Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

7 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

IT [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED] IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE. By TIMOTHY SLICK, # 2.-0H SO SWEET. The world knows me, Oscar Lavington, as a rising barrister in a provincial town. It is by dint of hard work in my practice that I have obtained my present position in the sphere of the law. People speak of me as the rising star of my profession. Many things have contributed towards this result. One among the many, and I was going to say the chief, is no doubt the fact that I have not, like many another man before me. taken to myself a wife. In not being trammelled by the affairs of domestic life, I can troce the reason of my great success, for had I been married and a f.mily had been the resultant, I should have been so wot,iied and hampered, that I could not possiblv have given that attantion to my vocation PS is nrc-ssuy for the purpose of becoming a bright and shining nght. I am generally supposed to have some very decided opinions about marriage state, and some of my friends tell me I am a vsom-an hater—well, I am not exactly that. The best word to set forth my position towards the other" sex is woman negledor, Willi one exception I have simply turned my back upon them, and have gone on as though they were not,—that is so far as the marriage question is concerned. I am very fond of travelling, and being of an obser- vant nature, I am alwnys on the look ont for some- thing that will increase my mental stock, whither, we travel by road, rail or sea. If we have eyes to sea and ears tc hear we shall surely come across some- thing tint will in some way or other prove interesting to us. This being 1"0, I am always on the alert, and therefore, rarely fail to profit by any journey that I may take. Railwny travelling affords many spicy items to the acute observer. Discussions of all kinds—political, social and moral—are to be heard; scenes—humorous, and gay or grim and sad,—constantly pass before the eye. Here is one whose deeply crapf,d dress betokens the loss of some beloved one; there, another in btidnl robes, which whisper that the weavers highest ideal has been realised at last, while beside her sits the man whose radiant face betokens that he at Jeast, has found the one 4, Who in his heart shall reign as queen And he her toiling slave." I recollect coming acnss such a pair on one occa- sion. I was travelling on the Midland Railway to a certain town which shall be nameless. The train had stopped at an intermediate station, and my only fellow passenger till then had got otif. I had shut the door, and was comfortably arranging my wraps around me, so that I might rest more easily, when I was rudely interrupted by the entrance of a young couple. They took their seats in the farther corner of the compart- ment. and having put their numerous wraps and and what not on the racks above and on the seat jo front of them, they settled down just as the train was moving off. „ True to my natural instinct, I began to cast side- way glances st them. I could observe at once by the way they looked at each other, that they had been newly married,—aroiher glance convinced me that they were married, for I saw the wedding ring glitter on the hand from which the glove had just been removed. Perhaps she was anxious that I should know the mighty deed was dene, for she sent a glance across at me, and catching my eye. looked down again upon that band of gold. Ah, if she had only known I was a musty fusty crusty old batchelor, she would not have-well, never mind what ? but this con- vinced rtlfl that she was married, and that it was only recently too was confirmed by the attire she wore— from the crown of her heai to the sole of her feet there were evidences that she had passed in through the door to the long desire d e^ysium. "For her the roses now had bloomed, But what about the thorns." From stray words, I could catch that they were on their way to spend the honeymoon. I had long considered that all moonshine. I saw that they sat as near as they possibly could to each other, and looked unutterable love, and spoke the softest trash, and called each other darling. I wished they had got into some other carriage. 1 felt uncomfortable in such an atmosphere of sentimen- talism, but there was no way out of it, so I made the best I could of my position. I have been told that in married life, the husband calls his wife darling the first year; Mrs the second; and woman get out of the way" the third- I wordered if these two would Come to that. 1 was charitable enough to hope that in their case it would not be so. By and bye we- r mean the train-dashed into a tunnel and we were in the dark. I could hear rustling, and mysterious sounds like thunder claps in the opposite corner yonder. I could catch the honeyed whisper, "my darling," as it floated gently over to me, and then a sudden thought struck me, I resolved to act upon. I would pretend to go to sleep after we had l/ft the tunnel, but hear and see all i could. I r didn't believe in this kind of thing. I had never been guilty myself of such folly nevertheless I should like to see what was meant by making love. Presently we dashed out of the darkness and I looked round to see what ? that they sat as demurely there as if they had not moved the whole time. But had I not heard mysterious sounds ? yes, I was sure I had. Well, now I see for myself how foolish man could be —how blindly infatuated woman could make him. I picked up my London Daily and after reading awhile, I appeared as though I felt drowsy. So I settled back in the corner, pulled my cap partly over my eyes, and went off into—snores- But my ears were wide open, and one of my eyea could partly see. By and bye she whispered See, Tom, be has gone to sleep." Thank goodness," be replied, we can talk and love one another now, till he wakes again." Oh, Tom, I am so glad I am your little wife at last. Kiss me will you ? Yes, my darling, I will-" And here he drew her to himself, and held her in a close embrace. 11 Tom, Tom, I am so happy," she whispered. Are you, darling," be said, looking fondly down upon h'r, "There, rest your head upon my shoulder," he continued. Now are ycu happyaLd contented ? (ó Yes, oh yes," she said. Tom, hold me closer to ytur heart, I feel safer there, my love." Of course the old cake did so. There they sat locked in each others arms—for she bad entwined her arms around his neck—talking in lovesick strains to one another, which was intwblended with those mysterious sounds before alluded to- They talked of the little home to which they would return of the bright days which should be full of joy and love of the happy hours they should spend together. To them, life was truly painted with roseate hues, and as I sat and listened, I wondered if I had been mistaken, and that after all, there was a life where a man and woman could be one, and find in common tastes, and common aspirations, and common feelings that ideal that I had but hitberto but ridiculed. To those two opposite me, love's young dream was unmistakeably sweet! As these thoughts came to me, I came to myself so to speak. They then sank into the former fluiet atti- tude of sitting near each other, and found content- ment by talking with the eyes of love, and by basking in the sunshine which illuminated their faces. The rest of the journey was spent by me in medi- tating whether I could find a sweetness such as this. I resolved that I would try. Gent Ie reader, I have sought in places high and low; I have almost held the cup of bliss (?) to my lips,-but I am a bathelor still. Can you tell me why ? Is it because I gave myself to success that woman now again has still no charm for me, or is there yet another cau!)? It may be so. Who can tell ?

Police Intelligence.

[T DISGUSTING CONDUCT OF A…

Trinity Wesleyan Choir.

-------, Water Polo at Penarth.

A New Vicar for Penarth,

You can be Cured