Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-17
THE MsRSElLLES EXPRESS.

bachelor, the skeptic of the boulevards, the
scofier at marriage, the gayest of the men
about town, he who had sworn hundred
times that he would have none of it
Valentine, in short, going over to the en-
envy? And who is he going to marry? A
widow And, what's more, from the coun-
try We couldn't make it out.
So the first time met him ] grabbed
him by the collar and demanded an expla-
nation.
81 haven't minute" he said such
lot of things to do. I have just come from
the Marie and am going to Storms, the
engraver, Passage des Panoramas, for the
announcement cards. Come along, won't
your
"of course I win, said l.
We were just in front of the Madeleine.
and we walked down the bouleyards arm
in arm.
"Ifs short story" said Valentine,
"and commonplace to degree; but since
you are bent on knowing it, the fact is |
am going to take the fatal plunge"
Ia February was on my way to Nice
for the carnival. ! hate to travel at night.
and | took the S:45 train in the morning,
arriving al Marseilles at FIVE minutes
after midnight. was to spend the day at
Marseille, 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 af-
ternoop.
At the station at Lyons there was ter
rife crush. Thanks to the well-known po-
liteness of NJ. Fregnoul, the station mas
ter, | got carriage facing the engine |
found myself alone except for one other
traveller who had severe executive man
ner, decoration and portfolio He had
no baggage except this same portfolio, and
of course he ouldn't be going far, SO I
should soon be left to myself-alone the
only condition which makes a railway
journey endurable.
Everybody was on board and the train
was on the point of departure. There was
noise of vehement discussion just outside
our door.
No. monsieur Mop said a woman's
voice, very sweet and fresh, with an al
most imperceptible Southern accent I
ordered coupelet, and coupelet | must
havew
But, madame, we haven't any :"
Why didn't you pay some attention to
my letter ?"
We didn't any letter, madamem
Pat on another carriage, them
Impossible! We havealready put on
all we are allowed. Come, come, hurry
train is going.'
must have place at least p
" But have just offered you two in the
carriage
"There ~
Yes, there"
little dark head peeped in at the door
and Immediately disappeared-as if in
fright.
But there are two men in there"
Well, madame, l can't give you car
riage all TO yourself"
Very well, then, won't CO."
:" As you please-the train is going l
must give the signal"
Stop sir, stop. 1 absolutely must 60
and as there is only the carriage will they
give me a coupelet at the next station ?"
Yes, madame! Yes, madame
"1ou promise me?"
Certainly"
You are sure?'
YES Yes. Yes"
The door opened, the little brown head
tumbled in, surrounded by hale of pack
ages and rugs, whistle shrieked and we
were off.
The executive gentleman politely seated
himself next TO me, so as to leave all one
side free 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.
i watched her arrangements from the
corner of my eye and came to the decided
conclusion that she was charming. in
fact ii is always pleasanter to travel with
pretty woman than with an old English
man with spectacles. 1t was bitterly cold.
The country covered with snow and illu-
mined with pale, cold sunlight, seemed
to flee away rapidly on either side of the
carriage.
Our little traveller wrapped to her chin
in her rugs set herself obstinately to look
ing out of the window at her left. The
executive gentleman drew from his port
folio great state papers with seals in all
colors of the rainbow-yellow, green, blue
and purple-whieh he read with consid-
cradle attention.
As for me, comfortably seated with my
feet on the heater, | looked over the pile
of papers | had bought at the station to
pass away the time.
Twenty-one minutes after II. La
roehe~ 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 stationmaster,
who addrested him as Monsieur fInspec-
teur in tone of deep respect. Our little
passenger rushed TO the door.
Is this the stationmaster@
. les madame
You have received telegram from
Paris for coupelet ~
" have, 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 Ly-
ons.n
at Lyons--at what time?"
" At 5:45, madame"
All day, then. But can't stay in this
carriage until that time. 1t is impossible
don't wish to-"
"Take care, madame, the tram is leav-
ing
And off the train went.
She buried herself in her corner again
in perfect rage, and did not deign to cast
the smallest glance at me.
As for me | set myself TO reading assid.
uously my tenth newspaper.
Shall / confess il (? Ii took me longer tc
read that tenth paper than it had to read
the nine Others. read the same line
over twenty times. believe that halt
the time had the paper upside down.
But then, after all, Frenehman's a