Middletown transcript., 1893-05-13

poor nttle W0manl She should at
least have her belongings with her. l
seized her three satchels and her rugs
10 my arms and threw them out of the
window, calling to guard who stood
near:
"Give' these to that lady-over there. "
He picked Them up and turned away,
the train began to move, and at the
same instant there entered at the OPP
posite side of the train, breathless and
hurried, my Fellow travelerl
Horrorl had made mistake.
The lady at the bookstall 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 I had made
of it'll While I stood speechless, she
reached her seat and Immediately ex-
claimed:
"Where are my satchels2 Some one
has taken all my thingsl''
Then for the first time she looked at
me, and with what an expression of
doubt and scorn! I shall never forget
it.
"Pardon me" I stammered, ''your
propety has not been stolen. 1t has
been left an Tonnerre.
"Why. what for?" she gasped, and
then, as best could, l explain. She
gave me another look; it was worse
than the first-I cannot describe it.
81 am profoundly grieved. /" aided,
"but truly my intention was good. I
did not want you to catch cold. Be
sides, your things are safe. and shall
telegraph-you will telegraph-we will
telegr aph-from the next station. /
give you nv word you shall have your
things. if I have to 90 back and fetch
them myself.
"Enongh. SIR" she answered. coldly.
ST know what to do. "and she sat down
and looked out of the window. But
alas, the poor little thing had now no
warm rugs, and before very long she
began to shiver. In vain she buttoned
her cloak and turned up the collar. |
Her little teeth fairly chartered.
"Madam." I cried, "T beg of you. on
my knees, to take nv rugs. You will |
catch cold. it will be my fault, and l |
shall never forgive myself"
81 do not wish to speak to you, SIR"
she said, coldly.
I grew excited. had made such
ridiculous blunder. and she was such a
lovely womanl Suddenly 1 took des-
perate resolve.
''If you do not take this I shall
throw myself off the train," l said.
and laying my railway rug beside her,
raised the car window. put ont my
hand and opened the door from the
outside.
Was in earnest? Between you and
me, reader, do not think l was. But
I looked IT. evidently, for my hearel
exclaimed. in vo ce of alarm: "You
are crazyl"
"Take the rug or jump!" said.
She took it, put it around her, and
remarked, in softened tone, as
closed the door and window:
"You will die of cold.'
ssIt would be but fit punishment
for my objectionable stupidity" l
"You were not stupid, but hasty,"
she said, land, as you told me, your
intention was good; but how could you
mistake that lady for me?''
s'she was so charming" l explained
and my listener smiled. The ice was
broken that is as far as the conversa-
tion went; literally, was nearly frozen.
However, soon forgot the cold, for my
was delightful, piquant,
She talked well, though
with charming simplicity. She en-
ioyed travelling, just like me. She had
been in Italy; so had I. Also in Spain;
80 had I. She longed for Egypt; ex-
actly what 1 did. In literature, in
fact, in everything it was
the same. We had pr eeisely the same
tastes. What was more, we soon dis
covered that we had several mutual
we had probably at
tended the same receptions more than
once. And had never observed her,
great heavensl where were my eyes?
After time, although 1 was su-
happy, became conscious of
The penetrating cold. l did my best to
conceal the fact, but when we reached
Dion, at 2.30 O'Clock, my right foot
was numb. Here we, telegraphed to
Tonnerre for the satchels and rugs.
At Macon my left foot was numb.
Here we learned that the baggage
would be sent to Marseilles the next
lay.
At Lyon Ferrache it was my left
hands turn to be stiff; I observed, also,
hat my fair companion forgot to claim
ler private compartment.
At Valence my right hand followed
suit, but / learned that she was
widow, without children,
At Avignon my nose was blue, yet
livined that she had not cared much
Tor her first husband.
Marseilles. alas! / sneezed violently,
and, with agracious smile, she handed
me- my rug and whispered "Au-revoir. !"
Then we parted, and went to the
hotel and dreamed all night af her last
words, and woke the next day with the
worst cold in my head bad ever kown.
hardly dared 10 show myself to my
friends. who had asked me to dinner,
mt at last I decided to 90. and that