The Washington times., 1894-07-08
Written for The TINEs.l
My Pri0nd's ualis0.
BY EDMUND DowNEY.
Author of 1.-The Last King of Leinster,"
Through Green Glasses etc.

AsI stood at the bookstall at Euston ter
minus one September afternoon, waiting for
my train, was tapped from behind on my
shoulder Turning round l found myself
face to face with perfect stranser-a beauti-
full young woman with sad, white face and
piercing brown eyes.
The young woman bus he'd; SO did l. She
made furried apology, stating that she had
unaccountably mistaken me for friend who
was TO have met her at the bookstall. l
bowed aud lifted my hat, As the lady, evil
dently overwhelmed with confusion, tripped
lightly away.
| WIS Il bachelor. ut the wrong side of
thuty, and though was by no means gal
liant, / WAS not wholly unsusceptible TO femi-
nine charms. and the lady who had addressed
me was unquestionaUly pretty and a
strangely notwithstanding woman. What a
ply | was not the friend for whom she had
mistaken Inc.
As turned again TO the bookstali. uncer-
tain what sort oil food for the mind TO provide
myself with. l was again tapped on the shoul-
der this time by porter, who warned me
that l should lose my train if l didn't look
share. Picking up book and a few news
papers. and handing the price of my pur-
chases 10 the booksiall clerk across his varied
display of literary ware, / followed the por-
ter. VINO conducted me 10 the door of my
compartmen;-''a second-class smoker"
was 10 sooner seated comfortably in a corner
seat than the train began to move out of the
terminus
had not an opportunity Of examining my
fellow travellers By the waning light OF a Sep
tember afternoon. Opposite 10 me sat a
young man about my own height. age. and
build. Beyond neigh: ana build aud thick
mu5taehs 1 natteral myself the stranger
bore no further resemblance to me. He was
a uasty-flced Young man. with restless, fer
rety blue eyes. and his uncomelv hands were
liber;llly jevelei. He was smoking cigar
Ny weakness is n briar pipe. The other two
cofner seats wele occupied by tWo elderly
men evidently friends. and l judged them.
rightly or wrongly, to be commercial travel
lers.
When had filled my pipe l could not fnd
my ma ches. Ny vis-a-yis, observing this,
politely and silently offered ME a matchbox
When my pipe was alight, and when / had
laaded him back the matchbox with curt
"tilans YOU, the stranger, much to my sur
PRISE for took him to be "A gruif and ;aci-
Iurn ha.,man OF low degree. a traveller in fash
lewery. au a.ent pro .ataur in the book trade,
a nau who carried samples of boots or OF fu-
Gel oil disguised in whisky. or anything de-
serving the reprobation OF peaceably disposed
e tizen.-aGdressed me in a pleasant voice
and win n pleas SAINT smile.
Going lar, might 1 take the liberty Oh
uskinr?''
''As lar as the train will carry me-" an
Bwered.
The train was the $50 from Euston to
Hoivhead.
All Then perhaps you are crossing the
Chnnnel?'
.les. / am going to Dublin"
80 am l. Hope you dor take it Ill of me
starting OF with so many questions. But"
sail.ng again, II am connected with journal
i>ip-sporting papers nostiy-and I'm in the
A5,t OF doing bit OF interviewing. Bad
5it." he added, but / hope you don't
nj"
Ca. not at all. sasd I. though I; aid mind
saSt u little bit.
..p,eu ii. Ireland oftehqt be sss>A ,5>pck-i
Sfas- - - Eaf an4' 1lElhE II
ssss .syrver. u replied, iaconically.
IAN! FrfSds there, suppose, or busi-
SsitAer," lapswered. l was amused at
,y sporttns asqsaintance's persistency and
sst y trlhe irritaase