The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-24

10 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 a portfolio 1
knew that he would not travel far and
should soon have the compartment to
myself.
But. alas. made too sure! Just as
the train was going to start. / heard
q discussion going on outside.
"No, no. engaged a private COM
partment, and must have it." said =
silvery feminine voice.
II cannot give IL TO you, madame, for
xhere Is not one on the train," replied
the guard.
But Ifwrote and ordered IT."
'Your letter was not received"
"Put on another carriage then"
THAT Is impossiblewe are just going
TO start-be quick. There are two seats
here"
small dark head appeared for. an
instant in the doorway OF the compart-
ment, and was suddenly withdrawn.
Then a startled voice exclaimed:
There are two gentlemen in there"
VERY well, madame, cannot give
you a whole carriage to YOURSELF
Then i shall not go at al
'As you please. The train Is just go-
ing."
AS there IL absolutely no other place,
But can / have a private compart-
ment when 1 get TO the next station!'
Certainly. madame.
You viii telegraph for tt?'
"Yes, madame"
The door opened again. a lady step
ped into the compartment, whistle
am
less and flushed with Indignation. A
single glance at her face told me that
she was young and extremely pretty.
Ii was very cold and the fair travel
er wrapped a rug round her. ana gaxed
out obstinately at the wintry landscape;
The other passenger took some official
looking documents out of his portfolio
and examined them, while I pretended
10 be absorbed in my newspapers.
At 1880 we reached Laroche. and as
soon az the train stopped. the gentle
man gathered up his papers. rose, DOW
ed. and left us. The lady went to the
door and asked the stationmaster in an
anxious tone: Have you been tele-
graphed from Paris for a private COM
partment?"
Yes, madame. and I have already
sent the order on.
"On. What do you mean? want II
now"
'Impossible. madame. We have no
4 marriages here. but YOU can get one at
Lyons"
The train started. She went back 20
her seat Indignant and without looking
at me. i began reading my paper again,
but / could not fix my thoughts upon
u'he news my fellow traveller was dis
1rao..ngy pretty. and L longed 10 enter
into conversation with her. She was
lady. / knew. and tracked my brain for
some appropriate and original remark
x,sht 90
was still wondering, when the train
game to sudden halt. and guard
called out:
"Tonnerrel Twenty-Five minutes for
lunch!"
NV yis-a-vis rose, put off her rugs,
laid them on the seat. and got on the
train. She went to the buffet at the LETT
side of the station, and l followed her.
had leisure to admire Hher graceful
figure. which was clad in a long cloak
trimmed with otter; i observed also
ahat she-~ore gray felt hat on her
very black hair. and that she had very
small feet.
rushed into the restaurant with the
rest OF the passengers. My fellow trav-
eler was seated at u separate table,
drinking bouillon. AS soon as l had
Finished, l strolled about, and smoked
a cigarette. The allotted twenty-five
minutes were slipping by, and the pass
went to my place. aand found that the
lady had not yet come back, and on
looking out OF the window i saw her
standing at a booksellers stall. Her
back was toward me, but l recognized
the otter cloak. the gray felt hat. and
1he graceful figure.
All the other passengers were In their
seats; the time was up. the guards shut
uhe doors nosely. yet she did not move.
She would be left behind .Madame,
madame." I cried: but the distance was
TOO great, she could not hear me. There
was hardly a minute left.
Suddenly "A bright idea came to
me. L could not bear TO think of her
being left without her wraps In that
bitter cold; poor little woman. j seized
her satchels, band-boxes aand rugs in
my arms and threw them out of the
window. calling 10 a guard who stood
near:
He picked them up and turned away,
The train began to moves and at the
same instant there entered at the oppo-
site side OF the train, GREATNESS and
hurried. my fellow traveller
Horror. / had made mistake. The
lady at the book stall was not the own
er OF the luggage. Yet her figure. her
cloak, her hat were the samoan OBJ
surd resemblance. What was to be
done now? 4 pretty mess | had made
of Il! While / stood speechess. she
reached her seat and Immediately ex-
claimed:
Where are my satchels? Some one
has taken all my things"
Then for the first time she looked at
me.
Pardon me-" I stammered, your
property has not been stolen. Ii has
been left at Tonnerre.'
why. what for?" she gasped, and
then, as best could. explained.
II am profoundly grieved." | added.
"but truly my intention was good.
did not want you To catch cold. Be-
sides. your things are safe and | shall
telegraph you will telegraph-we viii
telegraph from the next station. | gi e
you my word YOU Will have your things,
if | have 10 go back and fetch them
myself
Enough. sir She answered coldly
81 know what to do" and she "a pwn
and looked out of the window. But
alas. the poor little thing had now 10
warm rugs and befJ~s very long she
began 10 shiver
81