The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7863, 4 July 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

A TRAIN INCIDENT |i 1 After I had graduated with lion- s nurs from Saumer 1 was appointed ' second lieutenant of the Sixteenth Cuirassiers. The colonel el the regi- , Bent, whom I knew but little, was an old (riead ot my faintly. One morning towards the end of Oc- , loner I received orders to Join my ' regiment immediately. The evening found me walking up ami down the platform of the station a few minutes betum the departure of the 8 o'clock express, looking (or a vacant compartment. The guard opened a door healing the sign "Smokers." I made a wry face, but as 1 stood a good ch.'.ncc of having the coniinriuicHl to mvseli. 1 jumped aboard. As 1 tad hoped, in one disturbed me. Little by little, lulled by the monotonous movement, I fell into a light sleep. "Chateau Thierry !" called tbe guard in a hoarse voice. I opened one eye and stretched myself. A young woman swept tike a whirlwind into my compartment. "Well," I thought, ''here is a woman who does not object to smoke." " Good-bye, aunt," the young traveller called as we Were starting. " Rood-bye, my dear child, *' replied an oMk voice. " Give my love to your parents. Good-bye, Gilbert* !" So her name was Gilbert*, a pretty name, and eie that should belong only to a pretty woman. I opened both my eyes this time. As I had taken care on leaving Paris to place myself where I would be shielded from the light, I could see her much more plainly than she could see me. She was really very pretty. The young woman arranged her bundles and unfolded her travelling rug. I saw that she was looking at me attentively. Buried in the high collar of my ulster, for. the car was icy cold, t did not budge. After having taken from her valise . a llannel sacque and a long furred coat, she took off her jacket, and proceeded to wrap herself up for the light. Unquestionably she had taken me for a woman, I laughed softly to mvself as she gradually dozed ofs to sleep. Midnight. One o'clock. Fronard ; three-minute slop," cried the guard. I rose, threw off ray furs, and gat down on the platlorm for a brisk walk. At the moment, ttie signal for departure was given I jumped on the train again. Horrors. My gentle neighbour, who but a few minutes before had been slumbering so gracefully, rose with a spring, and stood, before me looking highly offend*)." " this is unpardonable, sir." she said in a trembling voice. "No you shall not enter," and she placed' herself before me to oppose my cntrancej The stationmastrr, thinking t had mounted, blew his whistle, and it was impossible for me to withdraw. Bewildered as I was by this strange reception, before whioh I would have retired nnder »ny other circumstances I forced Hie wea* barrier aside, and jumping into tho compartment, I slammed the door behind me just as the train started. The girl pirn a smWhwed err. She; looked lor the akum bell, but the semi-darkness prevent* her seeing it and she (ell back on tbe cushions resignedly, apparently expecting to be murdered. I had regained mf "self-possession, and approaching her courteously, I said, in my softest; voice : 'Calm yourself, madam, I beg. What have I done to arouse your indignation ?'» i» ■' She lifted • «« large black eyes, sparking wiltra»ger, to my fate. What have you done.?" she re- ?• ™-„,." a TO W <*olao« with emotion. '\ou «t*-me wihat you have done 1 It is unpardonable to take advantage «f s disguis*-oh, no. it is 100 terrible." - Hut i nmlil nof. prevent you from ".'""S tW* conipaUtmenl,^ No. but you m jgj,t have spoken, and this mistake wsmld not have occurred." ~ "I umWsUnd, you, madam. It Menis t» nie that I was the first to occupy this compartment." ' " Oh • And since when have gentlemen a right to enter ladies' compartments ?" " Ladies' compartments ! Well, J,t . 15 . 8 ?i" 6 tof ' '"•" r exclaimed. I took this compartment for smoker? "> ""s. "» order to be alone." Do you ihin'i sir, that you can excuse your 'baseness on such a pretext." " Pardon me, madam, it is easy to verify." "Oh, I can easily prove to vou." With a simultaneous movement wc rushed to our respective side of the compartment, and, slipping our arms through the little side windows, wc took the signs from the doors. We held our trophies up, to the light, and she read aloud j—"Ladies ! There, jou see," she added, triumphantly "Smokers," 1 rcajd irom my sign. Are you convinced.," We verified each ether's assertions, ookrd at each oth«r, and burst out laughing. "Well." I said, 'it is all the fault of the railway. " Here wc arc. as Nancy," she remarked, endeavpuqiug to regain her self-possession.. As the traini slowed up she looked "™ r!u toUßh <hß «* n <'ow at my side. Oh, thrtc is my father," she said. I opened the efeo*. and she fell into the arm,- of a <all gentleman of mi itaryea/riage, qho was decorated with the rosette ©f the Legion of Honour. 1 desoendoji, and when 1 passed tkein the yojing weman drew her father aside. A* 1 walked towards the lunch-npoin I said to myself : "Where nave I seert that head?" Thirty-ffive minutes latv-r we met again at tbe door of ;ho same compartment. The old gentleman looked at me attentively. " 1 b(> S T"ur pardon, sir," lie said after some hesitation, lifting his bat, "Are you not; M-Gaston dc Verdrel ?'< "I am. sir," I replied, bowing. He belft oat his hand. " My dear boy, what a fortunate coincidence. You did not eipect, I am sure, that your colonel wouldeoiue to meet you." Fgr a, few seconds I stood speechless. "Colonel," I stammered at last, making the military salute. The old man saw my embarrassment, and, pushing me towards the compartment, said : "The train starts in a minute. Let us gci in. Young mail, 1 ' he added.

laughing, "is this the way you join your regiment ;by travelling in ladies' compartments with young women ? "

Tlic two signs were still on the scat and th> girl looked (ton, Ihnu to me. All three of as burst out laughing again. " Colonel," I said humbly, " you see I am not so culpable as von might think." " Very well," he replied. "You are now under my orders, my young ill tend, and I shall inflict th« punishment you deserve."

1 wish all my young colleagues a similar punishment. Two months later I married Gilberte.