Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-10
Talts aud Skttthes.
ADVENTURE on A TRAIN.

the approaching marriage OF Valentine
Sancerre. What ne, the hardened
bachelor! the Parsian sceptic, rebelling
against every idea of matrimony the gay
high liver. who swore hundred times
that he would never have anything to do
with it, Valentine, in short, was going
to enter the great brotherhood. And
whom was he to marry? A widow !
Worse than that-a provincial We
could not understand it.
So the first time met him / collared
him at once and asked for an explanation.
II have hardly time,' he said: 81
have hundred things to do. But if you
will walk along with me-"
So we went down the boulevard arm in
arm.
The story is very simple, said Valen-
tine, land commonplace but since you
wish to know it l will tell it.
In the month of February set out for
Nice to attend the carnival festivals.
bave horror of travelling at night.
therefore took the nine O'Clock train,
which would bring me into Marsellles at
FIVE minutes past midnight. | was to
pass day at Marseilles, where my good
friends, the Rombeauds. expected me to
breakfast. The next morning | was to
90 to Nice, where was to arrive at two
O'Clock in the afternoon.
AT the Lyons station there was perfect
jam but, thanks to the proverblal oblig-
ingness of the station agent, n.
Friegnoul, managed to find corner in
coupe | was alone with another traveller,
who wore decorations, and had severe,
administrative bearing, and his sole
baggage portfolio. Assuredly he was
not going far with such an equipment,
and | should soon be alone Alone -
the only thing that renders travelling on a
railroad endurable.
Everyone was in his place and the train
was about to leave when we heard disput-
ing voices at the car door.
mo, sir. no." said some woman with a
clear, fresh voice, with an imperceptible
southern accent. II have ordered sleep
ing compartment and must have one. ;"
But, madam, we have none"
You ought to have paid attention to
my letter"
1--WE have received no letter madam"
Put on a car, then"
"Impossible We have on the full
number. Come, come, be quick. The
train is starting"
81 must have a seat"
"Well, offer you two in this car"
''In there?"
''Yes, there"
"A little brunette face was thrust into
the door, and Immediately withdrawn as
if startled"
why, there are two gentlemen in
there"
''But madam, cannot give you car
all alone to yourself"
VERY well, will not 90 then"
"As you please The train will 90. |
am about to give the signal"
"Stop, sir. stop. | really must go, and
since there is only this car | shall have a
sleeping compartment at the next station.
shall | not?"
Yes, madam yes, madam
DO you promise meP"
"Oh, yes"
'Surely?"
Yes, yes, yes"
The door opened. the little brown face
was lost in pile OF packages and rugs !;
shrek from the engine pierced the air.
We had started.
"The administrative gentleman had
seated himself near me to leave a place
free to the new conner.
Without even casting look at us, out
of breath and red with anger, she arranged
her bundles in the strap and around her,
with that haste common to all who have
many hours to spend the car. There were
one. two, three bags and rugs.
"Fr ON the corner of my eye | watched
her movements. and found to my delight
that she was charming say delight, tor
really it was more agreeable to travel
with pretty woman than with an old
Englshman with spectacles.
The air was sharp and cold The
country, covered with snow and lighted
by pale sun, seemed to be flying rapidly
away on both sides of the car. The fair
traveller, wrapped up to the chin in her
rugs. looked steadily and rather sullenly
out of her window on the left; the
official gentleman drew out large yellow
green and blue papers from his portfolio
and read them most carefully, and as for
myself, being comfortably seated.
looked over the pile of papers | had
bought at the station.
1t was twenty-one minutes past eleven,
and the train stopped at Laroche. The
official gentleman arranged his papers,
rose. bowed, and left the train. He had
hardly alighted when the station agent
addressed him by the title of inspector,
which he pronounced as if the word were
almost too big for his mouth. Here our
lady traveller looked out of the car door
and called out:
"Station agent"
MADAM -
"Dd you receive a telegram from Paris
for a sleeping compartment
Yes, madame and | sent on despatch
for one"
Sent on a despatch Can't have one
at once ?n
impossible, madam. We have no
cars here. You can't have one until we
reach Lyons"
Lyons At what hour?"
AT s. 45, madam"
"All day to wait, theh. Why, sir.
cannot remain in this car until that hour
It's impossible. will not"
Take care, madam. the train is start.
ing"
The train moved on and she buried her.
self in her corner in rage, without cast
ing look at me. while buried myself in
my tenth journal,
shall | confess that it took me longer
to read that one journal than all the other
nine /? read the same line twenty times :;
even believe that held it upside down