The Washington times., 1894-07-08

"Ahr' said lie. as If he felt wanted TO be
helped out OF an awkward pieiicament.
| "POntics? Perhans | have the pleasure of
addressing an Irish member OF Parliament" p"
"No. | answered. SLOWLY. Il am an Eng
llshman. | am going for short holiday TO
| Ireland. ] have no friends there, and l am a
very bad hand at making friends"
My companion seemed disconnected, but he
! was not defeated.
''Ireland is pleasant country said he
| II take a run over there usually q couple OF
times year | was over for Punchcstown
last June. partly on business. Jolly people.
| Fine country for horses, too. Take any inter-
est in horseilesh!
! Not an atom"
"Ah Intended to remain in Dublin or
take peep at tue country
/ Il really don know" / could not repress
! smile. The mans persistence was amusing
/ He asked every question without a trace OF
! oflehsiveness, ana apparently paid no heed to
/ the gruffness OF my responses. l did not at
| all relish being cross-exa,ained or interviewed
/ by stranger, but had not the heart to be
really discouueous; so. shaking tie ashes
/ from my pipe and laying it on the seat beside
me. said; Il am an awfully duh dog, espe-
| cially in a railway carriage. Pray don't think
it rude of mo il fail of TO sleep" deliber-
ately tucking my legs upon the seat and ar
ranging an oyercoat for a pillow under my
| head and shoulders.
The sporting Journalist said nothing. but he
eyed me in a curious way, and then curled
himself up in his own corner.
Though spoke so bravelv Of Sleep found
it impossible to WOO it: and with half-closed
eyes | found my thoughts drifting back pleas
antly TO the beautiful young woman who had
addressed me on the platform: Who or what
could shc be? l weayed all sorts and kinds
of romances round her, aud in the end
found myself cursing the timidity which had
further about her. IL Il stupidity romantic
way was. Mt the ripe age OF 80, IN love with
a woman whose face had seen for the space
of about 90 secondsi
At Rugby l was rudely awakened from what
mus. have been a bona-hde doze by q shake
and a voice which said:
Thought I'd take the liberty of waking
you up. Rugby. Few minutes for refresh
ments."
ION. thank your rubbing my eyes and
yawning.
Have drink with me?"
Thanks; no."
l was now fully awake. and began to feel
a certain amount of justfable resentment at
the familiarity OF nv feow-passenger.
Then ] II have to try for myself" said the
sporting journalist You'll keep my corner
safe Tor me. won't you?"
''All right"
The inquisitive young man then bounded
out Oh Tue compartment, leaving me to eiijOv
u prospect OF his folded otercoat and OF u
well-worn valse bound with pninfuily new
straps) which WAS reclining on the rack over
head.
The two other traveers-the elderly couple
in the other corners OF the compartment
made no move when tie train stopped at
Rugby. As soon as my ys-a-vis was at
safe distance one of them turned round and
said:
"Takative customer that sirr'
"Yes. indeed
"He gave us a share of his tongue while
you were DOING"
"Oh. indeed!''
.'Yes, seemed particularly anxious to know
if we were bound for Dublin. But we are
only as far Us Stafford with you. Here he
comes again."
The young man entered the compartment
few minutes later. and to my great relief
settled himself of at once for a doze.
AT Stafford the two elderly gentlemen left
the train, and as was stiff and tired went
out on the platform to stretch mi. legs, lew
ing my sporting fFitad fasf ollpep WheE /
refprned 10 the compArtxns1 ~ Wss u<Ilii
asaeep; IN jh8 " w got e3s&c u 6e6zlokd ~
sWoke with cry which startled ne
\ "Oh! excuse me!' be cried, sltting bold up
right and rubbing his eyes. ''Been having
an unpleasant dream Where are we?"
"Just out OF Stafford"
"Ah! think We stop next at Crewe, don't
we?'
YES" could answer confidently, having