The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-08-04
TIE SNOW BLOCKADE.

IT.
l.
In the fall Of 1884 I was at St. Paul.
Ny friend, John Hall, conductor, had
persuaded me to go with him over the
Northern Pacific road to San Francisco,
1t was late In the season, and I feared a
blockade. However, provided myself
with a basket Of provisions, for use in
case my fears were realized, and started
on my journey.
When / 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 / could not make
much out Of my Inspection, for she,was
heavily veiled-when Hall entered, and
passing me with a hasty 4good.morn-
ing went up to the laly's companion.
l 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 90 and
see all clear. Then I caught these
wordG
-Look well after Mrs. Forsyth, Hall,
and when you give up the train, speak
to the next conductor about herr
Il will do my best for the lady, sir, !"
snid Hall, who a moment after left the
car.
you'll have the drawing.room toyour-
SELF continued Mrs. Forsyth's escort,
"and need not DO bothered with any
one.H
Ny back was toward the speaker, andin
a little side mirror between the windows
1 saw that he cast suspicious and sig.
nifcant glance IN my direction as he
spoke the last words.
In a moment more he was gone, and
we werestartGi on our long journey.
Ny solitary companion retreated to her
room, and l was left a rather dcsolate
master Of the situation.
With tho help OF newspapers, books and
an occasional word with Hall as he
passed through the car, the morning
passedsquickly enough. 1--WE. iyere 70
carry q dining.car the first day or day
and a half-a fact that also added to my
sense Of general satisfaction.
When the first call for dinner was
made, l was not long in answering 1t, but
quick as l was, many others had been
before me, and was fortunate in secur-
ing the last table, Scarcely had l com.
fortably seated myself and settled on the
details Of my dinner, when Hall entered,
plotting the lady who had been spoken Of
as StB. Forsyth, Seeing that all the Ia
bles had one or more occupants, he
brought her over to the one at which
Sat. He introduced me, placed her OPP
posite, and to say that / was charmed
with her face would be to give only a
q very faint indication Of my feelings.
She appeared to be about 2S or "a years
of age, and was dressed in mourning,
though not Of a sufficiently distinctive
character to lell whether OF not she was
a widow. Unjust confess, however, that
even at the moment the question oc.
CURED to me, Iwished that It might be
decided in the Affirmative.
The meal passed of delightfully."-, at
least to me, and l managed to ascertain
that I should have Mrs. FoByth's COM
pany for the greater portion Of the
journey, her destination being Seattle.
/ took her back to our car, when she
again withdrew into the drawing.room,
and I resolved to smoke the soothing
cigar, In search Of company and chat,
! sought the smoker Of the next car,
which was occupied exclusively by men,
who after a time dropped one or two
quiet hints about the enviablcnesS OF my
position, and their desire to exchange
berths. By.and-bye q little game Of
poker was proposed, and would have
doubtless helped to pass a good deal Of
time, but clergyman read us such a
lecture on the sin Of gambling that no
one felt quite disposed to materialize as
one Of his terrible examples" So, after
a while, l went back to my own car and
my uoosS: AT supPe! time' as MIS-
fTrSy1hs GoOt was open, l Ventured 70
AK .sl, ncF mgn .. nave tae pleasure Of
'as i'er 'o1au e'Dle' IN anu was rewaruea
% s..,,,. slS0'oS a,,, slnus ma = PiTmpt
sequieocell'e' AlIh I,.g l.tie , without
seeilllls 70 70 ,hSulsl'lve, 70 sslr1 round
sne suTlec', ulu NOV succeed IN gaming
any , s.ot''S wy. Us 70 heF matrimonial
uOi.u i ahs mex uaS, however, !
M's lOr'ul'a.e enough 70 discover Ihas !
llIu swGor I"Ies tInes met ans toEsyths
sills'e sls.er, wheh sne naa geen yiS,Itng
s9 . 'l wy acquamtatces IN pan Fran
CISCO Ihs Iact served as tar better
u! !, ihan HANS haa Deen' ana
" .he more ntlmate conversation mat
followed az last learned with delight
tliat alrs' Fonyth was WIDOW oil over q
year Is s'anulng' ana tiiat she was intend-
ing 70 make her future nome win her
slSIer'
We lost our dining-car, much too1t re-
A nIlN a.