Evening journal., 1899-07-25
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.
"Au 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 l would ad-
wise you not to do so before me in Eng
lish, as l am conversant with that Lam
guage. am sorry TO intrude upon you,
but this is the only compartment l
10 60 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 II he could change them at
the next town. Leon replied thatitwas
probable he could do so, as the road was
much frequented by English travellers.
When they reached the next town the
Euglishman 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 unshayen; his
eyes were bleared and bloodshot; his
clothing was shabby to the last degree.
Ills once black coat was bHttoned close
ly to the chin, probably to conceal the
lack of a shirt He advanced toward
the elderly Englishman.
Uncle" said he, humbly.
us that you?" said the other angrilyi
'be off 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
opening his valise gave the other some
bank notes. The nephew devoured the
remaining roll with his eyes, and after
curt word of thanks disappeared il
the crowd.
Leon and his bride entered the hotel,
/ and were shown TO the best room in x.
Their status as a nevly-married couple
procured them that fsnor. The walls
were covered with psPer representing
scenes around Naples. Unfortunately,
certain idle travellers had added mus
taches to all the female faces, and pipes
to all the male, so tke effect was, to a
certain extent, lost. The room was
called "the blue roon," tho furAitsrs
having ence been OF that color.
Leon ordered dinRsr 10 be servedsKi
Their room. The difiieslty in proaurkig
/ it excited his wonder, and on inquira z
he found that the officers Of the Fifty
second hussars were giving a dinner to
their comrades of The Sixty-first chas-
seurs that very evening", hence the cor
fusion. To his horr6r he learned that
the banquet was spread in the room iss-
mediately adjoining the blue chambeg
However, there was no help for it. Th-
host swore by all the gods that the ok
GERS were the quietest men he ever saw
in his life; that-excepting the ehas.
seurs--there were no more lamblik'
individuals in the service than the hus.
sars. Aud, besides, they always rose
from the table before midnight.
As Leon, somewhat troubled in mind
returned to the blue chamber, Ne
noticed that his English fellow traveller
occupied the room on the other side
The door was open, and through it h,
saw the Briton seated before a bottl,
and glass, and contemplating the cell
ing.
"Well, it makes no difference, aftoi
ALL" said he to himself; 'the English
man will soon be tipsy, and the officers
win be gone by midnight"
When he entered She blue chamber
Leon looked to bolts and bars. On th'
Englishman's side there was a doubll
wall, and a door, which he bolted. Ol
the officers side there was no door, bu
very thin partition.
The young couple had mediocre din
ner, which they would have enjoycs
more had it not been for the talk o
their military neighbors. The conver
sation of those gentlemen had nothing
whatever to do with tactics, strategy, O
the art Of war in any way. On the con
trary, it consisted Of highly seasonel
; stories. And such stcriesl They wer
followed by roars Of laughter, and evei
our friends of the blueroom found j
= difficult at times to preserve their gravi
= ty in quiet.
, Suddenly there was a roar from tn
J left-hand room. "Garsong." shoute
! the Englishman. gimme another bot
tie O. port"
! The port was brought, and the Eng
, Eshman grew quiet. Finally the OFF
GERS, having drank all they could carry
and some Of them more, departed, afte
. having joined in a parting toast to tn
E bride.