Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-08-15
THE BLUE SATIN SLIPPER
A WEDDING NIGHT TERROR.

Leon and his bride were seated in a
compartment by themselves. They had
given the conductor fee, and promised
themselves solitude on their wedding
journey
''All 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 I'D English, when they
were interrupted by their fellow traveller
in much better English than their
own.
Monsieur" he said. dryly. ''if you
have any secrets to relate | would adj
wise you not to do so before me in Eng
lish. as | am conversant with the Ian
guage. l am sorry to lntrude 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 valise and began to read.
When he plunged into his sack he drew
therefrom a large roll of Bank of Eng
land 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 travel
erS.
When they reached the next town the
Englishman descended first. After him
came Leon, who endeavored to conceal
his wife's ankles as she descended the
steps. Such are young husbands. Sud-
denly there darted from the group Of
IOungerS on the platform a young man Of
naculiar anDparanco He was SaIlOw and
unShaven; his eyes were bleared and
bloodshot; his clothing was shabby to the
last degree. His once-black coat was
buttoned closely to the chin, probably to
conceal the lack of a shirt. He advanced
toward the elderly Englishman.
Uncle" said he humbly.
rs that you?" said the other, angrily
'be off! l don't want to have anything
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 cOnversa-
ton the uncle seemed to soften and open
ing his valise gave the other some bank
notes. The nephew devoured the remain
ing 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 a newly-married couple
procured them that honor. The walls
We're covered with paper showing scenes
around Naples. Unfortunately certain
ldle travellers had added mustaches to all
the female faces and pipes to all the
male, SO the effect was, to a certain ex-
tent, lost. The room was called the
Dlue room, the furniture having been
once of that color
Leon ordered dinner TO he served in
their room. The difficulty in procuring it
excited MS wonder, and on inuuiring he
round that the officers of the Fifty-sec-
ond Hussars were giving dinner to their
comrades of the Si1ty-frst Chasseurs
that very evening, hence the confusion.
To his horror he learned that the ban.
quet was spread in the room Immediately
adjoining the blue chamber, However.
there was no help for it. The host swore
by. all the gods that the officers were the
quletest men he ever saw in his life; that
excepting the chaSseurs-there were no
more lamblike individuals in the service
than the huSSarS. And besides. they al
ways rose from the table before midnight.
As Leon, somewhat troubled in mind,
returned to the blue chamber, he noticed
the room on the other side. The door
was open, and through it he saw the
Brlton seated before bottle and glass,
and contemplating the ceiling.
We'll, it makes no difference, after
ALL he said to himself; 1.-The Englishman
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
a very thin partition.
The couple had a mediocre dinner,
which they would have enjoyed more had
it not been for the talk of their military
neighbors. The conversation of those
gentlemen had nothing whatever to do
with tactics, strategy or the art of war in
any way. On the contrary, 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 it difficult at times to
preserve their gravity in quiet,
But the stories grew broader, the laugh
ter grew louder. From des histories
rdecoletees they become toutes nues. AL
though he was not prudish, Leon thought
the situation rather embarrassing for his
bride; and. sending for the landlord, he
requested him to beg the gentlemen not
to make SO much noise as there was an
invalid lady in the next room. The host
entered the banqueting room, and his re-
quest was followed by roar of dissent.
Finally one voice prevailed over the 9th
-erS, and cried
''What sort of a woman is she?"
''Well, gentlemen" replied the host, Il
don't know for sure, but | think she's a
bride, and that they're on their wedding
tour
"A bride,'' roared the jewellers; ''bring
her in! Fetch 'em both here; we want to
drink to the bride and talk with the hus-
band"
Our friends in the blue room trembled ;
they feared an assault would be made.
But the same voice prevailed over the
din, and it was evidently that of a su-
perior officer. He lectured them on their
lack of courtesy. and there was cOmnara-
tive quiet for awhile. But from the
muffied laughter that broke out from time
to time Leon and his bride had an idea
that they were still the topic