The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-05-17
THE EXP ESs.
Translated from the French of Jacques Nor
=

Translated from the French Of Jacques Nor
mand.
There was general establishment in
our little circle of friends when we heard
of the approaching marriage of Valentin
Sancerre! What He-the confirmed
old bachelor. the skeptic of the boule-
wards, the scoffer at marriage, the gay
est of the men about town, he who had
sworn hundred times that he would
have none of it-Valentin, in short, go
ing over to the enemy? And who is he
going to marry? A widow! And, what's
more, from the country! We couldn't
make it out
So the first time met him | grabbed
him by the collar and demanded an ex-
PLANTATION.
Il haven't a minute" he said "such
lot of things {, do. | have just come
from the Marie, and am going to Stern's,
the engrayer, Passage des Panoramas,
for the announcement cards. Come
along, won't your"
''Of course l will, said /.
We were just in front Of the Made
leine, and we walked down the boule-
ward arm in arm.
Its short story" said Valentin,
rand commonplace to degree, but since
you are bent on knowing it, the fact is /
am going to take the fatal plunge"
In February was on my way to Nice
for the carnival | hate to travel at
night, SO took the S:45 train in the
morning, arriving at Marseilles at five
minutes after midnight. was to spend
the day at Marseilles with my friends,
the Rombauds, who were expecting me
to luncheon, and the next morning was
to leave for Nice, to arrive there about
o'clock in the afternoon.
At the station at Lyons there was
terrific crush. Thanks to the well
known politeness of M. Fregnoul, the
station master, | got carriage facing
the engine. found myself alone except
iur one other traveller who had a Severe
executive manner, "a decoration, and
portfolio He had no baggage except
this same portfolio, and of course he
couldn't be going far, so should soon be
left to inyself-alone; the only condition
which makes railway journey endur-
able
Everybody was on board and the train
was on the point of departure. There
was noise of vehement discussion Just
outside our door.
mo. monsieurl Nor said a woman's
voice, very sweet and fresh, with an al
most ilnperceptible southern accent.
Il ordered a coupelet, and coupelet /
must have.
But, madame, if we haven't anyl"
why didn't you pay some attention
to my letter."
I'VE didn't receive any letter, ma
damel''
PUT on another carriage, thenp
impossible. We have already put on
all we are allowed. Come, come, hurry
the train is going!"
81 must have place, at leastr"
But have just offered you two in
the carriage"
'Therel"
Yes, there"
A little dark head peeped in at the
door and Immediately disappeared-as if
in fright.
But there are two men there"
We'll, madame, can't give you a
carriage all to yourself"
Very well, then, won't CO."
AS you please-the train is going. I
must give the signal
Stop, sir, stop. absolutely must 90
and as there is only the carriage will
they give me a coupelet at the next sta
tion?"
Eyes, madame! Yes, madamel'
you promise meY'
Certainly"
you are sure?"
"Yes. Yes. Yes"
The door opened, the little brown head
tumbled in, surrounded by halo Of
packages and rugs. whistle shrieked,
and we were off.
The executive gentleman politely seat
ed himself next me, SO as to leave all one
side for the new arrival She was flushed
and excited, and did not deign to give
us glance, but set to work to arrange
her packages in the net above and in the
seats about her with the haste that people
usually manifest when they have hours
before them in railway carriage. There
was one bag-two bags-three bags and a
number of rugs.
watched her arrangements from the
corner of my eye and came to the decided
conclusion that she was charming In
fact, it is always pleasanter to travel
with a pretty woman than with an old
Englishman with spectacles. 1t was bit
terly cold. The country, covered with
snow and illumined with pale, cold
sunlight, seemed to fee away rapidly
on either side of the carriage.
Our little traveller, wrapped to her chin
in her rugs, set herself obstinately to
looking out of the window at her left.
The executive gentleman drew from his
portfolio great state papers with seals in
all colors of the rainbow-yellow, green,
blue and purple-which he read with
considerable attention.
As for me. comfortably seated with my
feet on the heater. looked over the pile
OF papers 1 had bought at the station to
pass away the time.
Twenty-one minutes after II. LA
rochew The train stopped. The execu-
tive gentleman arranged his papers, got
up, took off his hat and left the carriage.
He had hardly reached the platform be-
fore he was received by the station mas
ter, who addressed him as M. TInspec-
teur in a tone of deep respect. Our little
passenger rushed to the door.
is this the station master?"
Eyes, madame"
"You have received telegram from
Paris for coupelet?"
81 haze, madame. and have sent on the
dispatch"
"What, sent it on? am not to have
the coupelet immediately"
Impossible, madame, we have no car
riages here. You can only get one at
Lyons"
cat Lyons-at what timer"
"At five forty-five, madame"
"All day, then. But l can't stay in
this carriage until that time. 1t is i'm
possible. don't wish to-
Take care. madame, the train is leav-
mgr
And off the train went
She buried herself in her corner again,
in a perfect rage, and did not deign to
cast the smallest glance at me.
AS for me set myself to reading as
siduously my tenth newspaper.
Shall confess it? 1t took me longer
TO read that tenth paper than it had to
Ieaa the nine others. | read the same
me over twenty times. | believe that
nan the time | held the paper upside
down. But then, after all, a French
mans Frenchman, and you can't ex-
pect a man to take long journey with