UNDER AN UMBRELLA.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 14

UNDER AN UMBRELLA.

. A RUN IN THE RAIN. ASHORE IN "A LEAKY SHIP. the rxvALrn's return. (By A.S.E.) "The rain.- coming through the roof; I'm getting tvei." "Sn ,tiii .1." "So an,' I." ( horns or "So am I." in a carriage en the Xurth Auckland express. It was'-Friday afternoon, and I was returning to town after a pleasant stay at the hut springs at Parakai. Heavy rain had -been falling all morning, the wind had been Mowing half a gale, and there wua a large number of people getting back to Auckland from their sojourn in the hot water district, all testifying in a re.ijl good time, and to a great im- : pjrovemflnt in their health. Many of them j wpi'p sufferers from rheumatism and j kindred Jeomplainta. Hence their adven- j lure was all the more unpleasant, if not ! serious.) So nifcar. was the trend townwarda that I became uneasy wiien, having i let. the ; n»ail liuh pass to secure the greater 'comfort of a motor. I found thai. I had to wait for a hired car to make a third trip from Parakai. Better not say, how many minutes the driver claimed to have covered the refuni journey in the second time, but he admitted having heard the train whistling and there was no ceremony as passengers and luggage weca bundled -aboard for "the final." The road was greasy with rain, but the going was fairly good, and. with a slight slowing down-at the bends, quite a fast pace was maintained till, just entering Helensville, along came the express from Auckland (we, wanted the "down"' express). And at wJjat a snail's pace it seemed to be moving as we waited on the further side of the crossing. Over at last, a little more speeding up, and the station is reached.- 'Passengers and luggage bundle out, resigned to buy their tickets on the train, and think themselves lucky to get aboard anyhow. And the train hadn't arrived. It had been delayed some ten minutes on the trip from the north. -Something to do with bad weather, we were told. '•" "A Full House." Still there was no time to waste, and with first-class tickets one small party staggered the full length of the station, looking for a vacant seat. It was "a full house"—or so it seemed. But, lucky last, the carriage next to the guard's van was a "first," and there were a few vacant seats. Out of breath with carrying mudh; luggage, and perspiring from the weight of overcoats in the heated atmosplrer,e, we sank into what seemed to be a haven of rest. The dozen passengers already in the carriage appeared to enjoy our' arrival. This was pleasant, if unusual. With luggage safely stowed on the racks, where luggage must be placed if not small enough, ttf- go, under the aeats, arid having hung up our overcoats and unjbrellas, after taking a few to recover our over-taxed breath, we. settled down to "read" away the dreary two hours' journey. The atmo"spliere" : Qn'"entering certainly appeared. very 'tstuffy/,' and no wonder, for every window was'tightly locked, for rain was driving in apparently from every quarter compass. Little Drops of "Water. "The- rain's coming through the roof," said tlie latest ajriyal (.a lady) "and I'm getting wet." ChpiTia of "So ; am I's," as before S. stated. ~,Tliere was still one vacant seat and lady made" a move, putting' her feet up against the chair in front for greater comfort. Then the rain came down on her stockings. A lady's dress nowadays will not cover stockiijgs on extended feet, so she drew in The. floor of the carriage was sofdeing wet, but the lady discovered that aKei was fairly safe ii she rested ( on hertlieels. - ; The ;', rain evidently commenced to descenS more heavily, for now, with a chorus'of "Oh's," up went four umbrellas. Then came along the guard "AH tickets, please." The guard did nbt'seem'to be using iis customary business tone ,of addresa; indeed,' he looked^rather drooping." Tickets! All right. But the pasgers had' something to say before they gave tip their tickets, as the guard wedged' his way between the umbrellas. "CanV'you find us seats in the guard's van?" one man. "What about a. tarpaulin over the roof ?"-tqueried another. Wished Mr. Coates. Was There. "And; you call..this- an 'express' train and a ?fifst class' carriage," commented an indignant man from under the shelter of a ''Srolly." '•'I- was- glad I brought my UtJjbrella, but"" , ! didn't expect to use ifri lhside of., a first class railway carriage." He wished Mr. Coafces was there. . ' The vguar<J was apologetic and he said what a good tempered guard might be expected to say under the circumstances. checked the tickets, and passed!on his. way to the rear of the train.« A little chaff over the discomfiture of the guard. Then the guard came back. "If two of you gentlemen care to move into the (some passenger said) the guard's van I can find you seats." Two men jumped at the opportunity and two wet looking seats were> vacated. • -.i Henderson was reached in -due time, and some passengers', 'having reached their destination, got put • ■ Then the guard came back. He could find vacant seats for two ladies in the carriage ahead. Ladies in the Smoker. "What! the smoker!" queried one,' still reclining under her 'umbrella' ' "iea, it is the smoker!" admitted the guard. "But men like ladies in the knew ;1 PTOt rt? }!» lad >'' and *»<> smoker k' ' ' , like ladies in the smoker. That was her own experience. Kill cISi r( sTeifo e ut-'' Side,the ladies -d we'll be '1 Je h " f™ "' Hen der ß on" and "Avon-