The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-08-31

her son. Still, he is in his corner and
she in hers; it would be pretty safe"
Just then the be1l 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
a relict of some person unknown.
There was a 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 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
a
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 allsmall, stout
men, the general was sensitive. par
ticularly to the ridicule of a pretty
woman-and there was no denying the
lady in black was pretty.
"She must have been married when
almost 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 WASH 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
faint scream as they flew into the
darkness, and as they emerged he saw
that the boy was holding his mothers
hand in his.
mice boy that-uncommonly sou
The generals bead-like 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 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 l offer you some lunch?" he
said, in frank, pleasant voice. 1--WE
shall not get to York until six o'clock,
and don't think we make stop long
enough to feed all along the line. Do
have soanething."
Sir Peppery hesitated ard hesitation
was fatal. The mental struggle be-
tween widowphobia and his empty
the warning voice which reminded him
of Picllwick and the chops, he yielded.
He took the fair, unspotted breast of
a 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 grew 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 chasse in 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 baffied the most sturdy
anchorite.
He made frantic efforts, for he knew
he would snore He let down the win
dow, he pinched his fingers, he moved
restlessly from one leg to another, all
in vain. His eyes closed-closed.
The voices of his companions sounded
long way off, their heads grew pre-
ternaturally large; there were three
lamps 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
in black, darted from the carriage, car
rying his own bag, and collared por-
ter. Then he fumbled for his list and
made his way to the luggage van.
1t was nearly an hour before he could
disinter his numerous boxes from the
piles of Christmas hampers and travel
ing wardrobcs going northward
AT last it was done. After innumera-
BILE scares of having lost his hat box or
his oblong case, he managed to gather
all his belongings on to cab and
seated himself in the midst like an owl
hen over a clutch of chickens, then
drove off to Capt. Lankcster's.
1t was pleasant to observe Pussy's de-
light at seeing dear Uncle Fidgett"
She kissed him n dozen times. but the
general OntraSti1,r ba,. +bo 1ol,,