The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-01-11
A TEST CASE.
[Lonrman,s Mar,zine.l


as it ought to be told. Everything should
be narrated in the historical present, and
/ should pay compliments TO my own
beauty. To be orthodox, as l am young
woman writing about myself, Ishould be-
gin thus: The down train, Parliament
airy, is starting from Peading A girl who
has been waiting on the platform trips
along in search OF carriage. She is tall.
slim. the feet which move 80 quickly are
arched and bien bottles sic; she is deeply
yelled, vet admiring male passengers.
looking back at her golden locke, Get an
impression of blonde Reader, that girl
is myself-me, Rachel Brinton, NJ. D.,
spinster. / am travelling tirst-cass, but
without a maid. 1 have come up to
Basingstoke, and am hurrying on my way
to a professional appointment at conn-
try house near ""
That is the humor of it; but though 1
have sins enough to confess this kind of
writing is odious to me. and l must be
permitted to tel M story in my own way.
The fashionable statement already get
forth may be taken, however, as practical
ly accurate.
The train, when 1 tried to enter it at
Reading, was very full. and at last did
the best for myself that / could by getting
into first-class smoking carriage. APP
parently it had but one occupant, and he,
Judging by an elaborate travelling bag, q
pile of literature, Il salmon rod in the rack,
other appliances of sport or comfort, was
a wealthy and probably young man.
4
tarv stranger of the opposite sex. i DO
not prefer it myself, hut we were in a slow
train. which stopped at many stations,
and after ell man is not necessarily O
beast. 1t was better to take nv chance
with the unknown than to wait for a
couple OF hours in Reading-a town ia
nous chiefly for its biscuits Besides,
had business on hand. So l settled my
self down with an air OF proprie
torship. and. by way of dscoursginR
familiarity, began 10 read copy OF
David Grieve," which L carried about
for that purpose People are known by
their railway literature. and | saw with
pleasure that there were no frivolously
pink and no society papers in the multi
iude of journals on the opposite seat.
Nay. l noted the Ahensum and the
1cadeniy.
AS was drawing these and other in
ferences the guard came up and, begging
nv pardon, assured me that the car
rage was one destined for the consumers
of tobacco. l replied that this was mat
ter already within my knowledge. He
next informed me that the carriage was
engaged and that there was room for
one IN the compartment for ladies' only.
! made answer that | diSllked a back
seat, remote from the window. in vehi-
Gle already occupied by three old maids.
a nurse, a baby, a matTon, canary in a
cage, n pug and mongreL The guard
was stil engaged liz the controversy when
the occupant of the one seat in the smoking
carriage arrived. He was young man
of about twenty-eight. tall. dark, n gentle
man. and in his hand he held paper bag
of buns and one of those little photo
graphic cameras, at that tine iavorite
toy.
Il told the lady that the carriage was
engaged, SIR Walter" said the guard, and
when / heard the name of "Sir Walter" 1
privately determined to stay where l was
in spite OF any effort to dislodge me.
No adventuress-and at that time / was
an adyentuTess-wOud neglect such a
chance, but my reasons We're stronger and
more particular than tho mere desire to
make fresh acquaintance In the ranks OF
q hybrid order Of nOblesse.
said nothing. but sat still and smiled
sweetly behind by veil.
The young man looked decidedly an
moved and murmured something TO the
guard, who had no time to answer. but
sped to his post. Bells, whistles, flags,
y ayed their usual part. and the train
slowly moved out. the stranger jumping
in at the last moment
81 am aware that this is a smoking car
riaze." l said; "but ii you will permit me
to keep nv window open, | assure you
that smoking does not annoy ME"
he bowed, and threw his cigar, which
ne had held in ambush, out of the win
dow.
kept my eyes firmly fixed on David
Grieve" We passed one or two small
stations, at which we stopped. He had
been looking at ne all the while in re-
spectiul and even shy, but obeervant.
manner In his hands he had a green re-
view which at first thought was bGiiepS.
| was Inistaken-it was a volume of the
Proceedings OF the Psychical Society"
Wa passed third station. He looked
at his watch; l looked at mine-it was
S:l5. felt that he was going to speak.
Can you toll me the exact time p he
said. II fear my watch is fast"
What could he want with the exact
time?
at is precisely seventeen minutes past
three" replied. 81 set my watch by
the station clock"
lie thanked me, hesitated, and then
left his seat at the opposite end of the
carriage and sat down next me.
Il am extremely sorry" he said, that
/ have unluckily been compelled to share
your carriage"
/ looked at him steadily, and his eyes
fell, though he could see little of mine.
He blushed. smiled and went on:
THAT IS one of the things that we wish
we had expressed otherwise. l mean
am sorry for your sake"
began to be uncomfortable, but merely
looked inquiringly.
81 do imp!ore you TO believe that l am
naturally the last person to want toto
make a lady the--the partner in en- un-
usual-adventure."
This to an adventuress l thought,
rather bitterly, but / only bowed. We
must be nearing a station. Was he going
to ask me 10 look out of the window while
| he changed his clothes? Was he a runa-
way offender? And if so. why was he
| travelling by slow train between Read
/ ing and y?
"Its-it's horribly inconvenient." he
said; but / must FIST entrest you to
! credit my state m nt that, in spite of ap-
/ pearances which have not nearly come to
! the worst, am perfectly sane. III you
wish to be convinced OF the lucidity of nv
| intellect | will enumerate all the kings OF