She Was Needlessly Excited

Years ago, journeying with ïny hnsband in Italy, we were on one occasion BOle occupants of ihe railway compartment. Stopping at Padua, a suspicious looking person entered the carriage, placing himself on tbe opposite seat with ïny hnsband, while I sat opposite them and diagonally froni the newcomer. My opinión of Italians, acquired from the reading of romance, was that they were mostly brigands or robbers. Here was one of the type. While I fastened my gaze upon his sinister countenance, what was my horror to see hiin stealthily draw a stiletto from his pocket and lay it by his side. I coughed - my busband ignored it. Then I placed my foot npon his, which hedrewaway, annoyed. Cold chills seized me. We had watches and money. People had been mnrdered for less. I feared to speak. French, Germán, even English, the man ruight know. My husbandspokeDutch. Would that I could haf e imparted my fe-rs in tbat tongne! There was little danger of thehighwayman's knowing it. While I contemplated jumping from thewindowMr. S was calmlyviewing the Italian scenery without. Alarm bells.were not in nse, and the guard was a misnomer. Again the man eought his pocket. I This time for a pistol! No, it was merely a pamphlet, and hecoolly took vip the stiletto and cut the leaves prepaiatory to reafling. I feil back exhausted ; but, I further argued, might not a stiletto do doublé dnty, mnch as forks can be used for toothpicka? Presently he laid the pampbjet down. My husband, glancing at the title page, immediately addressed the man in Dutch, afterward disclosing that our fellow tra-veler was a harmless Dutch dominie. The stiletto proved a paper qutter and the murderous glearn j in his èye only the blue light of iszj.-