Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-10-24
A BACHELORS FALL.

There was general establishment in
our little circle of friends when we learned
of the coming marriage of Valentin San
cerre. What! He, that hardened old
bachelor; that Partisan skeptic, who
scoffed at every suggestion of matrimony;
that jolly high liver. who had sworn a
hundred times that he ''would never be
caught" Yes, Valentin was going to
enter the great fraternity, and whom was
he to marry7 A widow. More than that,
a provincial.
We could not understand it. So, the
first time [ met him, took him by the
arm and demanded an explanation.
81 have but little time, he said. ''and
have great many things to do, have
just come from the mayors, and am going
to the printer Passage DIES Panoramas
for the invitations. If you care to come
with me that far"
GLOW did it come about?" I asked
him, and we started down the boulevard,
arm in arm.
"The story is quite BRIEF" Valentin
said, land very commonplace; but since
you insist upon knowing it, here it is"
In the month of February I went to
Nice for the carnival. I have horror
of travelling by night, so I took the eight
fifty-fve train in the morning, which
should land me in Marseilles at five MIN
utes after midnight. Iwould pass day
In Marseilles, where my good friends, the
Rombauds, of the Rue Saint Ferreol, ex-
pected me to breakfast. The following
day would leave for Nice, where I would
arrive about two o'clock in the after
noon.
At the Lyons depot there was a great
crowd, but, thanks to an obliging sta
ton master, was able to find place
in compartment. I was alone with
another traveler-decorated, of severe
bearing, with an official air-whose only
baggage was a portfolio. Certainly he
would not go far with that equipment:
and soon should be alone-alone, the
one thing that makes a railway journey
supportable.
Everybody was settled; the train was
about to start. Suddenly, there were
sounds of a dispute at the door.
'sNo, monsieur, no" said fresh femi-
nine voice, with an almost imperceptible
Southern accent; 81 ordered sleeping
berth; must have a sleeping berth!"
"But, madame, we have none.'
''But must have place."
"And I offer you two in that coach. "
EEIn there?"
eyes, madame"
A little brown head was thrust in the
doorway, and then withdrawn quickly, as
through frightened.
"Two gentlemen are there"
"Well, madame, cannot give you a
coach all to yourself"
every we'll. shall not CO."
GAS you please. The train is going
to start. I have given the signal"
"Stop, Stop! I absolutely must go.
And there is this carriage only? Well,
they will give me sleeping berth at the
next station?"
eyes, madame, yes"
'You will telegraph"
eyes, yes, madame"
The door opened; in plunged the lit
tie brown head, surrounded by halo of
packages and rugs; a shrill whistle cut
the air; we were off.
The official gentleman CALAMITY seated
himself near me, so as to leave the whole
side to the new arrival. Without so
much as glance toward us, all Hurried
and rosy with haste, she arranged her
packages in the rack and about herself
with the haste common to persons who
have many long hours to pass in a car.
Out of the corner of my eye followed
her little maneuvres, and I ascertained
with pleasure that she was charming.
I say with pleasure; for however proper
ones intentions may be, it is always
more agreeable to travel with a pretty
woman than with an old man in spec
tacles.
The cold was intense; the country,
covered with snow, lighted by a pale
sun, seemed to t1y rapidly by the two
sides of the coach. The fair traveller,
enveloped to the chin in her rugs, gazed
obstinately from the window on the left
The official gentleman drew from his
portfolio some large papers, yellow
green, and blue, with printed headings
which he settled himself to read atten
lively. As for myself, comfortably in