The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-28
A RAILWAY ROMANCE
FROM SUNNY FRANCE
Love Story That Began in Mistake
Made by Railway Hands.

After 1 had graduated with honors
from Saumur l was appointed second
lieutenant of the Sixteenth Cuirassiers.
knew but little, was an old friend of
my family.
One morning toward the end of Oc-
tober I received orders to join my regi-
ment Immediately. The evening found
me, walking up and down the platform
of the station a few moments before
the departure of the o'clock express,
looking for a vacant compartment
The guard opened a door bearing the
sign Smokers ! made wry face,
but as l stood a good chance of hav-
ing the compartment to myself, 1
jumDed aboard.
AS l had hoped, no one disturbed
me. Little by little, lulled by the mo-
notonous movement, l fell into a light
sleep.
Chateau Thierry!" called the guard
in a hoarse voice
l opened one eye and stretched my
self. A young woman swept like a
whirlwind into my compartment.
''Well," l thought, here is d woman
"Good-by, aunt" the young traveller
called as we We're starting.
"Good-by, my dear child" replied an
older voice. "Give my love to your
parents. Good-by, Gilberte!'
So her name was Gilberte, a pretty
name, and one that should belong only
to pretty woman.
1 opened both eyes this time. AS 1
| had taken care on leaving Paris to
IVlea rIoa- 10 oh cd
| from the light. l could see her much
more plainly than she could see me.
| She was really very pretty.
| The young woman arranged her
bundles and unfolded her travelling rug.
l saw that she was looking at me at
tentively. Buried in the high collar
of my ulster, for the car was icy cold,
l did not bulge.
After having taken from her valse
flannel sacque and a long furred
coat she took off her jacket and
proceeded to wrap herself up for the
night.
"Unauestionably she has taken me
for a woman" l laughed softly to
myself as she gradually dozed off to
sleep.
Midnight One o'clock.
! "Frouard. Three minutes stop" cried
the guard.
| I rose, threw off my furs and jump
ed down on the platform for a brisk
walk. At the moment the signal for
departure was given 1 jumped on the
train again.
Horrors. My gentle neighbor, who
| but a few minutes before had been
slumbering so gracefully, rose with a
spring, and stood before me looking
highly offended.
"This is objectionable, sir" she said
In trembling voice. "No, you shall
not enter" and she placed herself be-
fore me, to oppose my entrance.
The station master thinking 1 had
mounted. blew his whistle, and it was
! impossible for me to withdraw. Be
wildered as l was by this strange re-
ception, before which l would have re-
tired under any other circumstances,
l forced the weak barrier aside, and,
! jumping into the compartment, slam
med the door behind me, just as the
| train started.
The girl gave a smothered cry. She
looked for the alarm bell, but the
! semi darkness prevented her seeing it,;
and she fell back on the cushions re-
signedly, apparently expected to be
murdered.
had regained my self-possession.
! and approaching her courteously, l
said, in my softest voice:
Calm yourself, madam, I beg. What
have | done to arouse your indigna-
! tion?"
She lifted her large black eyes, spar
king with anger, to my face.
What have you done?" she repeated.
in a voice choked with emotion. you
ask me what you have done? 1t is
objectionable to take advantage of a
disguise tom, no. it is too terrible"
But I could not prevent you from
entering the compartment"
mo, but you might have spoken. and
this mistake would not have occurred.
Besides. she added in a naughty
tone, III you had been where you be-
longed, all this would not have hap
pened."
Il do not understand you, madam. It
| seems to me I was the first to occupy
this compartment"
"Oh. And since when have gentle
men right to enter ladies' compart-
ments?"
Ladies' compartments! Well this is
going too far" l explained. Il took
this compartment for smokers in Par
is, in order to be alone" g
do not think sir, that you cHlI OK
cuse your baseness by such a pretext"
Pardon me. madam, it is easy to
verify"
ooh can easily prove TO you"
With a simultaneous movement we
rushed to our respective sides of the
compartment. and. slipping our arms
through the little side windows. we
took the signs from the doors. We
held our trophies up TO the light. and
she read aloud:
Ladies! There you See" she added.
triumphantly.
Smokers" read from my sign.
Are you convinced"