The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-23

which were lad about sixteen and =


The general gave her sharp, IN
curing glance. She was reading ani
never raised her eyes He hesitated.
| ''She might be widow, and the boy
her son. Still, he is in his corner and
she in hers; it would be pretty safe"
just then the bell rang.
The porter hurriedly thrust the Glad
stone bag under the seat. flung the gen
erals bundle of sticks and umbrellas
into the netting. and stood at ease, with
the palm Of his hand conveniently
open.
The train moved off, and Sir Peppery
realized that he and the lady in black
were fellow passengers for the next six
hours. An awful situation if she were
relict of some person unknown.
There was 4 tunnel, too, coming-a
long one. A cold perspiration broke
out On the generals forehead as he
cursed his own folly in placing himself
in such dangerous position. He lifted
his hat, and, taking out his pocket
handkerchief, rubbed off the drops
which had gathered on his manly brow.
Then he took 4 wary glance at his
enemy. As he did SO, he suddenly en-
countered two charming saucy-looking
eyes, with oceans of suppressed fun in
their dark depths looking at him over
the pages of book she was perusing.
The general instantly Withdrew his
glance, and, taking out his Times, set
himself to read in true John Bull fash
ion. There was silence in the carriage
only broken by occasional whisperings
ana sometimes a smothered laugh
between the widow and the boy.
Sir Peppery would have given worlds
to know what they were laughing at
probably at him. Like allrsmall, stout
men, the general was sensitive. par
ticularly TO the ridicule of pretty
woman-and there was no denying the
lady in black was pretty.
''She must have been married when
almost a child to be the mother of that
young fellow" thought the general,
who someway felt himself wonderfully
interested in his travelling companions
especially the female companion
For widow she wasn't in the least in
trusive. He would stake his life on
that, even in the tunnel
Here they were actually going
through the tunnel. Sir Peppery heard
a faint scream as they few into the
darkness, and as they emerged he saw
that the boy was holding his mothers
hand in his.
nice boy that-uncommonlys or'
The generals bead-Iike eyes beamed
benignantly on the lad, who was now
busy setting out very appetizing-look-
ing luncheon.
Sir Peppery had started early. He
had had a slender breakfast He was
really hungry. he watched his neigh
bors as they enjoyed their cold fowl
and champagne with wistful interest,
and his glances attracted the attention
of the lady in black.
She nudged her companion, and
whispered something to him.
The boy nodded. He turned to the
general.
Can 1 offer you some lunch?" he
said, in frank, pleasant voice. 1--WE
shall not get to York until six o'clock,
and l don't think we make stop long
enough to feed all along the line. Do
have something"
Sir Peppery hesitated. and hesitation
was fatal. The mental struggle be-
tween widowphobia and his empty
stomach was unequal, and, in spite of
the warning voice which reminded him
of Piclwicls and the chops, he yielded.
He took the fair, unspotted breast of
q delicate capon from the still whittier
hand of the lady in black, and glass
of sparkling Moselle from that of her
son.
After this they grow quite friendly.
The widow, indeed, spoke little, but
she smiled very sweetly, showing row
OF, the most evenly matched teeth, and
her laugh was quite bewitching; SO,
too, were her eyes.
What between these charms and the |
champagne, which was supplemented |
by a chasse il the shape of tiny silver
thimbleful of Chartreuse, the general |
was beginning to lose his head slightly.
To his surprise and, indeed, mortifica-
ton, an intense drowsiness fell upon |
him. 1t was in vain he tried to resist |
the approaches of this irresistible in
vader, who has baffled the most sturdy !
auchorite.
He made frantic efforts, for he knew
he would snore. He let down the win
dow, he pinehed his fingers. he moved
restlessly from one leg to another, all
in vain. His eyes closed-closcd.
The voices of his companions sounded
A long way off, their heads grew pre-
large; there were three
amps in place of one. The general
gave in and was soon in deep slumber
He didn't wake until they reached
York
All was hustle and confusion. The
general, with hasty bow to the lady
n black, darted from the carriage, car
wing his own bag. and collared por-
er. Then he fumbled for his list and
made his way to the luggage van.
1t was nearly an hour before he could
lisinter his numerous boxes from the
'ilcs of Christmas hampers and travel
ng wardrobes going northward.
At last it was done. After innumera-
BE scares of having lost his hat box or
lis oblong ease, he managed to gather
III his belongings on to a cab and
eate1 himself in the midst like an owl
len over clutch of chickens, then
lroye off TO Capt. Lankester's.
1t was pleasant to observe Pussy's de-
light at seeing dear Uncle Fidgett."
'he kissed him dozen times, but the
General, contrasting her with the lady .
n black, thought she lacked something. |
She had grown trife fat. and Ter
DICE had not the sweetness OF the
Widows