Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-09-03
THE EXPRESS.
A RIDE BY RAIL AND WHAT CAME OF IT.

There was general lastonishment in our
little circle of friends when we heard of
the approaching marriage Of Valentin
Sancerre! What! He-the confirmed
old bachelor, skeptic of the boulevards,
the scoffer at marriage, the gayest Of
men about town, he who had sworn a
hundred times that he would have none
of it-Valentin, in short, going over to
the enemy? And who is he going to
marry? A widowi And, what's more,
from the countryl We couldn't make it
out
So the first time met him grabbed
him by the collar and demanded an ex-
planation.
IT haven't minute, he said; "such
lot of things to do. have just come
from the Marie, and am going to Stern's,
the engraver, Passage des Panor anias,
for the announcement cards. Come
along, won't your"
"Of course will, said l.
We were just in front of the Made
leine, and we walked down the boule-
ward arm in arm.
"Irs a short story" said Valentin,
~and 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 I took the 8.45 train in the
morning, arriving at MarSeilles at five
minutes after midnight. Twas 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 2
O'clock in the afternoon.
At the station at Lyons there was a
terrific crush. Thanks to the well
known politeness of NJ Fregnoul, the
station master, got carriage facing
the engine. / found myself alone ex-
eept for one other traveller, who had
severe executive manner, decoration,
and portfolio. He had no baggage ex-
cept this same portfolio, and of course
he couldn't be going far, so l should
soon be left to myself only
condition which makes a railway
journey endurable.
Everybody was on board and the train
was on the point of departure. There
was a noise of vehement discussion just
outside the door.
"No, monsieurl Nor said woman's
voice, very sweet and fresh, with an al
most imperceptible Southern accent
Il ordered eoupelet, and coupelet
/ must have"
"But, madame, if we haven't anyr'
"Why didn't you pay some attention
to my letter.
"We didn't receive any letter, mad
amel"
PUT on another carriage, thenr'
@Impossiblel We have already put on
all we are allowed. Come, come, hurry,
the train is goingl"
aI must have a place, at leastl"
@But have just offered you two in
the carriage.
aTherer'
Eyes, there"
A little dark head peeped in at the
door, and Immediately disappeared-as
If in fright
"But there are two men therex
well, madame, can't give you q
carriage all to yourself"
very well, then, / won't go.
aAs you pIease-the train is going-I
must give the signal.
@Stop, sir, stop. I absolutely must go
-and as there is only one carriage, viii
they give me coupelet at the next sta
tion?"
@Yes. madamel Yes, madamel"
%You promise me 2"
certainly.
@You are sure?"
@Yes. Yes. Yes"
The door opened, the little brown head
tumbled in, surrounded by. halo Of
packages and rugs, whistle shkieked,
and we were OF.
The executive gentleman politely
seated himself next to me, 50 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 ana In the seats above 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 arrange gements from the
corner Of my eye and came to the de-
cided conclusion that she was charming.
In fact. il is always pleasanteT 10 travel