The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-02-19

w2y train shut % I'D g compartment
with bat one person besides myseIf Z
wonan- ! am al Inveserafe smoker
and Il occurred 10 me that perhaps the
lady world not object 70 my ligbtina
cigar asked her permission. abs
assented graciously. and, taking one
from my cigar case. | lighted r. Il
was long cigar. pointed 81 both ends.
and remarkably well made. J mention
this because II II had been Loosely
wrapped probably there would be uofb.
Ing Of especial Interest 10 this story
As began to pun composedly drew
from my pocket morning paper and
commenced TO read
~ envy yoB your s0laee, monsieur. "
the Iady remarked. Travelling Is dull
and We women have 20 such way Of
passing the time"
lowered mr. paper and for the frst
time took look AZ Der. She Was pass
ably good looking, comparatively young
and rery well dressed Since she had
been 30 good as to permit me to smoke
considered 1t only fair that should
take her hat and relieve Der ennui By
chatting With der. I was aware that
the day Of making acquaintance 10
fhis way even ia America had passed,
and even there II had never been usual
for the woman to take the Initiative,
but my companion looked bored. and
attributed her desire simply 10 be tenn
porariiy amused
tested her on different topics ana
soon found that she WAS most interest
81 10 Misunderstanding pleasures,
such as the thester aud the race course.
She preferred, however. ID talk of nov
els and eyineed an especial Interest 10
those Of Emile zola Indeed, she con.
yersed about ehe characters 10 those
unconventional romances with free
dom that arrested my attention. And
II seemed 10 me that the more uncop
YentionaI the characters the better she
liked them. Finally. taking the latest
OF Zola'g stories published from her
travelling bag. she opened II at GER
tain page and asked me to fit beside
her and read q passage, giving as an
excuse for not doing 20 herself that
she was very poor reader
Pardon me- said. Il am smoking.
The fumes would be- unpleasant TO
you
mot at oil. ! love them
But ! protested. 'yon see that the
ash % my cigar Is very long IL !
should move II would fall Now. | am
fastidious about my smoking. lore
freshly lighted cigar. and 70 long as
fine ash remains 10 it's place the cigar
seems as Il was at tie FIRST touch Of
the match. Indeed. II tastes the same
but once knock Of the ash and the
cigar is but a stump, the smoke gets
IN my eyes and well, II Is not the
same BY any means
To tell the truth, this WAS bnt an ex
cusc had come to suspect the ladg
to be On adventures and did not look
with e0Mplaaency upon being shut up
alone witt her. She seemed TO discern
from my refasal 70 RI bg Der that
had my suspicion aud, iu1tsad of at
tempting 10 aliay them, begrn to work
upon my fears
"A man rho scorns q lady's 40
Tanaes should BE- nade 70 pay for hls
radencgsH size SAID sharply
considered this D threat. and to dis
play nn unconeern / Old not feel re-
eumed n.y. paper JUDGED. there WINS
nothing else for me TO DO. felt cure
That tie woman would spring trap
% me for the purpose Ut extorting
blackmaiI. and / saw before me 4 serl
Gus complication. possible arrest and
Imprisonment But the more Inward
trepidafion / felt the more outward
GOODNESS showed / concentrated my
attention upon maintaining the ash %
tie end OF my cigar Every time re
moved the cigar from between my lips
aud Pat II hack / did SO with the ut
most care Presently the woman tool ]
out her watch and looted at Il
1--WE win reach the station az n. III
1re Minutes she said, Il need 300
francs. Choose between giving them
to me Or an arrest on n charge Of as
hdAiA NHti i3F ANtatt Htpif1f
Had she been willing 70 settle for
napoleon | would not have yielded.
consider II demeaning IN any man "a
pay blaekmnll II may or may not
be common sense. but do not believe
In mixing a beginning IN that direc
tion. gave tha woman no reply, bns
continued 10 appear Interested In keep I
Ing the ash on the end OF my cigar
Finally the houses BY the way grew {
thicker, and the trim slowed down.
"I'll settle for 1000 francs said the
I'm one minute more my (
price will be 1900" At the same time ]
sho began 10 pull her apparel awry to
Indicate that che had been through |
struggle.
smoked on.
In another minute the train pulled up
Il the aiation The woman put her
aead out Of the window and shrieked !
or tie guard. Tie came, followed BY !
,fIlcinls and curious people, and drew !
open the door. !
sThla brute has assaulted me" said I
he woman ARREST him" g
The guard aud bis followers all lev. !
lied their eyes at me Taking what q
little remained OF my cigar from my
mouth, extended It slowly toward
he crowd on the platform.
"Could man." said. interfere
With any one and keep an ash like thar !
n the end OF a cigarY" ]
As ! spoke the woman, upon whom