Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-08-12
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER XX.
The first railway was opened In China
about 1877. and ran from Shanghai to
Fou-Tcheou. The Grand Transasiatic
followed very closely the Russian road
proposed In 1874 by Tashkend, Koudja,
Kami, Ian Tcheou. Singan, and Shang-
hal. This railway did not run through
the populous central provinces. which
can be compared to vast and humming
hives of bees. and extraordinarily pro-
life bees. As nearly as possible it forms
straight line to Sou-Tcheou before
curving off to Ian Tcheou; 1t reaches
cities by the branches it gives out to the
south and southeast,
Since we left KOthan. we have covered
hundred and fifty kilometers In four
hours. 1t Is not a high rate Of speed.
but we cannot expect on this part of the
Transasiatic the same rate of travelling
we experienced on the Transcaspian
Either the Chinese engineers are not so
fast. or, thanks to their natural indo-
lence, the engine drivers imagine that
from thirty to forty miles an hour is the
maximum that can be obtained on the
railways of the Celestial Empire
At o'clock in the afternoon we were
at another station, Mia, where General
Pevtsoff established meteorological OBJ
servatory. Here we stopped only twenty
minutes. | had time to lay in few
provisions at the bar. For whom they
We're intended you can lima CINE
The passengers we picked up were only
Chinese. men and women. There were
only a few for the first class and these
only went short journeys.
We had not started a quarter of an
hour, when Ephrinell, with the serious
manner of a merchant intent on some
business, came up to me on the gang
way.
Monsieur Bombarnac." he said, ~
have to ask a favor Of you"
only too happy. l can assure you"
said l. What is it aboutT'
II want you to be a witness. | am GO
ing to marry Miss Bluett"
Marry herT'
"Yes. A treasure Of a woman, well ac-
quainted with business matters, holding
a splendid commisson-"
MY compliments, Mr.. Ephrinelll You
can count on me-"
"And. probably, on Monsieur Cater
nap
HE would like nothing better, and If
there Is a wedding breakfast he will
sing at your dessert"
AS much as he pleases." replied the
American.
Then it Is to be"
Here"
'ln the trainT'
''In the train"
But to be married you require"
An American minister, and we have
the Rev. Nathaniel Morse"
bravo, Mr.. Ephrinelll A wedding in
n train will be delightful"
1t needs not be said that the CONNER
cials were of full age, and free to dis
pose of themselves to enter into mar
riage before a clergyman and without
any Of the fastidious preliminaries re-
qured in France and other journalistic
countries. Is this an advantage or other
wiser The American thinks it is for the
best, and as Cooper says, the best at
home Is the best everywhere.
1t is too late for the ceremony to take
place to-day. Ephrinell understood that
certain conventionalities must be com
piled with. The celebration could take
place In the morning. The passengers
could all be invited. and Faruskair might
be prevailed on to honor the affair with
his presence.
During dinner we talked Of nothing
! else. After congratulating the happy
couple, who replied with true Anglo
q Saxon grace. we all promised to sign the
! marriage contract.
1 And we will do honor to your sigma
e lures" said EphrInell, In the tone of a
: tradesman accepting a bill
e The night came, and We retired, to
I dream Of the marriage festivities Of the
morrow. | took my usual stroll into the
p car occupied by the Chinese soldiers, and
/ found the treasure of the Son of Heaven
faithfully guarded. Half the detach
/ ment were awake and half were asleep
- About l o'clock In the morning | visit
q ed Kinko, and handed him over my pur
chase at Ma. He anticipated no further
v obstacles; he would reach port safely
after all.
o 81 am getting quite fat In this box,
he told me.
: | told him about the Ephrinell- Bluet
e marriage. and how the union was to b
s celebrated next morning with grea
/, pomp.
IS "Ahr said he. with sigh. ''rhe!
= are not obliged to wait until they reacl
J. Pekin."
f "Qulte so, Kinko; but II seems to M
IS that a marriage under such conditions
not likely TO be lasting. But, after all
/, that Is the couples lookout"
It At o'clock In the morning we stop
n ped forty minutes at Tchertchen. almos
o at the foot Of the ramihcations Of tn
; Kuen Lun. None Of us had seen thi
It miserable, desolate country. trselsss an