Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-29
A TEST CASE.
", Lnidlow Peel, in LOngman's Magazine.

should be narrated in the historical
present, and | should pay compliments
to my own beauty. To be orthodox, as
| am young woman writing about
myself, | should begin thus: 1.-THE
down train, Parliamentary, is starting
from Reading. A girl who has been
waiting on the platform trips along in
search of carriage. She is tall, slim,
the feet which move so quickly are
arched and bien bottles, (sic;) she is
deeply yelled, yet admiring male pas.
sengers, looking back at her golden
locks, get an impression of blonde.
Reader, that girl is myself-me, Rachel
Brinton, Nj. D., spinster. am travelling
iirst-class, but without maid. have
come up to Basingstoke, and am hurry
ing on my way to professional APP
pointment at country house near X"
That is the humor Of it, but though /
have sins enough to confess, this kind
of writing is odious to me, and must be
permitted to tell my story in my own
way. The fashionable statement already
set forth may be taken, however, as
practically accurate.
The train, when tried to enter it at
Heading, was very full, and at last did
the best for myself that l could, by get.
ting into a iirst-class smoking carriage.
Apparently it had but one occupant,
and he, Judging by an elaborate travel
ing bag, pile of literature, Il salmon
rod in the rack, and other appliances Of
sport or comfort, was wealthy and,
probably, a young man, Some women
dislike travelling with solitary stranger
Of the opposite sex. ! do not prefer it
myself, but we We're in slow train,
which stopped at many stations, and
after all a man is not ncCessarilya beast.
1t was better to take my chance with
the unknown than to wait for a couple
of hours in Reading-a town famous
chiefly for its biscuits. Besides, had
business on hand. So | settled myself
down with an afro proprietorship, and,
by way OF dlscouraging familiarity,
began to read the copy of "David
Grieve" which | carried about for that
purpose. People are known by their
railway literature, and | saw with plea
sure that there were no frivolously pink
ana no society papers in the multitude
OF journals on the opposite seat. Nay, |
noted the AtbeBmttm and the dcadenty
As | was drawing these and other in.
terences the guard came up and begging
my pardon. assured me that The cnrria,,c
was one destined for tho consumers IF
tobacco. / REPLIED that This was mattor
already within nv knowledce. lie newt
informed me that the carriage was zen
gagged, and that there MAJ room for ono
in the compartment for ladies only.
made answer that | disljked A back seat
remote from the window. in n vehicle
already occupied by three old maids.
nurse, a baby. matron. canary IN i
cage, 4 pur, ana 4 monrrel rhc gn.rJ
was still engaged in this contr6ynrs,,
when the occupant of the one seat in
the smoking cprriage arrived. lie was
II young man of about rs. tall. dirk a
gentleman, and in his hand Ne held 4
Daper bar Of huns and nna ~ thG.".
little Photographic cameras, at that time
. favorite toy.
81 told the lady that the carrioce ,vos
engaged, Sir Walter" said the guard,
and when | heard the name Of "Sir
Walter privately determined TO stay
where was in spite of any effort to dis.
lodge me.
No adventuress-and at that time I
was NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. NEGLECT snch
Il chance, but nv reasons wcrG STRONGER
and more particular than the more
desire to make a fresh ac0uaintanre in
the ranks Of a hybrid order Of noblosse
said nothing. bit at sill ond smiled
sweetly behind INV veil.
The Young man looked dncidcd1v an.
noyed and murmured sometime ~ tho
guard, who had no time to answer but
sped 10 his most BriIs wbisti"s 49, ~
played their usual part, and the tram
slowly ih3yeu OUT, the stranger Jumping
N at Inc last moment,
am aware that this is a smoking
carnage satd: "ont II You will per
mn me 10 Keep my window open, !
assure you that smoking does notannoy
me.
lie bowed, and threw his cigar, which
he had held in ambush, out OF the win
dow.
Kent NV oves firmlv Il vol 90, t.no,,f1
Cirieye." Ne passed H. nr IVA sm.ii
stations, at winch we stonneI lilo hai
been looking Al me ull KIT Will IN r'" ~
resbectfnl. and even I'm brt LIZ - -"
mpuner, In his hauls. IL had ,-r r"',s
review, which hi Iirst i tbSnght ~
Baileys, [ was mistotcu lii ws,
volume of the "procenIirrs of ,hn
Psychiral Sorietv > N''''''N'' VI 'HG
w ,14ssoI :, ,,;rls,o,i, Ir,
Al lis watch. leaked a. naina - i1o ~
3.l5. felt that he was goinr 10 sns AL"
"Can YOU tell mo Inc c2art tin,a y, I 10
said. ii fear INV watch * fsst ~ :" -''
What eould he VAN Mn tho ovoo,
tineg w ~ '''e eAao'
M
u IS pfcciscl y seventeen minutes
paa' three, replied; 81 set my watch
py ihc station clock.
ne thanked me, hesitatcd, and then
Ieit his seat at the opposite end Of the