The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-04-28
MISCELLAN N EOUS.
THE TWO JOURNEYS.

y ven, we suull nave u moist hHnt Ol IL,
said the coachman Of the Emerald to q
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 flash ! We
shall soon be in the thick Of it."
"With all my heart" said Arthur Suther.
land, al don't mind little damp. But can.
not you give the poor woman place in.
side There are no inside passengers,
think"
The words were kindly spoken, and the
poor woman looked thanks to the young
man, who. for his part, seemed rather to en-.
JOY the peltlng rain, which succeeding a hot
July day, was laying the dust of the broad
turnpike road, an1 stirring up IL refreshing
scent from the meadows and hedges which
lined it.
Our story is of the by.gonc days, when
railroads us travelling roads, were only be-
ginning to be talked Of, and were the stand.
ing jokes of travellers, reviewers, and theo.
retical philosophers.
Beautiful grand !" exclaimed the young
man, suddenly, before the driver had time
10 reply to his questions, as u vivid flash OF
forked lightning, followed by loud peal OF
thunder, caused the high bred horses to
plunge in their traces, and proved the coach
mans anticipation to be correct; and in u
course of speedy lulilmcnt. The same flash
and peal which startled the horses and ex.
cited the admiration Of the young traveller,
drew from the poor woman just behind him
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. He
saw, too, that the slight summer cloak she
wore, and the additional shawl which she
had drawn over her bonnet and spread
around her babc, were an insufficient pro-
lection from the rain, which was now cou..
ing down in right earnest.
"Surely. you will lot her get inside" he
said compassionately; poor thing she and
her child will be wet through in another five
minutes"
awe shall change horses directly,' replied
the coachman. al and then will see what l
can do, but our governors are very particu.
lar. II they should know of my doing such
thing. should get q dressing. But on
such nigh, as this, is likely to be"
The coach drew up to the inn door, even
rs the coachman was speaking and while
the four painting, steaming horses were ex-
changed for team fresh from the stable,
the young woman and her infant were, much
to their comfort, transferred from the out.
side to the inside Of the coach. The storm
increased in its fury as the evening drew on.
The lightning was fearlully brilliant and al
most incessant, the thunder was terrific, and
the rain poured down in torrents The three
or four outer passengers. wrapping them.
selves up in comfortable winter.proof coats
and c!oaks, and pulling their hats over their
eyes, silently wondered when it would be
over, only now and then expressing fear
which seemed not without foundation, that
the horses would not stand !, much longer,
and that the OF leader, especially, would
bolt before one could say Jack Robinson
But there was no such catastrophy; and
another stage was accomplished. The ihun.
dsrstorm had partially abated; bul the rain
still poured down heavily, as the coachman
threw the ribbons 10 the house. keeper,
and n waiter from the inn ventured out up
on the now muddy road, to announce that
but SOdSh suSiV hOuts
and that n supper was on the table, If the
passengers would please to alight.
Glad to change his position, and not un.
mindful OF the demands OF youthful and
sharp appetite, Arthur Sutherland had ac-
copied the invitation, and was entering the
supper room, when loud and angry alter
cation at the inn door arrested his attention
and steps.
is she an inside passenger, 1 ask that's
all want 10 know!" the voice was domi.
neering and fierce. -
"No, sir, she is notn - this was the
coachman but she has got an infant, and
is going all the way to Birmingham, and
isn't over and above well clothed for the
journey, night travelling and all and as
there WASH, any one inside, and the storm
camo on, thought there wasn't any harm
- ..... - Il
The coachman was interrupted in his apol.
ogy and explanation by coarse oath, and
declaration that il he didn't mind what he
was about. the Emerald should soon have
another driver, with an insinuation that
there was some understanding between him
and the woman about an extra fee, but that
Il