Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-05-12
ON THE EXPRESS 70 MBRSEILLES

/
There was a great crowd at the rail-
way station when / left Paris to 20 to
! Marseilles, so | thought myself in luck
! to have only one other passenger in the
compartment with me. He was a stern,
| official-looking parsonage, and as he had
| nothing with him but portfolio | knew
| that he would not travel far and | should
soon have the compartment to myself.
! But, alas, / made too surei just as the
train was going to start, heard dis
cussiOn going on outside.
NO, no, l engaged a private compart-
ment. and must have it, said a silyery
feminine voice.
II cannot give it to you, madame, for
there is not one on the train," replied the
guard.
But l wrote and ordered it,
Your letter was not received"
Put on another carriage then"
That is impossible; we are just going
to start-be quick. There gre two seats
here"
\ small dark head appeared for an in
slant in the doorway of the compart-
ment, and was suddenly withdrawn.
Then a startled voice exclaimed:
There are two gentlemen in therer'
Very well, madame, | cannot give
you whole carriage to yourself"
Then | shall not 20 at ALL
"As you please. The train is just
Wait. wait! 1 am obliged to go now.
As there is absolutely no other place, L
But can | have a private compartment
when | get to the next station!
Certainly, madame
You will telegraph for it,
Yes, madame"
The door opened again, lady stepped
into the compartment, whistle blew,
and we were Off. She was GREATNESS
and flushed with indignation. A single
glance at her face told me that she was
young and extremely pretty.
1t was very cold and the fair traveller
wrapped a rug round her and gazed out
obstinately at the wintry landscape; the
other passenger took some oifical-look.
ing documents out of his portfolio and
examined them, while | pretended to>.Ae
absorbed iii my newspapers.
AT 30 we reached Iar0che, and as
soon as the train stopped the gentleman
gathered up his papers, rose, bowed, and
left us The lady went to the door and
asked the stationmaster in an anxious
tone: Have You been telegraphed from
Paris for a private compartment
Yes, madame, and have already
sent the order on
On. What do you mean? l want it
now
'InposSible madame. We have no
carriages here, but you can get one at
Lyons"
The train started She went back to
her seat indignant and without looking
at me. | began reading my paper again,
but | could not fix my thoughts upon the
news My fellow traveller was distract
| ingly pretty aud | longed to enter into
conversation with her. She was lady
/ knew. and | racked my brain for some
appropriate and original remark with
which 10 break the ice.
| was still wondering when the train
came 10 sudden halt and guard
called out:
"Tonnerre! Twenty-Five minutes for
/ lunch"
My vis-a-vis rose. put off her rugs,
| laid them on the seat and got off the
/ train She went 10 the buffet ut the left
side of the station, aud | followed her.
| had leisure to admire her graceful
! figure, which was clad in Il long cloak
/ trimmed with otter: | observed also that
she wore a gray felt hat on her very
! black hair, and that she had very small
/ feet
/ rushed into the restaurant with tie
! rest of the passengers My fellow tFav-
/ drinking houilion. As soon as had fin
! ishCd, | Strolled about and smoked a
! cigarette. The allotted TWENTY-FIVE min
uteS We're slipping by, and the pasSen-
/ gers began returning to the train.
went Ia my place. and found that the
/ lady had not vet come back. aud ON look
/ ing ont of the window | saw her stand
! ing Mt hunkSrllpr's stan How baci.
/ was toward me. but l recognized the Of
ter cloak, the gray felt hat and the grace
tul figure
An the other passengers were in their
seats; the time was up. the guards shut
I he doors uoiSily. vet she did not move.
+ She would he left behind, "Madame.
madaWe," ! cried; bur the distance was
too gr2aJ- She could rot hear me. There
. was hardly minute }c(t.
suddenly Il bright jdea came ta me. I
could net bear Ia think of hpe being left
/ without her wraps in that hj,jer cold:
peer little woman, / seized her S1jrhpls.
ban3bcNeS and RUGS ia wy rms ana
threw them 3nt vi Che window, calling