Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-08-24
The Blue Satin Slipper.

given the conductor a fee, and prom
sed themselves solitude on their we'd
ding journey.
GAN aboard" shouted the conductor.
Inst as the train was about to move.
an elderly man sprung on the step, ana
entered the compartment. The door
slammed. the bell struck, and the train
moved away. Although annoyed by
the intrusion, the young couple contln-
ued their conversation in English,
when they were interrupted by their
fellow-traveler in a much better Eng
lish than their own.
Monsieur" he said, dryly, eff you
have any secrets to relate | would ad-
wise you not to do so before me in Eng
fish. as | am conversant with the Ian
guage. | am sorry to intrude upon
you, but this is the only compartment
| 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 valse and began
to read. When he plunged into his
sack he drew therefrom a 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 that he could do
so, as the road was much frequented by
English travellers.
When they reached the next town
the Englishman descended first. After
him came Leon, who endeavored to
conceal his wile's ankles as she de-
scended the steps. Such are young
husbands Suddenly there dartod
from the group of loungers on the plat
form young man of peculiar appear
ance. He was sallow and unshaven;
his eyes were bleared and bloodshot;
his clothing was shabby to the last de-
gree His once black coat was but
toned closely to the chin, probably TO
conceal the lack of shirt. He ad-
vanced toward the elderly Englishman.
"ITncle," said he, humbly,
as that you?" said the other, angri-
ly; "be Off" don't want to have any
thing to 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 con-
versation the uncle seemed to soften
and opening his vallse gave the other
some bank notes. The nephew de-
voured the remaining roll with his eyes,
and after Il curt word OF thanks dis
appeared in the crowd.
Leon and his bride entered the hotel,
and were shown to the best room in 1t.
Their status as a newly married couple
procured them that honor. The walls
were covered with paper showing
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 been once of that color.
Leon ordered dinner to be served in
their room. The difficulty in procuring
It excited his wonder, and on inquirlnS
he found that the officers of the sd
Hussars were giving a dinner to their
comrades of the 61st Chasseurs that
very evening, hence the confusion. To
his horror he learned that the banquet.
was spread in the room Immediately
adjoining the blue chamber However,
there was no help for 1t. The host
swore by all the gods that the officers
were the Quietest ml.l he ever saw in
his life; that-excepting the chasseurs
there were no more lamblke indiyid-
uals in the service than the hussars.
And besides, they always rose from the
table before midnight.
As Leon, somewhat troubled in mind,
returned to the blue chamber, he no.
uced that his English fellow-traveler
occupied the room on the other side
The door was Open and through 1t he
saw the Briton seated before bottle
and glass, and contemplating the cell
ing.
"Well, 1t makes no difference, after
all" he said to himself: "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 door which he bolted. On
the officers side there was no door, but
n very thin partition,
The couple had mediocre dinner,
which they would have enjoyed more
had 1t not been for the talk of their
military neighbors. The conversation
of those gentlemen had nothing what
ever to do With tactics. strategy or 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 blue room found Il
difficult Al times to preserve their gray.
ity in quiet
~.