The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-07-23

The Shaues OF niSnl Wert idliihB
when entered the old vehicle for
Ajaccio.
THE driver came to me and humbly
asked:
would you yield any one of the seats
to lady?"
What lady?" l brusquely demanded.
"'rhe wife of an officer going to
Ajacclo to join her husband"
Certainly. Tell the lady 1 gladly
Offer her o seat"
My travelling companion soon appear
cd, laughingly said she had been asleep
all the afternoon preparing for the
night trip across the mountains, thank
ed me for my kindness and entered the
carriage.
This old vehicle was like a hermeti-
cally closed box-no openings except
door on each side, with little glass VIM
Gows above. We were sitting face to
face, opposite each other, and away we
started, the horses going on a quick
trot until we reached the mountains.
The fresh, pungent odor Of aromatic
herbs came through the lowered glass
Of the doors-that delicious fragrance
that Corsica spreads around her, as
if The ground was impregnated with
perfume which the hot sun drew forth
and scattered on every passing breeze.
Again | began to talk OF Paris
bright. beautiful, bewildering Paris.
She listened with keen attention.
By now the night had grown 50 dark
] could scarcely distinguish the face OF
my companion. 1t appeared like
whitlsh spot in the surrounding gloom.
The horses were slowly walking up the
steep ascent. The carriage lanterns the
only light to show the road. Every
now and then the sound Of a torrent
dashing over the rocks would come to
US. Then 1t would be lost in the dis
tance.
My companion had been very quiet
for some time. breathing softly, with
now and then gentle sigh. The dark
ness and silence emboldened me. L
softly laid my hand on hers. 1t was
not withdrawn Growing still bolder
! went on whispering a lot Of sentimen-
tai rubbish; talked of love at first
sight" kindred spirits" etc, with my
lips very near her ear--in truth, dan
gerously near her mouth. She was still
silent l fancied could hear the beat
ings Of her heart, mingled with her gen.
tie sighs.
At last l softly placed my lips upon
her cheek. She started as If just arous-
ed from sleep. But such start! II
hurled me to the far sile of the car
riage. Then, before had time to COM
prehend, consider or even think, 1 re-
ceived five or six frightful slaps full In
the face, then a perfect hail OF fst-
cuffs hard and sharp, falling every
where, on my head, my face, my neck,
quick and fast as summer rain.
In the thick darkness that surround
ed us vainly tried to parry the blows.
to sieze her hands Impossible! So I
turned around and presented my back
to her furious attacks, and hid my head
in the corner OF the vehicle.
She seemed to comprehend (by the
sound of the blows, no doubt this
movement of despair, and suddenly
ceased to beat me- and, throwing her
self back in the corner of the carriage,
she burst into wild paroxysm of sobs
and tears, which continued for an hour
or so, l shrinking back to my corner,
distressed and very much ashamed.
wanted to speak, but what could say?
Excuse me?" That would have been
tame and absurd. What would you
have said? Nothing-just as I did.
She continued to weep every now
and then uttering great signs, which
nearly broke her heart. / wanted to
console her, to take her in my arms,
and soothe her as you would crying
child, to beg her pardon, to fall on my
knees and entreat her to forgive me.
but dared not. These situations are
very embarrassing.
Finally she grew calm. We both re-
mained in our separate corners, mute
and motionless, the diligence moving
steadily on, only stopping now and then
for a relay of horses. When the light
of the stable lanterns would fash into
the carriage we would both close our
eyes and pretend to be asleep.
We sped on through the night, the
aromatic odor of the Corsican noun
sweet and exhilarating as wine.
Christie, what a lovely trip-if-if
my neighbor had not been so foolish.
The day begins to break. AS the first
pale rays Of dawn begin to gild the
carriage I look at my neighbor. She
seems fast asleep.
The sun coming up from behind the
mountains discloses an immense blue
gull, StredkeO with SOlu anu surTouHu-
ed by enormous peaks of granite. On
the far side of this gulf a white city.
stepped in the shading light Of the early
morning. appears.
My neighbor starts up as II just
aroused from sleep, opens her eyes.
They are very red. She yawns as II
she had slept long time, bushes, hes
itates a moment, then stammers:
"Will we be there soon?"
Eyes, madam, in less than an hour"
"Oh, / wish we were there"
/ could we'll understand that wish.
Her voice was a little tremulous, her
manner a little confused; otherwise she
seemed to have forgotten everything.
oh. what diplomatists women are
diplomatists by instinct as well as by
birth! How l envied her her savoir
faire!
In about an hour we arrived at Ajac-
cio A great dragon-a kind Of Hercu-
les-was standing at the Office door
waving his handkerchief as the dill
Gence appeared. The driver had scarce
ly brought his horses to d standstlll be-
ipt his "a