The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-17
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: THE COMPARTMENT CAR )
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An American Girls Experience
Travelling in England.
A LOVE STORY

Zona Sheldon was making the Euro
pean tour; her education was finished
and she and her mother had spent the
last two years in travel.
Zonas mother was a wealthy widow,
/ and iona was an only child. Her read
ing and culture had given zest to her
travels, and she had understood as We'll
as seen.
The important subject under discus
sion on the October morning which
brings them to our notice is an invita-
ton TO oe present at the wedding in
the North of England.
But here was d dilemma Mrs. Sheldon
was so indiSposed 10 be unfit for the
journey, yet she did not wish iona TO
stay at nome. UnhaODily among other
ideas perhaps little erroneous, Mrs
Saeldon had a firm belief that IL was a
Der!lous undertaking to travel in d COM
Dartment car. unless there were so many
I passengers that there was no possible
danger of assault.
I don't want you to consider me at
all, iona, said her mother Il am not
ill only just indisposed enough not to
know Mrs. Gannet Will take good care
OF me. If you will only promise not to
90 into an empty compartment, l think
1 can rest easy"
Very well mother, l will promise you
that. said iona.
Morning saw our heroine at the King
Cross station anxiously scanning me
carriages 10 make sure of one well
filled and al least one or two ladies in it.
at last she saw one that met her re-
quirements, and slipping d coin into the
hand of the guard she entered.
The train steamed out of the station,
and iona took survey of her fellow
travellers. There was a family-fGther,
mother ana three children, an elderly
lady, two business men, and in one cor
ner man whom she did not particularly
notice.
She took out her fountain pen and a
sheet OF paper, and wrote: All safe
compartment full" At the first stop
ping place she gave it to the guard and
the busy wires carried it to her mother,
setting at rest her fears.
And now iona who was a good traveller
while she looked out of the window, ad-
miring the flying landscape. Then she
produced IA book and began to read.
Anon a new sensation stirred within
her; she drew out her dainty little
watch and looked at it. Two hours since
she had started. She laid down the
book, and opened the little lunch bas-
ket, then she drew of her gloves,
tucked them in the pocket of her jacket
and began to eat. The man in the cor
ne- took this opportunity to read the
title of her book: Biglow Papers" I
know she's an American; l can see it
from the tip of her nose TO the toe of
her little boot. L didn't know before
that eating was one of the fine arts
iona all unconscious of his scrutiny,
finished her dinner, returned to her book,
She did not know when some of the
other occupants OF the compartment got
out. aid about o'clock she was
reused by hearing the mother OF the
family say Wake up now Title, Wake
uD. We get out at the next station"
iona looked about with a start to see
the October day darkening down and
realize that when the family party
should leave the train, she and the man
N the corner would be the only occu-
pants of the compartment
Hereupon occurred strange thing.
iona. who had never before felt fear
in travelling began to recall all her
mothers stories with which she was
wont to fortify her theories of the dan
gers of travelling IN compartment cars.
For moment IONA was possessed with
an insane desire to scream, and only by
a strong effort controlled herself The
man in the corner. who. up to this time
now rose and walked TO the other end
Df the car. iona trembled with fear. He
reached under the seat, and took out a
small hand satchel. which he opened.
would be knife, d revolver would make
too much noise. She watched him with
Fascinated eyes. He took out something
small and slipped II into the rocket of
his coat. Soon he rose again ana
sauntered to the far end of the car. He
lit a taper. bent down and was engaged
with something-what was it?
iona put her hand to the window and
made a desperate effort to open it, that
she might be ready to call the guard
The man heard and turned; he came
quickly forward: ALLOW me" he said
politely.
.'Uh, no, thank you" said Zona hastily.
She felt sure he had designed her Dur-
pose ard that there was a covert menace
in his tone.
He settled down in his corner again,
and IONA cast furtive chances at him,
and always when she looked he with
drew his gaze from her.
what a powerfully built fellow, he
isi' went her thoughts. What a viii
famous countenance. One can see he's
Is desperate fellow. How foolish / was
to let my watch and ring be seen. l
am sure he is looking at my ring"
Now the ring was a very beautiful