Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-08-24
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OLYMPIA'S WOOING.

and no children. l should be affronted n
being dubbed middled- aged; still, l consider
that l am quite old enough to be thor
oughly independent both in word and act
Travelling is the amusement may say tn,
mania-of my life, and with Seraphine, my
confidential treasure of French maid,
have traversed Europe from Calais to Con
stantinople, and even crossed the Atlantic
and had a look at the States
The home country is the only part of thu
world within easy range that have not ex
plored; SO this autumn l resolved to take
tourists tickets for Scotland for myself and
Serap hine, and, strange to relate, it ~
manned for that somewhat frigid country Il
produce one of the most startling adven.
lures l have ever experienced
Cold, ay, cold enough we found it among
the bare Highland Businesses; and accus-
toned as we were to bask in the brightness
of southern lands, we scarcely appreciated
the keen sharpness OF the northern blasts,
and towards the end of September we de-
cided to scamper back to warmer realms as
fast as steam could take US.
We reached Perth about the middle of the
day, hired a carriage and drove about the
fat town, which, with all its many memoir
les should, l felt, have been moro really in
teresting; and then, after good dinner at
Peoples hotel, we arrived on the platform
in very good time to catch the night express
to London.
Seraphine, however, treasure though she
isl would not part with her for worlds
is sometimes Just little oblivious | believe
there is a certain French village in which
her hopes and longings lie conferred and
every now and again when she thinks Of it
q sort of mirage comes over Der and-she
forgets She was probably comparing this
village to, in her mind, the lesser attractions
of Perth, fer when we reached the station
discovered that she had left my travelling
bag behind at tho hotel
OF course she had to go back for it o
that trave;ingbag If it had not been miss
ing this story Of my life would never have
been written.
As soon as Seraphine was gone strolled
about the station, which was not particu-
larly ight-electric light has not yet
Travelled SO far north, l presume /
went to the book to purchase sumo
easily digested literature for the way. To
make a choice was not easy, the print of the
most amusing books being universally too
small Whist I was still wondering on
which trife l should bestow my shilling, a
voice closed to be observed that Olympia 8
Wooing was the book ought to buy.
| turned around with a start and con-
fronted the speaker. He was a broad
shouldered, burly man with a brown we'll
kempt beard and rather sad-looking blue
eyes; and he wore a rough tweed suit and q
soft billy cock hat with the air Of one who
belongs to the upper ten.
He raised the aforesaid billycock when /
turned round, even before l spoke, which I
did rather sharply, asking him what he
knew OF Olympia's Wooing!
The tone of ny voice did not serve to awe
him, for he said very calmly:
"Only that it is q very amusing book I
have read it"
AS it were daunted by his cool utterance,
l handed shilling to the stall boy and
possessed myself Of the book
OF course it was only a coincidence, still
a strange coincidence, that my name is
Olympia
was about to walk rapidly away, wish
ing most fervently that Seraphine would re-
turn, when that impudent bearded fellow
again addressed me. Really, his remarks
were becoming a persecution-to woman
of my age and habits too, it was most
absurd: and yet the monster was SO civil
that to resent his conduct would appear rs
if l thought myself fighty miss
He only said:
Il am glad you have bought the book,
and hope it viii amuse you rs much as it
did me-"
NV answer was surlv Hump and q
mental prayer for Seraphine.
.'Are you going to London by this trainl
Can ! be of any service about your
luggage"
''No, thank you: have my maid" and
7 oI,,ost Sfa r,pAd my foot I falt On angry
Again he raisei the billycock hat, and, as
though not wishing to be too intrusive,
moved a few PAGES off.
remained we'll under the light Of the
book stall, where Scraphine could see mo at
a glance; to all appearance l was reading
carefully the names OF the papers which
had been published that day; but | never
w one Of them, for felt the sad blue eyes
re fixed on mo with intense curiosity, il
not also somewhat in admiration. For what
seemed an endless time, this ordeal lasted,
standing almost breathles, gazing at the
DE pers, while he gazed at me.
All, there she was at last, Tho spell was
broken. Seraphinel Never before had l
hailed her advent with such joy.
Her behavior was however to give mo
my next surprise, for no sooner did she
come near enough for the gaslight to fall
full on the face Of the placid but seemingly
irrepressiele man. than she gave q start,
and would have let the precious travelling
bag fall at my feet, If l had not snatched
Il with considerable CELEBRITY out of her
hand.
was provoked with her, especially as l
could see that this intrusive hero was quietly
smiling.
What a time you have been, the train
will 90 without us if we don't make haste"
said. in rapid French, speaking in a tone
but seldom use to Seraphine, and then | led
the way in search OF the carriage in which
/ intended 10 pass tho night
fervently did | hope that this horrid man
would finally take his dismissal, for Sera-
phine and always travel second class, and,
an accss OF snoboi.m for some unaccouuta-
BILE reason having come over me, did Lot
care for him to know it
He had, however. tho good taste at last to
see that he WAS not wanted, and took no
further notice OF Us, orr luggage or pack
ages
What a mercy, We spread ont the rugs,
arranged the cushions and settled ourselves
most comfortably, like TIE thoroughly good
travellers that No were
No intruders. no one; the guard had
promised that we should be alone.
The bell had runs, we were just off, and
. Key was applied 20 tte lock; the door was
thrown open, and some enc was actually
jerksd IN by the motion Of the starting
train.
Msrciful heavens, that man was here.
with US, and the first station we stop at was
more than an hour Distant, then-thon-
however, either b, CT viii get out.
Again that hideous biilioock is taken or
IN a sort of uaockeyy as il tie removal of 8