Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-07-02
AN EMBARRASSING EPISODE.
from London Truth

~ ECoND-CLAss, sir! Here you are,
" sir!" And the speaker, a railway
porter, opened the door of second
class compartment on one of the
Scotch mails, which was already
- beginning to steam slowly out of
Peterborough station.
The traveller addressed hustled into
the carriage with more energy than dig
nifty of motion, and sank back on the
cushioned seat, very red in the face and
painting vigorously. Mr.. Joshua McPar-
son was an oldish man, rather stout, and
accustomed to move deliberately. Hence
the necessity of running to catch the
mail had ''taken it OUT of him with
some effect. Indeed, it was fully ten
minutes before his lungs resumed their
normal condition of respiration.
Looking round the compartment, he
saw that it contained only one occupant
besides himself, a young lady, seated in
at her, as she reclined with her head
back, her eyes closed, and her lips part
ed, breathing with monotonous regular-
ty, showed him that she was asleep. And
he took the opportunity of careful sur
vey.
She was very pretty and remarkably
well dressed. Everything about her
travelling appliances suggested atfiuence
and comfort, from the costly fur rug in
which her feet were wrapped to the sill
verified traveling-bag which stood
open on the seat at her side. Close to
the bag lay pile of newspapers and
periodicals, surmounted by yellow
back railway novel. The old gentleman
glanced at the title, and as he noted it
look of stern disapprobation appeared
upon his face. He knew the book by re-
putation as one Of dangerously flippant
tendencies; and being pillar of the
Scottish Kirk and severely puritanical in
his views, he regarded with scant favor
even the soberest works of fiction.
OF course, the scathing glance which
he cast at the Objectionable novel and
then transferred to it's owner was quite
lost on the slumhering young lady. And
Mr.. Joshua McParson, feeling, no doubt,
the futility of thus wasting his "sweet-
ness on the desert air." took up his Times
and began to peruse the money market
intelligence assiduously.
He remained absorbed in this study
for some time, too much taken up with
it to have any thought to spare for his
travelling companion, until he was a
reused again to an active consciousness
of her presence by hearing her make a
sudden movement. CHANGING quickly
over the top of his newspaper, he saw
that she had opened her eyes and was
sitting up. She was looking rather hard
at him-surprised. very likely, at his
presence in the compartment, and Won
dering how he had come there. At any
rate, she did not appear to be troubled
with shyness, for instead of withdra wing
her gaze when he looked up at her, she
continued to stare him in the face with
the most perfect GOODNESS. And each
time, during the next few minutes, that
he peered ut her round the screen of his
paper. he found her eyes turned upon
him in the same steady stare.
Mr.. McParsOn began to feel rather un
comfortable. He had constitutions
horror of boldness in women, and ner
vOus dread of being made the object Of
any attempted familiarity-especiall
in railway carriage. Perhaps this well
dressed young lady might be an actress
or some abandoned creature of that de
His speculatiors were interrupted by
another sudden movement on the part O.
the young lady, which caused him tt
peep at her once more. She was nov
standing up, but her eyes still looked
straight at him in the same answering
gaze. Something, however, about then
struck him this time which he had no
noticed before. There was sort O
deafness, lack of intelligence, in them
for though they were turned directly UP
on himself, they did not appear to SCI
him. Gould it be that the girl wa
blind?
He cleared his throat, coughed, AM
rustled his newspaper; but her face re
manned absolutely unmOved, giving NJ
token that she had heard the sounds o
was in any wise conscious of his pres
ence. That was very unlike blind PEG
pie, who were alway so quick to notice
Besides-as his eye fell upon the move
and the magazines blind person woul
not take works of literature for he
travelling companions. No. Blindnes
could scarcely be the explanation of he
very strange demeanor. But if not that
what then? Was she in a state of coma
Or was she. perhaps, lunatic?