El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-14
MELLOW TRAVELLERS
By Pearkes Withers

! Exactly what 1t was that induced me
LIantypooI 1 cannot say. Perhaps it
| was the gorgeous poster which haunted
me from a boarding on my way home
every night from the office where
work like a niger for thirty shillings
a week; perhaps it was the eulogistic
leaflet which found it's way to my
breakfast table one morning when I
was feeling far from we'll; perhaps it
was the singularly moderate tariff of
the Llantypool Grand hotel, which
according to yet another leaflet-had
just been opened with all the spfendour
of hundred bed rooms and 1.-The finest
panorama Of the Irish Sea extant."
1t must have been one of these things
which took me to Eustace Cross station
late one Saturday night and led me to
purchase a week end excursion to Liam
typool, because, apart from these
things, did not know the place from
TimbuctoO, and none of my friends or
acquaintance had even heard of it.
But as snuggled down into the cor
ner of a third class carriage, there are
no seconds on the Great North West
ern railway felt sure that 1 was go
ing to have a good time.
The Journey to Llantypool was long
one. Far too long. in fact. And after
three hours had dragged themselves
YEARLY by, 1 began seriously to Won
der whether there would be sufficient
weekend left on my arrival for me
to enjoy my full guinea's worth.
l addressed myself politely to the
one other occupant of the compartment
clean-shaven, elderly gentleman.
Could he tell me how much longer the
journey would occupy to Llantypool?
Il cannot" said he. And he said 1t
in so careful and courteous a manner,
and he bore so distinguished an appear
ance whilst he was saying it, that I
felt sure he must be an impecunious
duke at the very least-a duke be-
cause Of his dignity and an ihpecunious
duke because he travelled third class.
IF he is going to LlantypooP, L
mentally decided, Il must cultivate his
acquaintance"
He was going to LlantypOol, he adj
mitted in the most gracious fashion.
'And-er-do you know the Llanty
pool Grand hotel?" 1 inquired gen
tally.
Il do not, as yet" he replied.
ut has hundred bedrooms" 1 ex-
planned.
/" So I am informed" said he. LAS
matter of fact L am on my way
there
The joy occasioned by my surprise
was almost painful.
For the week end?" 1 cried.
For the season." said he
I'VE must be friends" said L enthu-
siastically. I'm only going there for
the week end, but 1 shall probably run
down again. In fact may run down
quite often"
He smiled systematically, and buried
his head in a newspaper.
This seemed rather inattentive of him,
but 1t did not disconcert me in the
least. I continued to cnat brightly to
him throughout the remainder of the
Journey and he answered me when-
ever an answer was really necessary.
did most of the talking. l rum
mayed my brain for all the clever OBJ
servations 1 had ever made or heard
in my life, and I repeated them to him
as though they were perfectly sponta-
neous; and 1 was just in the middle
of brilliant sally which had borrowed
form a book when the train stopped
with a jerk.
My companion thrust his heal cut
of the window.
This is Llantypool,' said he.
To tell the truth, L had almost fer
gotten Llantypool in the pleasure of
hearing my own voice; bit rs we