The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-08-06
ward boy" and had known some or their

ward boy" and had known some OF their
cousins at college.
The idea of his "traveling companion ="
gradually faded and vanished in the
light of the cozy conversation, CONVEX
sation which dlfted on and on until the
entrance of new passengers reused them
to the fact that an hour or so had passed
Among the new passengers, was fussy
old lady with numerous pieces of bag
gage; she could not be accommodated
with a section or even lower berth, and
was in state of desperation Mr. Wash
burne-such was the name on the card
he had exchanged with Fan-rose to the
occasion, and offered the lower half of
his section to the irate old lady. Some
what conciliated, she proceeded to make
herself at home, so much at home that
there was no room for any one else, and
Mr.. Washburne, with no apparent reluc-
lance, shared the seat with Mabel for
another hour.
At Syracuse friends of the girls met
them for a little visit, which was enjoyed
i'll Il promenade up and down the station
Upon returning to the car, they found
the berths already made up and the
packages mixed up. They could not
find the lunch box anywhere, and very
soon gave up the search, Fan expressing
the hope that the remaining crullers
would fall into the hands of an apprecia-
tive party.
The old lady was exceedingly nervous
and extremely fussy; she had all manner
of apprehensions and anxieties, one of
them being that something would get
into her berth; just what it might be
she could not definitely say, but she had
heard of such things, and had always
expected it, and what she expected al
ways happened, always! She finally
composed herself and subsidized INTO the
depths of her berth. and gradually the
low hum of voices ceased altogether, and
all was quiet and peaceful in the car,
which was rushing onward through the
darkness. dragged by the engine which,
with occasional shrleks, seemed dashln g
headlong to unknown regions.
An hour after midnight, every one was
awakened by cries Of
Murder! Murder! Stop! Stop
Stop! Hold on there!'
Heads appeared from between the cur
tains all along the aisle, and half dressed
figures descended on all sides to see what
was the matter, and discovered to their
disgust, us we'll as relief, that q passen
ger had the nightmare, and needed only
to be turned on his side. With few
c1rSo'y remarks. the half dressed figures
climbed to their shelves again, the heads
withdrew, and again the low hum OF
voices subsidized, the nervous ones COM
posed themselves, and sleep was Just
descending upon all when woman
ringing voice sent a thrill through every
nerve.
With scream, crunt and groan, the
old lady opposite bounced into the
passage way, and was soon surrounded
and relieve the cause of this dreadful
perturbation.
"Well. bless me, I don't know now
what 1t was what it is. l thought it was
toads: there are two or three of them,
all over the bed Oh dear Oh, my
1 always knew something would hap
pen y And the poor old soul, standing
there in her stocking feet. dressed in q
red skirt. white dressing sacque and q
silk handkerchief over her head, did pre-
sent a ludicrous aud pitiable Object.
Mr.. Washburne was on the ground,
and in the most gentlemanlv manner
soothed the fears and suspicious. An
investigation proved the lost lunch box
at the back of the berth, where it had
been placed by the porter; the cover
was off, and crullers and bananas had
shaken out and lay scattered on the
bed. Rarely has there een heard q
more hearty laugh than was raised at the
discovery. Every one was just nervous
enough to join in it. Even the imper-
turbable Mr.. Washburne so far lost his
self-control that sudden lurch of the
train threw him against the hangings of
the opposite side, shocking Mable. who
was peering out, back ont of sight, where
she and Fan, nearly convulsed, made
every effort to suppress screams of
laughter, though tears rolled down their