The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-03-14

+ no purpose, except TO be near her | loved,
jumped up beside him. He saw that | was in
trouble, and, with the tact of true kindness.
said not a word. For an hour we rode on in
silence. At length Ben's patience began to
totter on Its throne, and he turned to me with
the polite inquiry, Lost yonr grandmother,
squire 2" The cold winter air, and the sem
sation of motion had someNh hat aroused me.
and tried to talk as usual Ben doubtless
suspected the cause of my trouble. and, in
moment, he remarked:
We've got the chap inside, 'at's going to
hev the colonel's darter-likely looking teller,
he is, tu."
He had led up TO my trumps. A lawyer
could not more cunningly have caught the
train of witnesses thoughts. The confidence
l had refused to my best friend, gave, without
reserve, to one whom | had seen but once be-
fore in my life In few words, | told him
nv whole story.
wall, that's bad" said Ben, ''tu devilish
bad. The Teller isn't much, after all. If YOU
had stuck to the road, you'd n come in fust
bnt you're distanced now, any way What
dye mean to du? I'm too heavy for a cap
size, you know. I'll try to leave the chan on
the road, if thatll accommodate"
"Do it, Ben," said |, vainy endeavorino TO
grasp his immense hand, land I'll make YOUR
fortune"
"Wall, I must du my dooty; but, if Jones
does git out my stage won't be kept waiting
all day for him, that's sartin.'
The possibility of anticipating my rival,
made me as delirious with hope, as, before,
had been stupid with despair. A thousand
wild plans rushed to my thoughts, and each
seemed certain of success. A thousand NOV
ing phrases Of love and repentance seemed
written in light before my eyes. But they fled
as suddenly as they came, when reflected how
little promise there was, that Kate, angered,
sighted, and apparently forgotten, would take
me back to her heart, would abondon her new
love for my angry Jealousy. HAD Just enough
reason within my control, TO enable ne to sus-
pect, that | was making a fool of myself
But, even in my dependency, could not
resist being amused at the pertinacity with
which Ben drove up to every tavern within
miles of his route, and, by his ''fve minutes
here, gentlemen" and, now and then, "best
o liquor" tried to brfbe Mr. Jones to rest his
foot once more on solid earth But Mr. Jones
was not to be moved. He was a fixture An
old traveller would sometimes put out his head
to suggest that we were i'll a new road, but
Ben's answer was ready: ave always goes a.
round here, Wednesdays checked the re-
monstrance.
Little impression as these endeavors made
on Mr. Jones, Ben was, at last, overcome by
them. Every descent added to our load at
least one glass of brandy, not much affected by
the few drops of water, which, '.for the looks OF
the thing" as he said, he scornfully dashed at
it. The frequency of his libations would have
been a statistic to the Washingtonians, if Wash
ingtonians there had been in those days He
afterwards informed me, that he meant to get
drunk, and leave me 10 do as pleased with
with the stage, as he knew that his "Losscs"
would sooner pardon that, than any apparently
intentional neglect of duty. l somewhat sus-
pect that Ben was, at all times easy of con-
viction, as TO the propriety of taking another
glass; but, if it was really his purpose to get
eminently fuddled, seldom have human plans
met with so perfect a success. After fortune
had saved us from many an imminent danger
sleep wrapped him about like cloak" and
assumed his Office, with determination TO ar
nv out his plans that might have been an exam
pie TO Mr.. Tyler.
Our delays had consumed some hours, and
it was now quite dark. knew that Mr.. Jones
! could see nothing from his position, and Imade
up my mind that he should 90 TO Plymouth
Once, only, did he give signs of vigilance, by
putting out his head and bidding the driver
stop at Colonel Russell's. Indeed will |. quo
Findlay."
From my rides and walks with Kate, knew
every inch Of the road for miles. In Chris
tan spirit, drove slowly and steadily, in order
that Mr. Jones might be able to indulge anv
incliration he might feel for repose 1t was
eight o'clock when we reached the house
Through the bare branches of the Gins, could
see the lighted windows, and especially no.
ticed one candle burning aboye,the hall where
it had doubtless been placed at sunset, to
marshal Mr.. Jones the way he was not going
without my permission. Alters some Juggling |
aroused Ben's hands to their accustomed office
and whispering, $50 ahead, in his drowsy ear,
jumped to the ground.
/ The blood rushed to my heart with a thrill
of delight, as heard thehorses' hoofs catter
over the frozen road. The prize was before
me. and considering the situation of my rivals
neck, the odds were scarcely against me.
/ fastened 10 the house and into the room where
| saw tho lights. | had thought 70 speak quickly
s. to the purpose, but Kate, who lad doubtless
risen to welcome her other lover. met me at
the door, and her look changed so suddenly to
cold, surprised anger, that my heart fell and
my hopes few in an instant. | could not utter
/ Il word-not a stammer came to nv relief.
Through piles of silks and laces, and gar
ments known and unknown, | discovered Mrs
Russell Her favor had early won bv new
recipe for jam, and she had the grace to offer
me a seat and inquire about my health. On
my replying that was much fatigucd by nv
stage ride, she asked:
"Was not Mr.. Jones with YOU in the stage {?
/ We have been expecting him for hours"
\ martyr TO truth, l answered that he was
but had gone to Plymouth.
/ / glanced at Kate, who was busily striving
5 TO hide crimson ribbon in white roses.
could see that her hands trembled, and her
/ cheek was thin and pale. Gladly would
have argued that our separation had proved
upon her health, as it had upon mine. but that
chilling look ofhersforbadc. At length ven
tured TO ask if she was well.
"Yes, sir, thank YOU"
Her pets all in good condition?
"All well, sir, thank YOU"
Nothing but the requisite monosyllables.