A LITTLE MISTAKE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1207, 21 November 1882, Page 2

A LITTLE MISTAKE.

The scene was a firat-class carriage on the Great Western Railway. The dale need not be mentioned. There were no ladies in the carriage. One of the passengers took out his cigarcase, and, giving a look of inquiry, but not making any remark, lit up and puffed away. Aa ho progressed toward the end of his cigar he noticed a look of great irritation on the face of his vis-a-vis. “ I ain afraid, sir,” said the smoker, hurriedly, “ that my cigar annoys you ?” “ It does, sir ; it annoys ;me excessively.” “I am sure I beg ■ your pardon,” said the gentleman, and threw his cigar out of the window. ' “ That’s all very well,” said his fellowpassenger, “ but 1 mean to give you in charge directly I get to Bath You i were perfectly well aware that this is ! not a smoking car, and I mean to defend the rights of passengers.” u I am ' really very sorry, sir, but I took it for i granted that there was no objection.” ‘ “I made up my mind, sir,” was the dogmatic reproach, “soon after we left Swindon, that f would give you in charge the first opportunity.” Then there was an awkward pause, and present ly the offender said : “ Perhaps

you will take my card? I happen to hold a public position, and should like to avoid a disturbance.” “ I don’t want your card, sir.” “ But you had better look at it.” T«he aggrieved passenger looked at it contemptuously, but, it was the card of a Royal Duke ! Things now went on pleasantly, but before he left the carriage the gentleman expressed a hope that his Royal Highness would not think that ho had acted wrongly. “ That is a point which we need not discuss.” said his Royal Highness.— London Society.