"But, Madam, since we have nome"
"You ought to have needed my letter."
eve received no letter, MADAME"
Snake them add another car, thenw
Impossible! We have the regular num-
Der. Come, come, hastcn-the train is
goingw
"But I must have some place."
"There, in that coupe"
''There2"
eyes, thercw
A little brown head was thrust in and
ciddcnly withdrawn, as if frightened.
"There IRE two gentlemen there"
"Eh, madam, I cannot give you q car
to yourselfl"
every we'll, I will not go"
"As you please! The train leaves! l
give tho signalw
"stop, sir, stopl I am obliged to go
and since there is only that coupc-but
they will give me a coupe-lit at the first
stationW
eyes, madam-yes, madam"
"You will telegraph for that2
eyes, madam-yes, madam"
The door opened, the little brown head
entered, surrounded with bundles and
wraps. There was q piercing whistle; we
had started. The stiff gentleman calamity
took a seat by me, leaving all one side free
for the new arrival. Without CHANGING at
us, breathless and crimson with wrath, she
arranged her things Us if for a long jour
ney-one bag, two bags, three bags, and
cloaks and shawls. I looked on out of the
corner'of my eye, and saw with pleasure
that She was charming in appearance. At
Laroche the stiff man arranged his papers
and left US. He was received by the depot
master Is ''Monsieur Inspector" The
lady rushed to the door.
: "Did they telegraph from Paris for a
coupe-latW
eyes, Madam, I sent the dispatch On"
"What! I cannot have it at once2"
Impossible, Madam. We have no cars
here. They will give you ono at Lyon
Perrache."
"Not till then2 But I cannot stay here
all that time-it is impossible. I will
not"
"Take a care, Madam-the train is
starting"
The cars were in motion. She returned
to her corner, furious, never glancing my
way. I opened my tenth newspaper.
Shall Town tit occupied me longer than
the nine before it. 1 read the same lines
twenty times. Ibelieve heidi sometimes
upside down. I wanted to talk with her,
but where was tho pretext2 Considering
the temperature the classic resource of rails
ing or lowering windows did not exist.
What could I do2 I saw she was a woman
of the world and of the best class. I could
only attract her notice by some very origi-
nal speech. But what-what2 I meditated
in vain. I was still studying the point
when the train stopped. "Tonnerre!
Twenty-Five minutes for refreshments /"
was shouted at the door.
My fair neighbor rose, dropped her
wraps and left the car. It was moor.
Hunger made itself felt. She went toward
the refreshment room. I followed. 1
could then admire at my ease her elegant
figure, distinctly outlined by a long otter
cloak. I also remarked that she had
pretty curls in her neck, a gray felt hat
and very small feet.
I quickly swallowed several things. Ny
fair traveller took a bowl of soup. The
time soon passed, and the travellers raced
back to their cars. Invent to mine. The
lady had not come. I saw her at a little
book and newspaper stand, looking at
the row of books. Although / saw only
her back I recognized her pretty figure,
her otter cloak and her gray hat. Her hair
did not look sodark to me-doubtless the
effect Of distance. Everybody was on
board; doors were slanming.
tsShe will miss her train,n / thought,
and then I called to her from the vim
dous ssfadaml Madam
.e.siN 49, ~