St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-25
NOT HIS NIECE.
An Amusing Incident on a Sleeping
Car.
GIT WAS SOME LADY,
The Filtration Was a Good Lesson for
the Major, Who Is Wiser
Now.
Helena independent.

heleHu INDEPENDENT.
1t was not far in the dim and distant
past. The scene was in Northern
Pacific sleeper coming west. There
was pretty and attractive lady who
occupied seat near the center of the
car, She resides in Helena, and is
noted for her charms and graces of
manner. She is married, and was re-
turning home after an Eastern visit.
There were a dozen or more passengers
lOunging about over the luxurious
coach. A cOrpulent and rather i'm
preSSive gentleman-WhOW was evidently
versed i'll the ways of polite society
sat in front of the lady with his back
towards the front of the train. He
was bald-headed and rather short of
stature. He WOrmed himself down in
his seat until the back of his head was
just visible, and engaged in pleasant
converse with his fair companion. He
was an acquaintance, and had been very
attentive to her ever since the train left
st. Paul-in his cOurtly fashion-and
seemed to entertain a profound re-
spect for her bright repartee and charm
ing conversation. The gentleman was
several years her senior, and relished
of a fresh and pretty flower. They
talked all day, as the miles were Oblit-
Grated by the flying train, and their
laughter and evident interest in what
they were discussing gave evidence
to the passengers that they were
pleased with each others society.
Matters ran along very smoothly until
about noon of the second day, when
suddenly the lady showed plainly that
she was diSpleaSed about something,
and she assumed a different bearing.
Her cOuntenance lost its expressive
smile, and her eyes snapped with
vlgOr that forebOded a seaflce of some
kind. She waited patiently until the
the car could plainly hear every word
she uttered, and then, with whitening
smile, and looking keenly at the bald
headed cOurtier, she suddenly hurled
this question at him:
WAS that your niece ] saw with you
last summer i'll the East?''
1t was done in such cool, Off-hand
way that the passengers were startled
and pricked their ears in anticipation
and establishment. The lady was evil
IDENTIFY bent on having little fun with
her escort, and the situation assumed
most critical phase.
why no." responded the old fellow,
after some hesitation, Il never took my
niece East in my life" This was said
in an innocent and nonchalent manner.
What! She wasn't your niece?" re-
SpOnded the lady, feigning astOnish-
ment. 81 have been under the impress
sion that she was" ooh! no." said the
old gentleman in an irritated sort of
way. "YOu were mistaken"
but it was some lady," persisted the
remOrSeleSS tOrmenter.
The victim SQuirmed and moved about
uneasily in his seat. He knew that
every one in the car was listening to
the dialogue and vainly essayed to
change the subject. But the comedy
went on.
Don't you remember" asked the
lady again.
There's some mistake abont it?"
The man almost grOaned.
mo, there amt: | saw you at SYRIA
cars there and escrted her into the eat
ing house and paid for her dinner, and
then sat in the depot with her and
talked with her for long time. l
thought it was your niece. Don't you
remembers"
The persistent Questioner smiled
grimly as she put the screws to him.
The old gentleman tried to escape the
torture by hemming and having, but
finally managed to say as he bluShed ON
top of his head:
II believe there was lady to whom
showed some courtesy. But''-he added
in all explanatory tone-"I never knew
who she was. She told me her name,
but Eve forgotten itr'
The inquisiton might have been con-
tinued for some time, but just then the
train moved OH and the conversation
could no longer be heard. The lady
evidently took compassion ON the poor
fellow, and, feeling that she had ac-
cOmplished her purpose, concluded to
give him a rest. For the rest of the trip
they were good friends, and the Major
was as dOcile as lamb.
When the train reached certain sta
ton between Helena and the Montana
line the old gentleman got off. The
lady put Oh her sweetest smile, and her
laughing eyes seemed to say: give
taught you a good lesson, my friend"
And the major, as he started up town,
en- route to his family fireside, carried
an expression on his countenance that
was difficult to interpret.
Perhaps he was wondering how the
lady happened to be around when he
was escorting his "niece" to dinner at
Syracuse, and probably he INDUCED in
mental conclusion that his fair COM
paniOn should not have talked so loud
while the cars were not in motion and
the passengers had their ears wide
open.