Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-08-19
CHAPTER XXI.


the seizure Of the Chinese treasure; he
had attacked the train in the plains of
Cobb; the car is assaulted, pillaged, ran
sacked; the gold and precious stones, to
the value Of fifteen millions, are torn
from the grasp of the Celestials, who
yield after a courageous defense AS to
the passengers. another two minutes of
sleep would have settled their fate
and mine.
But all that disappeared with the
vapors Of the night Dreams are not
fixed photographs; they fade in the sun,
and end by effacing themselves.
In taking my stroll through the train
as good townsman takes his stroll
through the town, am Joined by Major
Noltitz. After shaking hands, he show
ed me Mongol In the second-class car,
and said to me, THAT is not one of those
we picked up at Douchak when we pick
ed up Faruskiar and Ghangir."
That is So" sand l; II never saw that
face in the train Before"
Popof, to whom l applied for infor-
nation. told me that the Mongol had got
in at Tchertchen. when he arrived"
he said, the manager spoke to him for
minute, from which l concluded that
he also was one of the staff Of the Grand
Transasiatic."
had not noticed Faruskar during my
walk. Had he alighted at one of the
small stations between Tchertchen and
Tcharkalyk, where we ought to have
been about o'clock in the afternoon?
No, he and Changer were on the gang
way in front of our car. They seemed
to be in an animated conversation. and
only stopped to take a good look toward
the northeastern horizon. Had the Mon
gol brought some news which had made
them throw off their usual reserve and
gravity? And abandoned myself to my
imagination, foreseeing adventures, at
tacks of bandits and so on, according to
my dream.
was recalled to reality by the Rev.
Nathaniel Morse, who said to me: at
is fixed for to-day; do not forget"
That meant the marriage of Fulk Eph-
rinell and Horatia Bluett Really, l was
not thinking of it. 1t is time for me to
go and dress for the occasion. All can
do will be to change my shirt. 1t is
enough that one Of the husbands wit
nesses should be presentable; the other
Caterna, Will be sure to be magnificent
1t was at 0 o'clock that this marriage
was to take place. announced by the bell
OF the tender. which was to sound full
clang as II it were a chapel bell. With
a little Imagination we could believe we
were in village. But whittier did this
bell invite the witnesses and guestsi Into
the dining car. which had been cOnven-
iently arranged for the ceremony, as
had taken good care.
1t was no longer dining car; II was a
hall car, if the expression is admissible.
The big table had been taken away and
replaced by small table which served
as desk. A few flowers bought at
Tchertchen had been arranged in the
corners of the car, which was large
enough to hold nearly all who wished to
be present-and those who could not get
inside could look on from the gangways
quarter to nine. No one has yet
seen the happy couple. Miss Bluett is
in one Of the toilet cabinets in the first
van, where she is probably preparing
=. herself. Fulk Ephrinell is perhaps
struggling with his cravat and giving 8
last polish to his portable jewelry | an
not anxious. We shall see them as soor
l as the bell rings.
l have but one regret, and that is that
, Faruskiar and Changer should be to,
busy to join us. Why do they continu,
tn look over the immense desert? Be
fore their eyes there stretches not tn,
cultivated steppe of the Lob-Nor region
r but the Cobb, which is barren. desolat,
= and gloomy. 1t may be asked why thes
D people are keeping such an obstinate
b, lookout.
IF my presentiments do not deceiv
me-" said Major Noltitz, there is som
o reason for it,"
What does he mean? But the bell o
the tender, the tender bell, begins It
joyous appeal. Nine o'clock it is time I
go into the dining car.
The passengers move In a procession
;. the four witnesses first, then the guest
Z from the end of the village mean O
4 the train; Chinese, Turkomans, Tartar.
4 men and women, all curious to assist a
2 the ceremony. The four Mongols renal
on the last gangway near the treasur,
which the Chinese soldiers do not leav
:. for an instant.
6 We reach the dining car. The clerg,
o man Is seated at the little table, on whic
g Is the certificate of marriage he ha
7 prepared according to the customar
form. He looks as though he was a,
. customed to this sort of thing. which
% as much commercial as matrimonial
Here is Mr. Fulk EphrnelI. dresse
, this morning just as he was dressed We,
terday, with pencil behind the lobe q
70 his left ear, for he has just been ma kin
Z out an account for his New York hous,
o Here is Miss Horatia Bluett. as THU
% as dry. as plain as ever, her dust-cloa
u over her travelling gown, and in plac
-e of jewelry a noisy bunch of keys, whic
J., hangs from her belt.
: The company politely rise as the brid
and bridegroom enter They mar
time" as Caterna says. Then they n,
,e vance toward the clergyman, who
- standing with. his hand resting on
- Bible, open probably at the place whel
- Isaac, the son Of Abraham, espouses Il,
u becca. the daughter of Rachel
2 We might fancy we were in a chap
IS If we only had a harmonium And III
10 music is herel II it is not a harmoniun
"a 1t is the next thing to it. An accordio
makes itself heard in Caterna's hand
As an ancient mariner he knows no
to manipulate this instrument of tOrtur
ID and here he IL swinging out the andant
- from Norma" with the most accordion
esQue expression.
p. 1t seems to give great pleasure to II
natives Of Central Asia. Never ha,
70 their ears been charmed by the ant
E. quated melody that the pneumatic a.
paratus was rendering so expressivel
i'd But everything must end in this worl
y, even the andante from Norma" m
IN the Rev. Nathaniel Morse began to fav'
Il the young couple with the speech viii,
Ind done duty many times before und