Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-07-27
G9t storp GelIer,
I" THE RAILWAY KING, ;"

Or, Arthur Sutherland's two Journeys.
We shall have moist night Of it, sir,
said the coachman of the Emerald to young
man who shared the coach box with him !;
'will you be kind enough to hold the reins
while slip on my coat. And stormy
night, too he added, when that operation
was performed. There was fash We
shall soon be in the thick of it..
With all my heart said Arthur Suther-
land; i don't mind little damp. But can
not you give that poor woman place inside |!
There are no inside passengers, think
The words were kindly spoken, and the
Spoor woman looked thanks to the young man
( who for his part, seemed to enjoy the pelting
rain, which, succeeding hot July day, was
laying the dust of a broad turnpike road, and
stirring up refreshing scent from the mead
Ows and hedges which lined it.
Our story is of by-gone days, when rail-
roads, as travelling roads, were only begin
ming to be talked Of, and were the standing
joke of travellers, reviewers, and theoretical
philosophers.
Beautiful grand = exclaimed the young
man, suddenly, before the driver had time to
reply to the question, as vivid flash of forked
Lightning, followed by loud peal of thunder,
caused the high-bred horses to plunge in their
traces, and proved the coachman's anticipa-
tions to be correct, and in course of speedy
fulflment The same flash and peal which
startled the horses and excited the admiration
of the young traveller, drew from the woman
just behind him a faint cry of alarm and on
turning his head, Arthur saw that she was
pale and trembling, and that the infant she
carried was convulsively clasped to her bosom.
lie saw, too, that the slight summer cloak she
wore, and the additional shawl which she had
drawn over her bonnet and spread around her
baby, were an insufficient protection from the
rain which was now coming down in right
earnest
Surely you will let her get inside, he
said compassionately; poor thing she and
her child will be wet through in another five
minutes
We shall change horses Directly replied
the coachman 'and then will see what |
can d. but our governors are very particular.
If they were to know Of my doing such
thing, | should get dressing but on such
night as this is like to be-
The coach drew up to the inn door, even as
the coachman was speaking, and while the
four painting, steamng horses were exchanged
for fresh team from the stable, the young
woman and her infant were, much to their
comfort, transferred from the outside to the
inside of the coach.
The storm increased in its fury as the even
ing drew on. The lightning was feartully
brilliant and almost incessant the thunder
was terrific, and the rain poured down in tor
rents. The three or four outer passengers,
wrapping themselves up in comfortable water
proof coats and cloaks, and pulling their hats
over their eyes, silently wondered when it
would be over, only now and then expressing
a fear, which seemed not without foundation,
that the horses would not stand it much long
er, and that the off leader would especially
bolt before one could say Jack Robinson
But there was no such catastrophe and
another stage was accomplished. The thun-
der-storm had partially abated but the rain
still poured down heavily as the coachman
threw 'the ribbons to the housekeeper, and
waiter from the inn ventured out upon the
now muddy road to announce that the coach
would remain there half an hour, and that
supper was on the table, if the passengers
would please to alight.
Glad to change his position, and not un-
mindful Of youthful and sharp appetite, Ar
thur Sutherland had accepted the invitation,
and was entering the supper-room, when
loud and angry alteration at the inn-door ar
rested his attention and his steps.
Is she an inside passenger, | ask !! that's
ing and fierce.
No, sir, she is not'-this was the coach
man; 'but she has got an infant, and is going
all the way to Birmingham, and isn't over
9lhu doOHC HOi ClOtHCu lOT TIC JOuIHey, HlBlL
travelling and all and as there wasn't any
one inside, and the storm came on, thought
there wasn't any harm
The coachman was interrupted in his apol.
ogy and explanation by coarse oath, and
declaration that if he didn't mind what he
was about, the Emerald should soon have an
other driver, with an insinuation that there
was an understanding between him and the
woman about an extra fee, but that he 1.-THE
angry speaker) would be one too many for
hlm (the accommodating coachman) this time,
'There isn't anything of the Sort replied
the coachman, bluntly and here's a gentle
man. pointing to Arthur, swho had come for
ward few steps, that can tell you so. He
knows when and why put the woman inside
The young gentleman, thus appealed to,
briefly explained that at his earnest solcita-
ton, the poor woman was accommodated with
an inside place when the storm came on.-
'She would have been drenched to the skin
by this time,' he added, 'if she had retained
her former seat on the top of the coach.
That doesn't signify retorted the other,
who was evidently one of the coach proprie-
tors, upon whom the Emerald had lighted