Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-12-20

..s5y' couple of peas
ants and tw O
foreigners, the one an English gentleman
of about 80, the other an American some
what younger. A thunder storm was
without, large drops Of rain were already
falling thickly upon the windows which
the light within turned to slate color. A
light cloud of tobacco smoke was curling
about the heads of several of the passen-
gers; the Americans big cigar outdong
the cigarettes Of the others. He had
soon found out that tho Englishman had
been visiting the English cemetery at the
request of friend he had left in Naples.
and not to see Keats tomb, which had
been his own object. This led him to
ask as many questions about Naples as
he could think Of, and to express his
curiosity concerning the object of an in
dependent traveller having chosen that
time for visiting Naples, then heavily
stricken with cholera.
"They quarantined you, sir, guess?"
he remarked.
IL was fearfully fumigated, answered
the Englishman. Then he went on to
friend the Swedish doctor there, and to
say that he himself had fallen i'll, and
had been sent away as no longer of any
use. The subject was interesting, and
they discussed it until an interruption &C.
cured.
The bell sounded, the car stopped and
a man entered quickly, with the rain
running in rills from his hat and shout
ders, and seated himself opposite the
two, who, like himself, were foreigners.
There is always something that strikes
one as weird in a lighted vehicle moving
along through q dark night, The con-
trast of the rain, darkness and storm
mutterings without, aud the glitter with
in, in which the silent living figures
showed up in vivid light and shade,
struck the Englshman with fresh force
as the new conner arrested his special at
tention by something he could scarcely
define, that at once attracted and re-
pulsed him. More than once he caught
his somber brilliant eyes fixed upon him
from under the shade of a felt hat. An
absurd fancy struck him that lie was
travelling with being from another
world, who was somehow bound up
with his own fate, lie watched him
lurtively, and saw him lean forward
with an Indifferent air to read the mi
tails on the small valise he himself had
between his feet. The American, who
had done the same. observed this too
aud said to his neighbor, CHOW, sir, |
never remember seeing such queer let
ters as yours for the initials of an Eng
lisnan, as | take yo, to be.
The young man laughed slightly at
this frank curiosity. 80. Q. Q. Well,
perhaps it is an unusual combination. l
never heard of another family called by
my name, Questin though for all that
we do not boast any special blueness in
our blood"
The car stopped again. and the con-
ductor looked in, gesticulatinG to the
latest conner. He, however, shook his
head, and signed to him to 20 on, and no
one got out until the car reached its rest
ing place.
Sir, said the American, as he step
ped off the car, there is my card. If
you ever come to the States. there is one
man there who will give you welcome,
or any other man who has been risking
his life by his own free will among chol-
era victims, as | guess you have, and
that man is 'Septimus S. Perkins,"
Wherewith he nodded, and slipping his
card into the other mans hand, disap-
peared under his umbrella.
The Englishman did the like, and
thought no more Of S. S, Perkins until
three days later he met him again.
Say" began Mr.. Perkins, do you
ever carry such thing as a double about
with your"
Mr.. Qpestin, surprised and amused,
demanded an explanation.
"Only,' rojoiued Septimus Perkins,
that gentleman who got into the tram
car with us Tuesday evening was, take
it, cut out of the same bit of cloth us
yourself without any alterations. You
must be good sort that couple of you
are needed in the world You look at
yourself in the glass next tims you feel
at loggerheads with mankind, and there
you'll see him"
II fancied the face was familiRg to !
me, but didn't think of my own said |
Mr.. Questin.
"But guess that don't matter, if you |
were not out too late that sameevening, |
went ON Mr.. Perkins; "you look like |
wanting quinine and brandy pretty
stiff"
Questin acknowledged that he had not
felt very well since; that he had been
imprudent coming back so late, and thai
he was not sufficiently recovered from
his illness in Naples to take such ibertie!
with Roman shutdown.
This was the extent of his acquaintanc, |
with Septimus Perkins, but it carried
with it certain consequences, to be here
after developed.
A fortnight later on the night mail for |
Paris was stopping at the long dark
platform of Belfort, on the frontier All |
passengers were called out by the guard,
who ran lantern in hand along the train,
and porters were tumbling out the lug.
gage in manner eXasperating to the
owners. The chill air smote them a.
they descended bags in hand, unwil