Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-09-13
N. uouy gave vent to his FEELINGS by

rom NJ Uouy gave vent to his feelings by
saying:
"Confound that lampI'
| "Why2 Does it smokea" she asked, with
| gentle solictude in both her look and Tone
"No.n he said; 'but if it had not been lit,
the car would have been dark in the tunnel,
and then"-
'Then, whatg'
"Wel, one is so much holder in the dark"
he replied, with Machiavellian evasiveness.
"Dont you think you are bold enough in
the lighta" she asked, with captivating arch
ness
Sometimes" he answered.
| There was a short silence, during which
little Mr.. Tom N Oddly brought his diamond
ring into better view, and attempted to find
! out whether her feet were on the floor or on
the rest bar.
'sThat is the only tunnel on this part Of the
road, is it nots' she asked.
Little Mr. Tom N. Oddly gave start. mo,
| indeed" he SAIL, there are three more be-
tween this and San Rafael"
| She sat quietly again. looking pensively at
| her folded hands.
| "Is your sword stick hollowa" she asked
with curious interest, considering tho ap-
parent irrelevancy of the question.
"Stick hollowf' he repeated; "yes. it's a
| Chinese bamboo; that is with the joints bored
| out. Do you wish to examine it!"
| No." she answered, with smile like SUM-
| beam; ''only was thinking that if the ferrule,
or whatever you call that brass thimble thing
| at the end of the stick, were cut off and the
sword removed it would make splendid
| blow pipe"
"Well, WE'LL" he stammered confusedly,
| what in the world do want of blow pipes
"Oh, nothing, | suppose" she answered,
with another flash of smile, "only l was
| thinking, also, that if any one had such a
| blow pipe it would just about reach from
here to that lamp, and that little, well di-
rected puff would blow it out without any
one being the wiser"
"Oh, you angel" said little Mr.. Tom N.
| Oddly, and, with two motions, he whipped
| out the sharp sword blade and slashed off the
ferule.
| As he did so there came another warning
| toot from the engine and a little smothered
cry from his side.
''Why, here's another tunnel" she cried.
Then, in the gathering darkness little Mr..
Tom N. Oddly cunningly laid the bamboo
| tube along the side of the car until the fur
Their end was just under the lamp glass, set
| his mouth to the near end, gave sharp puff,
| and presto! the car was in what is sometimes
known as Egyptian darkness. There was a
chorus of cries and smacking sounds from all
over the caR as the light went out, but little
| Mr.. Tom N. Oddly minded none of these, but
| turned in tremble of excitement to snatch
his reward from his captivating companion.
As he flung out his arms to make prisoner
| of the dainty beauty at his side, they were
seized by two hands of iron, and then little
Mr.. Tom N Oddly felt himself irresistibly
| drawn down and doubled up over two I'M
doubtedly male knees Then one of those
iron hands was swiftly drawn away, and, be-
| fore little Mr.. Tom N. Oddly knew what was
happening, he was treated to a castigation of
that basic order which vigorous mothers
sometimes administer to rebellious sons Then
he was lifted up as suddenly as he had been
drawn down and planted, with jerk, in his
corner Before he had recovered his breath
the train was rushing into the daylight once
more, and there, sitting quietly at his side
and reading his paper, was the stalwart
young man of the opposite seat.
| "How-dare"-li Mr. Tom N Oddly be-
gan, with a fierce pant, when the young man
| turned slowly on him and said, in a ponder
| GUS bass voice:
| "Please accept my thanks for your kind at
| tentions to my wife"
'Your wifel" gasped little Mr.. Tom N.
Oddly, and, glancing wildly across the aisle,
he saw the lovely creature sitting demurely
in the young mans seat. Demurely only for
a moment, however, for then merry,
wicked light sprang into those ravishing
eyes, and
| The lady smiled.-Thomas j. Vivian in
| The Argonaut.