Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-07-06
The Blue Satin Slipper
A Wedding Night Terror,

| 7 EON and his bride were seated in
compartment by themselves. They
had given the conductor fee, and
promised themselves solitude on their
wedding journey.
"An 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 q 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
fish, as l am conversant with that lam
guage. am sorry to intrude upon you,
but this is the only compartment L
could find place in. However, l will try
to go to Sleep"
And he faithfully tried to do so. But
his efforts were vain, and finally he
drew 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 thatit was
probable 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. 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. He advanced toward
the elderly Englishman.
Uncle" said he, humbly.
ais that your" said the other angrily;
''be off! don't want to have anything
to do with you"
Come, uncle" said the other, with
mixture of menace and humility, don't
be so hard on 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 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
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 in procuring
it excited his wonder, and on inquiring
he found that the officers of the Fifty
second hussars were giving dinner to
their comrades of the Sixty-frst chas-
seurs that very evening, hence the con-
fusion. To his horror he learned that
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 OIL
GERS were the quietest men he ever saw
Ia his life; that-excepting the chas-
seurs-there were no more lamblike
individuals in the service than the hus-
sars. 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 1t he
saw the Briton seated before a bottle
and glass, and contemplating the cell
ing.
"Wen, it makes no difference, after
ALL" said he 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
Euelishman's side there was double
wall, and door, which he bolted. On
the officers side there was NO door, but
very thin partition.
The young couple had mediocre din
ner, which they would have enjoyed
more had it not been for the talk OF
their military neighbors. The CONVEX
sation of those gentlemen had nothing
whatever 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 blueroom found 1t
difficult at times to preserve their gravi-
ty in quiet.
Suddenly there was roar from the
left-hand room. "Garsong!" shouted
the Engrshman, gimme another bot
tie O. port"
The port was brought, and the Eng
lshman grew quiet. Finally the OIL
GERS, having drank all they could carry,
and some of them more, departed, after
having joined in parting toast to the
bride.
Quiet at last reigned over the hotel.
The night was clear, the moon shining
brightly. Leon and his bride looked out
from the window, and inhaled the frag-
rance borne from the flowers in the gar
den below. Suddenly Icons gaze fell
upon man who was sauntering amid
the shrubbery. He walked with head
bent down, cigar in his mouth, and
his hands thrust into his pockets. AS
he turned the moonlight fell upon his
face. 1t was the Englishman's disso-
late nephew.