Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-07-03
A FAIR SMOKER.

"A l. hllO DMOAG1Us
The bell was ringing as I rushed on to
the platform at King Cross station, where
the express was to start Immediately.
Time was precious in my case, and could
Ill afford to miss this special train, which
did not stop till it reached Crewe.
rushed along as fast as I could, carry
ing my travelling bag.
"What class?" shouted porter.
"First," replied, struggling to open
the door of tho nearest first class compart-
ment.
"That's engaged" said the porter.
"Come along quick, sir, or the train will
start without you"
The carriage was Pullman and was
wholly reserved, and into the first COM
partment of the next carriage was hasti-
ly hustled as the train gradually acquired
motion.
The first thing noticed as 1 recovered
self possession was that the only other &C.
cupant Of the compartment was lady,
young, good looking and stylishly attired
The second, which may appear slightly in
congruous, was that smoking was un-
mistakably inscribed on the windows
The anomaly struck me Immediately,
and my mind, seeking compromise, sug-
gested that the lady might DO foreigner
and had not comprehended the Significance
of the window legend.
Her style was not English. There was
an elegance and fitness combined with sim
plicity in her attire something so strictly
feminine in her "get up" which was for
eign to an English woman's appearance.
So far had my reasoning gone when my
companion, who had been looking at me
with a mingled expression Of establishment
and pity, said:
"You nearly missed the train"
There was suspicion Of foreign &C.
cent in her tones, but otherwise her Eng
lisE was perfect.
eyes" l replied. II was lucky for
once. 1t was matter of Importance for
me to catch this train
care you fatalist?" she asked.
care we not all obliged to be SO more
or lessp' / returned. "Had the cab came
in got in block, had even missed my
footing as I ran along the platform, I
should have missed the train"
sit might have been better for you.
Who knows what incidents might not have
sprung for your good from either Of these
accidentsS" she returned, more as If mus
ing aloud than as if directly addressing me.
"The consequence would have been that
I should have missed my train, and I will
chance missing the other improbable pos
sibilities Of good. Who knowsS"
She continued: "This train may meet
with an accident. We may all be smashed
up. Your what you call luck may have
been your bad genius fighting against your
better genius, which was holding you
back"
I laughed loudly as she obstinately stuck
to her pessimism. She smiled as she lean
ed back in her corner and drew from her
pocket un elegant little case, which she
opened, and which I saw contained ciga-
rettes.
This Is smoking compartment, is 1t
notY" she queried as she struck a match
one side Of her case.
own was rather disturbed. Possessed
and perfectly at her ease as my companion
had been, there had been a feminine charm
about her that did not seem to me suited
to woman who smokes. However, took
out my cigar case and was selecting one,
when she said:
"Will you try one of these cigarettes?
Please do-ono Of these. They arc slightly
stronger than the one I smoke, but they
are very good"
I thought Of refusing, but her eyes had
a way of entreating stronger than her
words I took cigarette, and sho smiled,
as If she were gratified.
1T is good Is 1t not?" she asked, when
I pulled the first Whit.
eyes" I said, "but strong-very
strong
"Not for mans"
For me, yes" answered.
As remember now, it seemed to ME
that the train acquired an unsteady move
ment. I noticed that my companion sway
ed backward and forward, and that had
to devote all my energies to maintain
sitting position. felt convinced that 1t
was this swinging motion that made me
feel giddy, almost seasick, yet which pro-
duced sort Of indifference and listless-
ness which assumed q sensation far from
disagreeable, gradually bringing ON a rest
less feeling Of being asleep as to volition
and power Of action, but daily conscious
Of what was passing round me.
noticed my companion rise, open the
window and put her head outside, and
was aware that at the same time, for some
reason or other, she held at the top Of the
window shawl which hung down her
back so that her head and the top part Of
her body were concealed from me. Ny I'm
Aknk L. A&S,~1~s
crate one to keep the draft from me-
Itwas now quite dark. We had left
Kings Cross at 6:16 p. M, and the time
Of year being very eafly in February, and
the weather cloudy, the outside obscnrity
was only occasionally and briefly encroach-
ed upon by the lights Of some station
which we dashed by.
My companion only remained at the
window for few seconds. After closing
It she took down parcel from the rack,
and moving from the corner sat opposite |
me,
She leaned forward and closely scruti- |
nized me. I was In happy kind Of stu /
por. could see all she did, though felt
that was only able to keep my eyes half |
open. She then rose, and bending over me
raised my eyelids with her mid
ile fingers. She seemed now satisfied. A |
look Of relief passed over her face
She CROPPED about on the floor Of the car
riage for something All, 1t was for the |
End Of my cigarette. Having found II,
she threw 1t out Of the window Then she |
opened the parcel and produced some thin
ropes and ANAL, strange looking instr |
ment.
In an Incredible short space Of time shs