The morning times., 1895-12-08

head well u p on tue wooden back Of the seat
so that however low the drowsy youth
might bob and nod she would be unrno
Tested With this exception, things as
sunIed their former aspect and nothing was
heard save the runsbing OF the train and
the snoring of the passengers. But this was
merely a truce. not definite peace. Fate
seemed to be pursuing the lady indefatig
ably for her iiI-Judged economy.
The Persian poet saadi says that sleep
is given TO the bad in order that the good
may be undisturbed. But 1t was not
voucisafed TO all the bad in that rail
way carriage; for suddenly, just before
the train entered a little station, q male
head bent down and drew shockingly near
to Nine. Skragiiina's face. then two lips
pressed very violently upon hers, as IL
plucking up kisscs by the roots that grew
there. Then the head was Withdrawn.
The whole thing was over In twiBkirG.
The kiss went tIDgiing to the lady's pant
ing heart, and when 1T was gone this
sense of ii did stay" The lady awose in
q terrible rage, her cheeks flushed with
the crimson OF fnodcsty and anger COM
bined, and her face rather black-per-
haps from smoke and soot-but she was
resolved to make her cowardly aggreS-
sor both black and blue, b. way OF Civ
ing color To her estimate of the impro-
priety OF his conduct. So without hesi-
B
livered vigorous slap In the lace to the
doing youth opposite, which brought
him back from the land Of Nod in hurry.
That was her version of the line, Take,
OH, take those lips away" The young
man rubbed his eyes, then. feeling the
tingling touch OF vanished hand, heid
one OF his to his burning cheek, and at last
exclaimed:
my God, whatever has happened?'
'tI'll let you know, you ruifian, what has
happened. III teach you tn assault lone,
unprotectedlaiy whohappens To failasieep,"
and by way OF impartlng the promised IN
formation, she caught him by the hair OF
his head, after the manner of the angels
who used to seize the Hebrew prophet:
when sent t. transport them from place to
place. She caught him by the collar and
shook him against the seat and thutnped
him Justify, till he must have felt thor
oughIy convinced OF the truth OF the saTiog
that .'the hand that rocks the cradle Is
the hand that rules the world His senses
were bewiIdered, his hair flew about IN
punches, his tie was torn and bis shirt studs
shaken out. No wonder his choler rose.
Most Of the starch however, had been
taken out of the wretehed man, who began
to shout wildly; thereupon the lady scream-
ed. an old woman in the next row of seats-
waking UP, hearing iae bubbub, dcyoutiy
but hurriediy made the sign of tine cruss
and shouted.
Murder. Firei''
The other passengers, starting from ther
sleep, cried out:
'tCollsiunl Aeeidenu
Some snatched their hand luggage and
made for the door, others tried to escape
without taking any of their portable prop
erty One man asked whether it was
collision or q slip off the rails Two
others gathered about the young woman,
VINO was III ny steFlcs. lHqalrsng mheTe sie
was wounded, and the confusion and dis
order was indeScribable-
But that was only in the beginning. De-
fore the inmates If the conipa rtInent had
shaken off their drUw siness and thor
oagniy rubbed their eyes. Little by htils
matters were cleared up, aud Nine Skrag-
hina appealed to the passengers FOR pro-
lection. The young man protested thar
he was innocent as the babe unborn and
much more in need uf protection than She
But they all sat upon the youth anu TOOK
the lady's part They sent for the head
conductor, who came, accompanied by the
controller, who. having heard the story,
drew up protocol" and ordered the
young man to leave the train at the Kexc
station. He implvred them to allow hin
TO continue his journey at least, saying that
they might do what they liked at the end
OF 1t, otherwise he would lose an excellent
situation and probably also beloved
bride.
Besides, I never touched the lady I
am prepared 70 take my solemn oath I
didn't"
.Oh. indeed, " replied Nine. Skra CHINA:
| "tlicn you think no more OF perjury than
of assauiting unprotected ladies' Dian' t
you bring your head three times up to
mine and touch my face with yours In
spite of my expostulaiieHsf Como, now,
answer me that, yes or no?"
I'll did, suppose-fD fact, I know
did; but then that was when l was half
asleep"
..Oh. was it? You hear that" She
asked, addressing herself to the officers.
"TheD perhaps you kissed me when ean
asleep, too, eh?"
.I did not kiss you at ALL have no
recollection of it, and certainly had no
wish to do 1t. l would no more kiss you
than"
This was a weak defense to make. for
the lady was very attractive, and 1t was
also very uBgallsnt- Besides, the passen-
gers and the Officers would hear of no
excuse.
1T was the act of a blaokguard, and You
must put up with the consequences win
you stop that boisterous laughter down
there, please? / cannot hear my own
voice" added the officer, to the man
standing at the stove
You'd laugh just as boisterousiy your
sef1 II you were III ~ pidco, WdS tdc Lc-
ply Its the joliiest farce that / ever
saw. and I've seen a goodly number in
my day. Why, that young man there
with the swollen cheek is as innocent az
you or 1. He was fast asleep when the
kissing was done"
That's all fudge" replied the head con-
ductor. Asleep or awake, he must ta ke
the consequences of having kissed the lady"
but he didn't kiss her, 1 tell YOU ]
saw it all from here"
s'Then who did?"
"a dirty stoker who sat on his hunkers
on the floor"
''How dare you insult me in this gross
fashion, sir?'' exclaimed Mime. skra CHINA;
as 1t not bad enough to have been as
saulted by well-dressed ruffiau heref
Must now hear 1t said that wa s kissed
by a dirty stoker? Head conductor, 1 ap-
peal to you for protection"
"But you were kissed by q dirty stoker.
madame. / saw it, and q very dirty
stoker he was, can tell you. You re-
member the stoker that sQuatted dewa
there?" he asked his fello " pa ssengers.
Yes, they all recoliected him very well
'swhere is he now?" inquired the prin-
cipaI guard.
'.He decamped at once at the little ssta-
ton which we entered just AZ the kiss
was given"
ats a shameful lie, sirr' shouted the
lady.
'.It,s no such thing, madame. You
woro a hit foo freA with YOUR fingers and