The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-01

"
myself-engngod every sent.
Tho shades of night wcro falling when
entered the old vehicle for A jnccio.
Tho driver came TO mo and humbly
asked:
Would you yield any one of tho seats to
lady?"
what LADY," I brusquoly demanded.
Tho wife OF an officer going to Ajaccio
to join her husband"
Certainly. Tell the lady glndly Offer
her u seat"
My travelling companion Econ appeared,
laughingly said sho had beon asleep all the
afternoon preparing for the night trip
across tho mountains, thanked ,ne for my
kindness and entered tho carriage.
This old vehicle was like u Theoretically
closed boX-no openings except door on
each side, with littlo glass windows above.
We wero sitting faco to face, opposite each
other, and away we started, the horses 90
ing on u quick trot until wo reached the
mountains.
The fresh, pungont odor of aromatic
herbs came through the lowered glass of
the doors-that delicious fragrance that
Corsica spreads around her, rs IL the
ground was inipregnuted with perfume
which tho hot sun drew forth and scattered
on every passing breeze
Again I began to talk Of Paris--bright,
beautiful, bewildering Paris. She Listened
with keen attention.
BY now the night had grown SO dirk I
could scarcely distinguish the face Of my
companion. 1t appeared like whitish
spot in tho surrounding gloom. The horses
were slowly walking up tho steep ascent,
the carriage lanterns the only light to
show tho road Every now and then tho
sound of n torrent dnshing over tho rocks
would como to us. Then 1t would BIO lost
In the distance.
My companion had been very quiet for
some time, breathing softly, with now and
then gentlc sigh. Tho darkness and ST.
lence emboldened me. I softly laid my
hand on hers. 1t was not withdrawn.
Growing still boldcr, i went on whispering
lot OF sentimental rubbish; talked of
"lovo at first sight kindred spirits"
ETC., with my lips very near her ear-in
truth, dangerously near her mouth. She
was still silent. l fancied could hear the
beatings Of her heart, mingled with her
gentle sighs
AT last softly placed my lips upon her
check. Sho started as II just aroused from
sleep. But such u start! 1t hurled me to
tho far side of the carriage. Then, before
l had time to comprehend, consider or
even think, received five or six frightful
-
tlsticuffs, hard and shnrp, falling every
whore, on my head, my face, my neck,
quick and fast Us summer rain.
In tho thick darkness that surrounded
us vainly tried to parry tho blows, to
seize her hands. Impossible So turned
around and presented my back to her furi-
Gus attacks, and hid my head in the corner
of the vehicle.
She seemed to comprehend (by tho sound
OF the blows, no doubt) this movement Of
despair and suddenly ceased to boat me,
and, throwing herself back in tho corner
of the carriage, sho burst into O wild par-
oxysm OF sobs and tears, which continued
for an hour or so, l shrinking back In my
corner, distressed and very much ashamed.
wanted TO speak but what could soy?
Excuse mcY" That would have been
tame and absurd. What would you hove
saidP Nothing-just as did.
She continued to weep, every now and
then tutoring great signs which nearly
broke my heart. / wanted to console her,
to take her in my arms and soothe her as
you would crying child, to beg her par
don, to fall on my knees and cntreat her
to forgive me, but dared not. These sit
uations arc very embarrassing.
Finally she grew calm. Wo both re-
manned In our separate corners, mute and
motionless, the diligence moving steadily
on, only stopping now and then for q relay
of horses When tho light of tho stable
lanterns would flash into the carriage we
would both close our eyes and pretend to
be asleep.
We sped on through tho night, tho aro-
matte odor of the Corsican mountains ca
ressing our checks and lips, sweet and cx-
hilarating rs wine
Christie, what 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 glide into the
carriage look at my neighbour. She seems
fast asleep.
The sun coming up from behind tho
mountains discloses an immense blue gulf,
strcakcd with gold and surrounded by
enormous peaks of granite. On the far
side OF this gulf a white city, stepped in
tho shading light of tho carly morning,
appears.
My neighbor starts UP as IL just aroused
from sleep, opens her eyes. Thoy aro very
red. Sho yawns as if sho had slept long
time, bushes, hesitates "a moment, then
stammcrs:
will wo be there soon?''
"Ycs, madam, in less than an hour"
ooh, / wish we were there"
could well understand that wish. Hor
voice WAS little tromulous, her manner
little confused; otherwise she seemed to
have forgotten everything.
Oh, what diplomatists women nre---di-
piomatists by instinct as we'll as by birth !
How envied her her SAVIOR fairel
In about IN hour wo arrived at Ajaccio.
A great dragon--a Kind Of Herculcs-was
standing a. tho Office door waving his
handkerchief as tho diligence appeared.
Tho driver had scarcely brought his horses
to standstill before my ncighbor loaped
into his arms with q bound, embracing