Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-02-23

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she wore a gray felt hat on her yer,
black hair, and that she had very small
feet.
rushed into the restaurant with tn
rest OF the passengers, a dishevelled, dus
ty excited lhropg, and began eating what
ever was put before me. My fellow-trav
eler was seated at separate table
drinking bouillon. AS soon as had fin
ished, strolled about, and smoked
cigarette. The allotted twenty-five min
utes were slipping by, and the passen
gers began to return to the train.
went to my place, and found that tn
lady had not yet come back, and on look
ing out of the window | saw her stand
ing at booksellers stall. Her bacl
was toward me, but l recognized the OF
ter cloak, the gray felt hat, and thu
graceful figure.
All the other passengers were in thei
seats; the time was up, the guards shu
the drors noisily, yet she did not move
She woul be left behind! "Madame
madame" cried; but the distance was
too great, she could not hear me. There
was hardly minute left.
What was to do? Suddenly bright
idea came to me. l could not bear to
think of her being left without her wraps
in that bitter cold; poor little woman
She should at least have her belongings
with her. l seized her three satchels
and her rugs in nv arms and threw them
out OF the window, calling to guard
who stood near:
"Give these to that lady-over there. .
He picked up and turned away, the
train began to move, and at the same in
slant there entered at the opposite side
| nf ha in NJ
fell ,w-traveller!
lady at the book-stail was not the owner
of the luggage. Yet her figure, her
cloak, her hat were the samoan absurd
resemblance. What was to be done
now? A pretty mess / had made of it
While | stood speeches., she reached
her seat and Immediately exclaimed:
"Where are my satchels? Some one
has taken all my things!'
Then for the first time she looked
at me, and with what an expression of
doubt and scOrn! | shall never forget it.
"Pardon me-" | sJammered, S'your
property has not been stolen. 1t has
been left at Tonnerre."
'Why. what for?" she gasped, and
then, as best l could, explained. She
gave me another look; it was worse than
the first one-I cannot describe it.
81 am profoundly grieved," l added,
shut truly my intention was good, |
did not want you to catch cold. Be
sides, your things are safe, and l
shall telegraph-you will telegraph
we will telegraph-from the next sta
ton. give you my word you shall
have your things. if have to 60 back
and fetch them MYSELF
Enough, sir" she answered coldly.
81 know what to do, and she sat down
and looked out of the window. But,
alas, the poor little thing had no warm
rugs, and before long she began to
SILVER. In vain she buttoned up her
cloak and turned up the collar, her little
teeth fairly chartered.
"Madame, Z" 1 cried. 81 beg of you on
my knees to take my rug. You will
catch cold, it will be my fault, and L
shall never forgive myself"
II do not wish to speak to you, sir"
she said coldly.
grew excited. l had made such a
ridiculous blunder and she was such q
lovely woman! Suddenly took des-
perate resolve.
ST you do not take this, shall thro v
my self off the train,'' said, and laying
| my railway-rug beside her, l raised the
car window, put out my hand and opened
the door from the outside.
Was in earnest? Between you and
me, reader, l do not think | was. But
looked it, evidently, for my nearer ex'
claimed in a voice of alarm, "You are
crazy!"
stake the rug, or jump" / said.
She took it, put it round her, and re-
marked in softened tone, as 1 closed
the door and window:
| "You will die of cold!'
cit would be but fit punishment fol
my objectionable stupidity" l an.
swered.
"You were not stupid, but hasty,'
she said, ''and, as you told me, your in.
tention was good; but how could you
mistake that lady for me?'
''She was so charming" / explained
and my listener smiled. The ice was
broken-that is, as far as the CONVERSE
ton went; literally, was nearly frozen
However, soon forgot the cold, for my
companion was delightful, piquant, fas.
cinating. She talked well, though with
charming simplicity. She enjoyed
travelling just like me. She had been
in Italy SO had l. Also in Spain; sc
had l. She longed for Egypt; exactly
what did. In literature, in music,-ir
fact, in every thing,-it was the same
We had precisely the same tastes. What
was more we discovered that we haG
several mutual acquaintance we hac
probably attended the same receptions
more than once. And had never OBJ
served her; great heavens! where were
my eyes?
After time although was supremely
happy, became conscious of the pene.
trating cold. l did my best to concea
that fact, but when we reached Dion, a.
half-past two O'Clock, my right foot was
numb. Here we telegraphed to TOnnerrt
for the satchels and rugs.
At Macon my left foot was numb
Here we learned that the luggage would
be sent to Marseiles the next day.
AT Lyon-Perrache it was my LEFT
hands turn to be stiff; | observed alst
that my fair companion forgot to claim
her private compar ment.
i AT Valence my right hand followed