Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-06-06

~e>t@ 4/EN e s,o,;5.I, N al:
oughly fntigued could not sleep.
/ reopened my eyes unwillingly,
looked ont into the impcnetrablc dark
ness, then at the fliclscring light of the
lamp and finally at my fellow travellers.
| 1t was strange company.
Opposite mo sat n drrply-hronzed,
manufacturing corporal. lie had drawn
the hood of his black cloak over his
head and was snoring with cnviablc
comfort. between his legs which were
incasrd in scarlet hose and light gait
ers, stood large, heavy box. Upon
entering he had pointed it out rs being
filled "du liquilr," and handled it with
| loving care. Our strict officials had
never allowed such large article to
pass as haud-haggagc, but in this in
stance they only smiled, and drew up
my feet on the scat rcsigncdly.
Farther on, rs near as possible to the
miserable lamp, sat n young, slender
man. His pale, worn face was bent
over n book he read all through tho
night. 1t was n ncwly-cut pamphlct-a
late production of the Partisan book
market. Was it political pamphlet or
ZOla's latest novel? | could not make
out. On the scat next me Il son of
the Celestial empire had settled himself
u vcritable Chinese. | could sec his
modest littlc pigtail, Ornamcntcd with
ribbons, moving back and forth, as he
turned his back on mo to converse in
fluent French with his vis-a-vis, who
was n robust, plcasant-lOo<ing woman
of about forty years of age, the wife of
! a soldier, whom she was going to meet,
rs concluded from her conversation.
In these surroundings l, a northern
err, nttircd in an elegant travelling cos
tune, must have looked odd. But on
that train there were no differences of
class. 1t was tho lightning express
which rlshcs on to Marscillcs with very
few stoppagcs and carries only first
class passengers.
Most of my companions had tickets
to Algicrs, and tomorrow would steam
out into the Mediterranean. was
sent to Nice by the doctors and an over
anxious mother, to spend tho winter
and to recover from the effects of %
serious attack of Inflammation of the
lungs.
l was 10th to leave my homo associa-
tions and my calling, and Indignantly
questioned if travelling in such mood
could be of any benefit to an invalid.
Tho long December night was not at
IN end when wc reached Marscilles.
Tho coupe was soon emptied
The student closed his book and
stepped out first. The rest followed
him; the corporal, swearing and still
half-aslecp, knocked about everywhere
with his case, and only the lady had n
word of farewell for the remaining
traveller.
drew n deep breath, sprinkled some
eau do cologne on my handkerchief and
stretched myself out. 1 really sue
ceeded in sleeping soundly, for the
train had taken the pleasant, slumber-
producing jog of an express. How long
l slept, do not know. Suddenly felt
the cool morning air, and the rustling
of skirts together with n wonder
fully sweet perfume, pass close by me,
but was so full of sleep that I could
not rouse myself Immediately.
When 1 finally opened my eyes they
rested on the corner where n short
while since the black-bearded corporal
had snored.
There now sat in his place n slender
female form in long, clinging silk
mantle. A thick, gray veil covered he1
travelling hat and face, about which
some very light golden curls fell.
Those curls looked so natural they re-
minded me of little cousin at home.
The lady bent her head, seemingly as
If she wished to sleep, and I, being
ashamed of my lounging posture, tried
to raise myself quickly and quietly.
AS did so glanced out of the win
dow and could hardly restrain an eXcla
nation of delight.
There lay before me, at no very great
distance, half enveloped in the morning
mist, the magnificent Mediterranean
the sun rose from the water, throwing {
bright CLEAN of light through the mist
and covering mist, clouds and water
with rosy hue. High up along tho
, rocky coast ran the train in and out O
dangerous windiEgs. Southern vegeta
ton everywhere; evergreens, oaks, oil
ives, oranges, everything glistencd with
the dew in glorious freshness.
Could it be December? Were the
folks at home sitting shivering around
the stove, while our feeble, wintry sun
shone coldly and family through the
frozen window pancs? / felt as if
were under q magic spell, and as
turned to the other side, driven by ar
impulse, beheld lovely girls face
suffuscd with the tints of the morning
sun. For one short moment our eyes
\ met, then the train ran into one of the
J numerous tunnels. The lady sat back
In her scat, drew her veil over her face
and by the dim light of the lamp now
saw next me n mans for1n, her com
panion's. ] awaited the reappearance
of daylight and examined the gentle
man fnrtivcly.