Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-06-28
A FAIR SMOKER.


She platform at Kings Cross station, where
the express was to start Immediately.
Time was precious in my case, and l could
all afford to miss this special train, which
Slid not stop till it reached Grove.
rushed along as fast Us l could, carry.
dng my travelling bag.
What Glass; shouted porter.
First, l replied, struggling to open
she door Of the 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 a 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 l noticed as l recovered
self possession was that the only other oc.
Cupant of the compartment was lady,
young, good looking and stylishly attired.
The second which may appear slightly in.
Oongruous, was that smoking was un.
mstakably inscribed on the windows.
The anomaly struck me Immediately,
and my mind, seeking a compromise, sug.
gestod that the lady might be 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 amingled expression of astonishment
and pity said;
You nearly missed the train.
There was a suspicion of foreign &C.
cent in her tones but otherwise her Eng
Ash was perfect
yes" 1 replied. Il was lucky fo1
once. 1t was IA matter of Importance fol
1ne to catch this train"
Are you fatalist" she asked.
care we not all obliged to be so more
or less?" l returned. Had the cab l came
in got in block, had l even missed my
footing as 1 ran along the platform, l
should have missed the train.
1T might have been better for you
who knows what incidents might not have
sprung for your good from either of these
accdentsY" she returned, more as if mus
1ng aloud than as Ii directly addressing me.
THE consequence would have been that
should have missed my train, and l will
chance missing the other improbable pos.
ssiblitics OF good. Who knowsy'
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 lighting against youl
better genius which was holding you
back"
1 laughed loudly as she obstnately stuck
20 her pessimism. She smiled as she lean
ed back in her corner and drew from hel
pocket an elegant little case, which she
opened, and which l saw contained ciga-
Cettcs.
This is smoking compartment, is it
nOtY' she quericd as she struck a match
and lit cigarette she had selected from
one side Other case.
l 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 n woman who smokes. However, l took
out my cigar case and was selecting one,
, when she said:
"Will you try one of these cigarettes?
PLEASE do-one of these. They are slightly
stronger than the one l smoke but they
are very good. "
Thought OF refusing but her eyes had
u way of entreating stronger than her
words l took cigarette, and sho smiled,
AS if she were gratiiicd.
at is good, is it noty' she asked, when
pulled the first Whit.
Yes" l said but strong-very
strong
mot for "a MANI"
TOr me, yes, - answered
AS l remember now, it seemed to me
chat the train acquired an unsteady move
ment. | noticed that my companion sway
ed backward and forward and that had
10 devote all my energies TO maintain u
sitting position, l felt convinced that it
was this swinging motion that made me
Ieel giddy, almost seaSick, yet which pro-
aduced "A sort Of Indifference and listless-
mess which assumed sensation far from
Sdisagreeable, gradually bringing ON rest
less feeling of being asleep as to volition
and power Of action, but daily conscious
of what was passing round me.
i noticed my companion rise, open the
window and put her head outside, and l
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 We're concealed from me. My inn
preston was that this action was consid-
crate one TO keep the draft from me.
1t was now quite dark. We had left
Kings Cross at 5:l5 p. m, and the time
OF year being very early in February, and
'the weather cloudy, the outside obscurity
was only occasionally and briefly encroach-
ed upon 10y the lights of some station
(which we dashed by.
My companion only remained at the
window for few seconds After closing
1T she took down parcel from the rack
and moving from the corner sat opposite
.lne.
She leaned forward and closely scruti-
mixed me. was in "A happy kind of stu
Ipor. l could see all she did though / felt
rLhat l was only able to keep my eyes half
open. She then rose, and bending over me
slelcately raised my eyelds with her mid
'1le fingers She seemed now satisfied A
Hook of relief passed over her face.
She CROPPED about on the floor of the car
uriage for something. All it was for the
eend of my cigarette. Having found it,
sshe threw it out Of the window. Then she
opened the parcel and produced some thin
ropes and small strange looking instr
Inent.
In an i>credible short space of time she