The Winslow mail., 1899-07-27
The Blue Satin Slipper
A Wedding Night Terror.


compartment by themselves. They
had given the conductor fee, and
promised themselves solitude on their
wedding journey.
.Ali aboard" shouted the conductor.
just as the train was about to move
an elderly man sprang on the step and
entered the compartment. The door
slammed, the bell struck and the train
moved away. Although annoyed by the
intrusion, the young couple continued
their conversation in English. when
they were interrupted by their fellow
traveller in a much better English than
their own.
Monsieur" he said, dryly, ''if you
have any secrets to relate | would ad-
wise YOU not to do so before me in Eng
7isb. as I am converSant with that Ian
guage. l am sorry to intrude upon you,
but this is The only compartment L
could find place IN. However. will try
TO go to Sleep"
And he faithfully tried to do so. But
his efforts were vain, and finally he
drew a book from his valise and began
to read When he plunged into his sack
he drew therefrom large roll of Bank
of England notes, and, showing them to
Leon, asked if he could change them at
the next town. Leon replied that it was
probable he could do SO, as the roadwas
much frequented by English travellers.
When they reached the next town the
Englishman descended first. After him
came Leon. Suddenly there darted
from the group of loungers on the plat
form young man of peculiar appear
ance He was sallow and unshavcn; his
eyes were bleared and bloodshot; his
clothing was shabby to the last degree.
His once black coat was buttoned close
ly to the chin, probably to conceal the
lack of shirt. lie advanced toward
the elderly Englishman.
Uncle" said he, humbly.
rs that you?" said the other angriiy;
''be off. l don't want to have anything
tc do with you"
Come. uncle" said the other, with a
mixture of menace and humility, don't
be so hard on a man.
He seized the elders arm and led him
aside. After some moments conversa-
ton the uncle seemed to soften, and
opening his valise gave the other some
bank notes. The nephew devoured the
remaining roll with his eyes. and after
a curt word of thanks disappeared in
the crowd.
Leon and his bride entered the hotel,
and were shown to the best room in it.
Their status as Il newly-married couple
procured them that honor. The walls
were covered with paper representing
scenes around Naples. Unfortunately,
certain idle travellers had added mus
taches to all the female faces, and pipes
to all the male, so the effect was, to a
certain extent, lost. The room was
called 'the blue room," the furniture
having once been of that color
Leon ordered dinner to be served in
their room. The difficulty i'm procuring
1T excited his wonder, and on inquiring
he found that the officers Of the Fifty
second hussars were giving a dinner to
their comrades of the Sixty-iirst chas-
seurs that very evening. hence the con-
the banquet was spread in the room i'm
mediately adjoining the blue chamber.
However, there was no help for it. The
host swore by all the gods that the Off
GERS were the quietest men he ever saw
IN mis- life; that-excepting the chas-
seurs-there were no more lamblike
individuals in the service than the hus-
ssars- And, besides. they always rose
from the table before midnight.
As Leon, somewhat troubled in mind,
returned to the blue chamber. he
noticed that his English fellow traveller
occupied the room on the other side.
The door was open, and through ii lie
saw the Briton seated before a bottle
and glass, and contemplating the cell
ing.
swell, it makes no difference. after
an said he to himself: 1.-The English
man will soon be tipsy. and the officers
will be gone by midnight"
When he entered the blue chamber
Leon looked to bolts and bars. On the
Englishman's side there was a double
wall, and a door. which he boited. Or
the officers side there was no door. but
very thin partition.
The young couple had mediocre din
Ter, which they would have enjoyed
more had it not been for the talk OF
their military neighbors. The conver-
Sation of those gentlemen had nothing
whatever TO do with tactics. strategy, OF
the art of war in any way. On the con
trary, it consisted of highly seasoned
stories. And such stories! They were
followed by roars of laughter. and even
our friends of the blueroom found il
difficult at times to preserve their gravi
Jy in quiet. Q
Suddenly there was roar from the
1eft-hand room. 'Garsongi" shouted
the EngIishman, gimme another bot
tie o port"
The port was brought. and the Eng
aishman grew quiet. Finally the Off
GERS, having drank all they could carry
and some of them more, departed, after
having joined in a parting toast to thu
bride.