The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-04-25

red chimney tops of matched cottages
smoking laziy beneath clustering trees,
and little birds dipping and hiding in
deep meadow.dew, and speeding away
to tell the clouds of a nest among the
gorses as warm as the sun-orbit and
stars.
"Now's my opportunity said half
to myself Tin French) as l shook out
my Belgravian smile and took my seat
opposite the brilliant face.
"The face began to waken, and my
hero began to talk. We talked Of
everything. From Calcutta (my lady's
home some time ago. through the lore
of the Hindoos straight through to the
Hottentots. There was not a speck of
jew or Gentle left that did not come
within the focus of our mental camera.
The eyes in the corner drew it out of
us-and made us talk. And couldn't
help myself. And didn't want to.
Drifting through lights and shad-
ows on seas and sands-On the Sahara
and the Dominion of Canada-around
the world in eighty wonderful minutes,
the talk at last stayed on me and mine
mime Art.' l unfolded my plans,
hopes, future medals, Red Ribbon, even
-qW lie sdit!-with an American au.
dacity which would have surprised
even George Washington. Where was
l to study? With Leon Coignet, and at
the BeauT Arts. | should meet -?
Yes, | was to meet Gustave Dore,
Gerome, the creme de Ia creme of the
world of art Was l to travel? Oh,
yes, was to travel. l was to visit the
Alhambra and-well, all things are
possible to him that painteth-gaze upon
the Kremlin, and moisten my brushes
in Nile waters, perhaps in the flame
cauldrons of the sun, or in the mid
night SHOWS of the moon-or in some
thing or other that man had never
reached. Who knew but that | might
study the arctic bear at home? l meant
his home.
"And L had tasted the social?
ooh, yes! SoireeS, balls, concerts.
There was that great affair just ten
4ys ago-where | had met so many
great - swells, as you English say.
Lord and Lady Lyons, Lord Palmer
ston, our Motley-I didn't mean any
joke, Lady B; his talents are as SUI
perb and varied as Joseph's coat. What
is that new pun that London has just
made: The American ministers are
more Jay than Motley?-I began to
wonder about my hat again.
"' You will permit me one question,
mademoisele. You puzzle me very
much. You are, surely, not English
his lip twitched little. Surely you are
not DeutSch, certainly not Yankee, -
your accent is quite different from that
of the Americans whom l have met
and, surely, you are not French
Again the lip twitched. From what
country do you hail?'
GO From Hail Columbia l said
promptly, and Pm Western Yankee
at that q wondered again if l looked
as we'll as at Lady lis garden
party.) You have never visited our
Wild West?'
"'I commenced my travels in Tim
buctoo,' he began, smile growing and
kindling on his splendid face.
"' Timbuctoo! You have been in
Timbuctoo! You did not tell us that
when we were talking about Calcutta.
lbs next door to it, isn't it? TimbuctooP
and l ratified off mass of nonsense
suggested by the old rhymes about the
name, when suddenly 'Patcham !
Patcham' the guards voice rang out
along the platform - and the train
moved into the station.
"' l have letter to post during our
three minutes here. You will pardon
me, ladies' The tall figure bowed and
alighted.
"' Delightful mani 1 burst out. Il
do wonder who he is? An old English
army officer, retired, suppose, on
half-pay. Fills up his leisure-hasn't
anything but leisure-by writing and
scribling on Timbuctoo. Sunburnt.
isn't he? l wish l knew what he did
in Timbuctoo! Pm going to ask him.
Pm afraid I've talked like a fool. l
wonder if my hat is on straight? l know
| look like fright
"My lady laughed-and opened her
reticule.
"' A looking-glassl as l live!" L ex-
claimed. No. It's a Claude Lorraine
glass. But it will do as WE'LL
"' | will lend it to you, Frene, for
France
"'Oh, thank you'll All, there he
comes buck again!'
A short distance, only, between
Patcham and Brighton, but long dis
lance of bright talk. My Belgravian
smile was, l felt sure, better than in
Belgravia. But why did the lips in
the shadow of the carriage-curtains
twitch so? | ratified ahead with reck-
lessness that was monstrous. The face
opposite to me talked to us in words
that were visions.
'' Brighton Brighton!'
We alighted, gathered up shawls,
umbrellas, reticule, maid from third
class, and prepared to move toward
the fly which was to convey us around
the town.
1.-THE tall figure in the heavy cloak
approached us. | got out the Belgra-
Wan smile again.
"' shall be very glad to see you, la
dies, during your stay in Brighton, be
it long or short With finished ease
and courtesy he took out two visiting
cards, and handed them, one to my
chaperon, one to myself.
" As | live, my dear, could have
fallen on the platform. My foolish bab-
bic rushed back upon me in a torrent.