"Thank you, sir. I may say the same to you."
He then remarked, "I don't believe you'll have any difficulty in getting through to Memphis, or any trouble after you reach there. I will be glad to assist you any way I can."
I thanked him for his kind intentions; and he then, in a hesitating sort of a way, said, " I hope you won't feel offended if I inquire how your finances are."
"O, no, sir; no offence at all. I am sorry to say that my funds are rather low."
"Well, I'll see you fixed all right until you can hear from your friends. How long do you expect to remain in Memphis?"
"No longer than I can possibly help ; for I want to get back to Europe, where I have friends who will take care of me, at the earliest opportunity."
"I'm mighty sorry you are going to make such a short stay. I was hoping that we might become better acquainted. It isn't often that we meet with real ladies in these parts."
An Anxious Inquirer.
He then proceeded to inquire who my relatives in Europe were, where they lived, whether they were wealthy or not, he seemed to be especially anxious on this point, how old I was, whether I had ever thought much about getting married again, and so forth. I answered his queries as promptly as he could have wished, and perhaps more to his satisfaction than if I had told him the exact truth in every instance.
At length the whistle blew, and the train stopped at his camp. He jumped up, and rushed out, without even saying good-by; and while I was wondering where he had left his politeness, I saw him running as fast as he could go, and presently dodge into a tent. In a moment or two more out he came in his shirt sleeves, and ran for the train, with his coat in his hand, and jumped on board just as we were starting. I turned around, and watched him as he got into the car behind me, and saw him put on a rather better looking uniform coat than the out-at-the-elbows blouse he had been wearing, and a paper collar and black necktie. These last I considered as particularly delicate attentions to myself.
When he had completed his toilet, he came forward, and, seating himself beside me, said, " I will allow myself the pleasure of going through to Memphis with you."
