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

only Out oIuCi pdSsCuSCl III tIlt
compartment with me. He was
a stern, otficial-looking parsonage, anG
as he had nothing with him but "a port
folio, | knew that he would not trave
far, and | sL GU Id soon have the compart
ment all to myself.
But alas, | made too sure! just as
the train was going to start, L heard 8
discussion going on outside.
''No, no, | engaged private com.
partment, and l must have it, said a
silvery feminine voice.
81 cannot give it to you, madame, fol
there is not one on the train, replied the
guard.
"But | wrote and ordered it,"
"Your letter was not received"
''Put on another carriage then"
''That is impossible; we are just going
to start-be quick. There are two seats
here"
Sin tbere?'
eyes, madame"
A small, dark head appeared for ar
instant in the doorway of the compart.
ment, and was suddenly Withdrawn,
Then startled voice exclaimed:
''There are two gentlemen in therer
"Very well, madame, l cannot give
you whole carriage to yourself"
"The n shall not go at ALI"
Gas you please. The train is just 60
ing"
"Wait, wait, am obliged togo now.
As there is absolutely no other place,
but can | have a private compart-
ment when get to the next station ?''
"Certainly, madame"
"You will telegraph for it?''
"Yes, madamen'
"You promise?'
"Yes."
The door opened again, and the same
head appeared, surrounded nv halo Of
parcels, wraps, etc i; lady stepped
into the compartments, whistle blew
and we were off The other gentleman
politely rose and took the place next tt
me, so as to leave the whole side op
posite US for the new conner.
She did not vouchsafe glance tt
either of us, however, for she wal
breathless and flushed with indignation
and she was no sooner seated than sh'
began to arrange her satchels and par
cells with all the haste usually displayed
by people Who have long journey be
fore them. She had satchel, another
satchel, and still another, and bundle
of railway-rugs.
watched her proceedings out of thu
corner of my eye, and a single glance
at her face told me that she was young
and extremely pretty. The discovery
pleased me not little; it is much NOR
agreeable to travel sitting opposite ;
pretty woman than an ugly one!
1t was very cold, and the fair travel
er wrapped rug round her and gaze'
out obstinately at the wintry landscape
the other passenger took some official
looking documents out of his portfolio
and examined them, while l pretende'
to be absorbed in my newspapers.
At half-psst eleven we reached
Laroche, and as soon as the trail
stoppt d, the gentleman gathered up hi
papers, rose, bowed, and left us. Tn
lady went to the door and asked tn
statiOn-master in an anxious tone
"Have you been telegraphed from Par
for private compartments"
eyes, madame, and have alread
sent the ord on"
"On! What do you mean? 1 wan
it now"
"Impossible, madame. We have n
carriages here, but you can get one a
Lyons"
s.What time will that be?"
rive forty i've.
"The whole day! l cannot stay i
this carriage until them cannot, and
will not"
ssBe careful, madame, the train
startingi'
Aud the train started. She wen
back TO her seat iDdig1 ant. and withou
looking at me. began reading my pa
per again, but l could not fix n
thoughts upon the news. L read tn
same line over twenty times withou
knowing what it contained; L have n
doubt that held the paper upside dow
most of the time. My fellow-travelle
was distractiugly pretty. and longe
to enter into conversation with her, bt
/ did not know how to manage tn
matter. She was lady, knew, and
racked my brain for some approprial
and original remark with which to Drea
the ice. Il was all in vain. Nothin
occurred to me except the weather, an
that l scOrned.
l was still wondering. when the tral
came to a sudden halt, and guard Gale
out:
"Tonnerre! Tw enty-five minutes II
lunch!"
MY vis-a-vis rose, put off her rugs, la