The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-04-17
Fooled his Fellow Travellers.


We were rattling along between
Baltimore and Washington at n sixty
mile-an-hour gait, with sprinkling
of ladies and congressman and pOiiti-
cal heelers and sporting gentlemen
and other odds and ends of everyday
life through the parlor ear from New
York. In The smoking compartment,
says writer in the y. Y. Herald, |
had been indulging in my last cigar
and listening to the usual ''tales of
a traveller" the principal story teller
being robust, red-faced gentleman
of middle age, with merry blue eyes
and tendency TO wink. He enter
tanned us immensely -lnodestly at
first, then in the last miles fairly mo-
nopoIizing the conversation. The
smoking-room was packed with anus
ell listeners and the doorway blocked
by those who couldn't sit down.
"Yes," said the story teller, mus
ingly, when the laugh had gone around
over his last yarn, 'they have some
all-fired pretty women in Washington.
Now, saw one sitting back in our
ear there-a little woman with big
brown eyes-all alone, probably on
her way 10 Washington with claim
or something-notice her?'i
Three of us said we had and the
two men at the door sauntered back
to verify the description. For my
self, | remembered the bright eyes,
modest dress and demure expression
of the little woman who had been
sitting alone all the way almost OPP
posite my chair. She had appeared
to be immersed in an interesting story
when she was not nOdding or looking
at the dancing lights without as the
train rushed by.
"Well gentlemen continued the
merry-maker, "that is just the sort
Of woman to suit me-peachy cheeks,
brown eyes, red lips and nice teeth.
/ must make her smile if only TO give
her chance to show those teeth-I
must, indeed ~
He arose from his place and fieck-
ed the cigar ashes from his clothes
in business-like way, while we roar
ed with laughter. To our astonish-
ment he Immediately passed out into
the narrow hall and straight back TO
the other end of the ear, where the
lady sat with her back to us. \ mus
mur Of disapproval went round, but
it was half expected he would not
persevere in his importinent intention.
hastily slipped into my seat.
"Oh, beg your PARDON" said he
20 the lady somewhat abruptly.
''You're rather a pretty woman to be
travelling alone, excuse me for speak
ing TO you in this way, but l would
really like TO make your acquaintance /!
Going 10 Washington, | presume? :?
So am l."
The lady looked up sharply at first,
then blushed rosy hue-a blush,
however, quickly chased away by a
charming smile. The teeth were per-
feet, and the merry gentleman turned
around as if to call Us to witness.
With Others | felt hot at the impu-
dence of the man, and one of the par
ty rushed ont to call the conductor.
Still, as the lady smiled and exhibit
cd great presence of mind, there didn't
really seem to be any immediate oc-
casion for Interference.
"What's your name?" inquired the
merry gentleman; ''maybe | can be
of assistance to you. There's my
card. Yours tFuly-always ready to
help lovely woman in distress. The
- is a good hotel. All going
there So am l."
Up to this time the lady hadn't said
word, simply alternating between
bushes and smiles, while everybody
else in the ear looked daggers and
pistols.
But she got an opening here, and
catching hold of the merry gentleman's
coat, said, with a good-natIred petu-
lance:
''Now, do stop, John If you don't
quit this fooling III never travel with
you again. Sit down. You've LEFT
me here all alone from the moment we
set foot on the car, and now you are
making game of me. What do you
suppose"
She looked around laaghingly, bat
We men Were all sneaking OF TO the
smoker, while the remaining women
were in commissions of miPth.