from Boston, such early preparations seemed extremely ridiculous. He
became so excited at last that he could not keep his secret. Some one must
be made a confidant; and as I happened to be the nearest to him, he
selected me.

3. Turning around suddenly, and rocking himself to and fro in his chair,
he said, "I have been away from home three years. Have been in Europe. My
folks don't expect me for three months yet, but I got through and started.
I telegraphed them at the last station--they've got the dispatch by this
time." As he said this he rubbed his hands, and changed the portmanteau on
his left to the right, and then the one on the right to the left.

4. "Have you a wife?" said I. "Yes, and three children," was the answer.
He then got up and folded his overcoat anew, and hung it over the back of
the seat. "You are somewhat nervous just now, are you not?" said I.

5. "Well, I should think so," he replied. "I have n't slept soundly for a
week. Do you know," he went on, speaking in a low tone, "I am almost
certain this train will run off the track and break my neck before I get
to Boston. I have had too much good luck lately for one man. It can't
last. It rains so hard, sometimes, that you think it's never going to
stop; then it shines so bright you think it's always going to shine; and
just as you are settle in either belief, you are knocked over by a change,
to show you that you know nothing about it."

6. "Well, according to your philosophy," I said, "you will continue to
have sunshine because you are expecting a storm." "Perhaps so," he
replied; "but it is curious that the only thing which makes me think I
shall get through safe is, I fear that I shall not."