218 WINTER SUNSHINE 



that I lost at once my desire to tramp up them. I 

 barely had time to turn from the mountains to 

 get a view of Conway Castle, one of the largest 

 and most impressive ruins I saw. The train cuts 

 close to the great round toAver, and plunges through 

 the wall of gray, shelving stone into the bluff be 

 yond, giving the traveler only time to glance and 

 marvel. 



About the only glimpse I got of the Welsh char 

 acter was on this route. At one of the stations, 

 Abergele I think, a fresh, blooming young woman 

 got into our compartment, occupied by myself and 

 two commercial travelers (bag-men, or, as we say, 

 " drummers "), and, before she could take her seat, 

 was complimented by one of them on her good 

 looks. Feeling in a measure responsible for the 

 honor and good-breeding of the compartment, I 

 could hardly conceal my embarrassment; but the 

 young Abergeless herself did not seem to take it 

 amiss, and, when presently the jolly bag-man ad 

 dressed his conversation to her, replied beseemingly 

 and good-naturedly. As she arose to leave the car 

 at her destination, a few stations beyond, he said 

 "he thought it a pity that such a sweet, pretty girl 

 should leave us so soon," and seizing her hand the 

 audacious rascal actually solicited a kiss. I ex 

 pected this would be the one drop too much, and 

 that we should have a scene, and began to regard 

 myself in the light of an avenger of an insulted 

 Welsh beauty, when my heroine paused, and I be 

 lieve actually deliberated whether or not to comply 



