The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-25

for my train. / was tapped from behind on
the shoulder. Turning round / found my
face to face with q perfect stranger-a
beautiful young woman. with q sad, white
face. and piercing brown eyes.
The young woman blushed; so did /. She
made q furried apology, stating that she
had -unaccountably mistaken me for q
friend who was to have met her at the
book-stall. j bowed and lifted my hat, as
the lady. evidently overwhelmed with con-
fusion, tripped lightly away.
was q bachelor, at the wrong side of
thirty, and though / was by no means a
gallant. I wac not wholly unacceptable to
feminine charms; and the lady who had
addressed me was unquestionably a pretty
and strangely notwithstanding N
What o pity 1 was not the friend for whom
she had mistaken mel
As I turned again to the book-stall, uncer-
tain what sort Of good Cor the mind to pro-
vide myself with. / was again tapped on
the shoulder; this time BY o porter. who
warned me that / should lose my train if l
didn't look sharp. Picking upa book and
q few newspapers. and handing the price
of my purchases to the book-stan clerk. 1
followed the porter. who conducted me to
the door ofmy compsrtment-"second-class
smoker 1 was no sooner seated comfort
ably in q corner seat then the train began
to move out of the terminus.
Ihad now an opportunity of examining
my fellow-travelers. Opposite to me sat
young man, about my own height. age
and build. Beyond height and build. and
q thick mustache. ! fattsred myself the
straneer6ore no further resemblance to me.
lie was o pasty-face young man, with rest
less, ferrety blue eyes. snd his uncomely
hands were literally jeweled. He was
smoking q cigar. My weakness is o briar
pipe. The othesr two corner seats were oc-
cupied by two elderly men. evidently
friends; and i judged them. rightly or
wrongly, to be commercial travellers.
When 1 had filled my pipe. I could not
find my matches. My vis-a-vis. observing
this. politely and silently offered me q
matchbox. When my pipe was alight.
and when ] had handed bim back the
matchIbox with Q curt thank you." the
stranger. much to my surprise-for / took
him to be q gruff and taciturn bagman or
low degree, q traveller in fash jewelry. an
agent provosateur in the book trade. a man
who carried samples of boots or fusel-oil
the reprobation of peacefully disposed citi-
z~ens-addressed me In o pleasant voice, and
with q pleasant smile
Going far. might ! take the liberty OF
sskingP
The train was the $50 from Euston to
Holyhead.
channelp
$50 am /. Hope you don't take il i'll OF
me starting off with so many questions.
But" smiling again. 81 am connected with
iournalism-sporting papers ~mostly-and
Pm IN the habit of doing a bit of interview
ing. Bad habit he added. but 1 hope you
don't mind"
"Oh. not at all" said ]. though I did mind
it Just @ little bit.
Been in Ireland oftenf" he asked. knock
ing the ash of his cigar and busting his
.Never.nI replied, laconicaIly.
"Ahl Friends there, / suppose; OF busi-
nessf"
Neither" I answered. Twas amused at
my sporting s~cqualntance's perslsteney,
and Just O trifie irritated.
"Ahf" said he, as If he felt I wanted to be
helped out of an awkward predicament.
Politics! Perhaps | have the pleasure of
addressing an Irish member of Parliamentp
NO." / answered slowly. II am an En-
glishman. ! am going Tor q short holiday to
Ireland. L have no friends there and i am
q very bad hand at making friends"
My companion seemed disconnected. but
he was not defeated.
ireland 10 q pleasant country" said he.
81 take q run over there usually q couple
of times @ year. i was over for Punohtown
last June, partly on business. jolly peo-
pie. Fine country for horses. too. Take
Not an atom"
"Ah Intend to remain In Dublin, or take
o peep at the countryp
&, 81 really do not know. / could not re-
press Q smile. The man's persistence was
amusing. He had asked every question
without o trace of o~ffensiveness. and ap-
parently paid no heed to the gruffness of
my responses. did not at all relish being
c~ross-examined or intsrviewed By q strang-
er. but / had not the heart TO be really dis
courteous; so. shaking the ashes from nv
pipe. and laying IL on the seat beside me.
] said. 81 am On awfully dull dog, especially
in arailway carriage. Pray don't think it
rude Of me if | fall off to Sleep" / deliber-
ately tucked my legs upon the seat, arrang-
ing an overeoat for q pillow under my head
and shoulders.
The sporting journalist said nothing, but
he eyed me IN q curious way and then
curled himself mp in his own corner.
Though i spoke so bravely of sleep. /
w "0O W. oaAAs -
half-closed eyes. l found my thoughts
drifting back pleasantly to the beautiful
Young woman who had addressed me on
the platform. Who or what could she be7
j wove all sorts of. romances around her.
and IN the end I found myself cursing tho
timidity which had prevented me from as
certainlng something further about her.
In q stupidity romantic way / was. at the
ripe age OF thlrty-two. in love with q
woman whose face L had seen for the space
of abOut sixty seconds.
At Rugby L was rudely awakened from
what must have been a bona-fide doZe by q
shake and O voice which said:
Thought I'd take the liberty of waking
you up. Rugby. Few minutesf for refresh
ments.'
"Oh. thank youl" rubbing my eyes and
yawnIng.
Have q drink with mel"
Thanks; no.
was now fully awake, and ! began TO
ment at the familiarity of my fellow-pas-
senger.
Then Tll have q try for myself" said the
sporting journalist. You'll keep my cor
aer safe for me-. won't your
"AIl right"
The inquisitiye young man then bounded
ont of the compartment leaving me to en-
10y the prospect of his folded oYercoat and
of q welI-wOrn valise bound with pain
fully new strapsl. which was reclining on
she rack overhe1.
The two other travelers-the coaple in
the other corners of the compartment
made no move when the train stopped at
Rugby. AS soon as my viz-a-viz was ut q
safe distance one of them turned around
and said:
"Talkative customer. that, sir.r'