The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-20
A LITTLE SURPRISE.

had been married just n twelvcmonth,
and as l believed L had got tho very dear
est little woman in the world for mywifc
Tho year just concluded had in consc-
quoncc been the happicSt OF my existence,
and resolved to make my partner q littlo
present. in remembrance of the event which
had mado lis one for life. AS L know how
much moro delightful II gift becomes when
il is unexpected, l said nothing to my
wife OF my intentions, wishing to take her
quito Ivy surprise. Tho accompanying mar
rativc will, I think, show how completely
L succeeded in that cndoavor.
My business lay in the city, whittier it
was my custom to travel every morning
from tho quiet of Il little suburban resi-
dcncc, returning homo in time for coy
dinner i'll the early evening. 1t my in
variable practice to carry with me small
Gladstone bag, and on the day in alcs-
ton, after placing into this, along with
few other things, tho articles I gnd pur-
chased for the purpose named, and which
consisted of Il gold bangle, pendant for
the neck, with ruby star attached, and Il
small diamond brooch, took tho train at
Cannon street in tho very lightcst OF spirits
on my journey home.
Seating myself in the corner of the first
class carriage i'll which L rode, with my
bag in hand, was for u time tho only oc-
Cupant OF the compartment, but aS the
train was on the point of starting | was
joined by person of very gcntlcmanly cx-
terror, f;.ultlcssly dressed. who stepped in
10 the carriage with an air of some con
Germ. Like myself, he carried II bag-a
circumstance not ut all striking in itself.
but noticeable on this occasion by the so.
licitldc which it seemed to cause its own
cr who, seating himself opposite to me,
first put the thing under tho seat. then by
his side and finally elected to carry it us
was doing mine.
1t was not long before we were in cen
vcrsation. Tho season of the year was late
summer, and tho subject naturally sug-
costing itself was that of holiday making.
My companion had evidently travelled "a
great deal, for ho discoursed nucntly OF
journcyings on the continent, comprising
adventures i'll tho Alps, trips up tho Rhine
and excursions into Italy. He told of tho
beauties OF the Riviera, tho delights of Ba-
den and tho gloricS OF Berlin and wnXcd
enthusiastic over the charms of continental
women, the fair girls of France end tho
dark beauties of Italy.
but after all there are no women like
the English" concluded nv companiun.
moro quietly. "Thcy may lag behind the
continental girls in the matter of personal
beauty; but, depend upon it, they make
up for it iii all other qualities"
This was quite in accordance with my
tastes, for nay little wife at home was,
am proud TO say, an English girl, and fully
bore ont his estimate | warmed to my
companion III once OH his saying this, and
ii WAS not long before | had Informed him
good deal about my private life; draw
ing II glowing picture of my country home,
and he little genius who, like an angel,
presided over ii. Hcnppcarcd so Interested
that even went Il step farthcr in the light
ness OF my heart and told him not only
that this was tho anniversary OF my we'd
ding day, hnt that Was intending TO sur
prise my Wife on my return home with IL
little unexpected present In exchange for
this frankncss my companion also became
confidential
you'd hardly think" he said. speak
ing in n low voice Us he leaned over toward
me, ''that this bag which | hold in my
hand contains icwcliy worth close on e10,-
900, would YOU? An, you look surprised!
And yet it weighs but Very little Try it,"
placed my own bag on The seat beside
me in order to take the one he offered me.
jewels are not necessarily heavy arti-
Giles, said, balancing the bag critically,
which seemed $40 heavier than my own.
"But, | added, smiling, while fluttcr
passed through my frame nj holding in my
hands SO much wealth, lit is mono too
wise to trust II stranger with so precious
an article as this, is it?'
"Oh, have no fear of YOU, he replied
with charming candor. II think know
a rogue when | SEQ one. In my line of
business l have occasion to mix with all
sorts of people, and nearly II lifetime of cx-
pericnco hes given mc II sufficient insight
into tho characters of men To be able al
most to judge them mt % glance"
Wondering who my companion could be,
but convinced in my own mind that he
was some one of Importance and nattored
somewhat by his confidence, | handed him
back the bag, which he placed on tho seat
beside mine and Immediately started an
other run of entertaining conversation.
Considerably to my regret, this was inter
ruptcd by tho train pulling up nj astation.
''Ah, here is my destination" said tho
stranger, rising at once and taking up his
lag. Good afternoon! / hope YOU will
allow me to wish you many happy returns
Of the day!'
In another moment he was gone, and
felt quite sorry to lose the c0mpunionship
of sointcrcSting Il fellow Traveller. Friend
- * 0re of'cn formed at first sight, and
hal mis- man remained in my company
much longer | felt convinced il would
have resulted inmy contractinga new one
How delightful it would have been, |
thought To ask him To make ono of our
little dinner party that evening. What u
charm would his Interesting conversation
prove 10 my wife, whose knowledge of tho
world, like my own, was unfortunately