Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-04-04
THE INCONVENIENCE OF PRIDE.
BY THOMAS nooD.

dangerous; with four, generally cruel in
venLons, ta>king one animal with the la
Dor Of two. And, in either case. should
your horse think proper to die on the road,
you have no survivor to drag your car
riage through the rest of the stage; or 20
be sent of gnIloping with the coAchruan on
his back for Il coadjutOr.
That was precisely Miss NormAn's di-
lemma. If a horse could lie supposed to
harbor SO deadly a spite against his pro
prietor, should believe the one in q.es
tion chose to vent his animosity by breath,
ing his last Just at the spot where it would
cause most annoyance and Inconvenience.
1t was just at this moment that came
up with my gig, and knowing something
of the lady's character halted in cxpec-
tation of a scene. Leaving my own bay,
l proceeded to assist Hump phreys, the
coachman, in extricating his horse, but the
nag Of royal line was stone dead.
"fyou please ma'am," said Humphreys
"Plantyginit be dead"
The lady acquiesced with the SMALLEST
nod ever made.
"I've took off the collar, and the bit
out, and got un out O'harness entirely; but
he be as unanimate as his own shoes"
and the informant looked earnestly at the
lady to observe the effect of the comma
nication.
But she never moved muscle; and hon
est Humphreys was just shutting the coach
door to go and finish the laying out OF the
corpse, when he was recalled.
"Humphrcys!'
"What's your pleasure, ma'am %
GCPoD,anNb.4r hnr Fon
eyes ma'nm."
eyes ma'am."
"Touch your hat"
The abasEe! coachman instantly paid
up the salute in arrear. Unhlcssed t'y
birthriqht with If-possessiou, he had Not
even the advantage Uf experience i'll the
first families, here he might have learn-
ed little from good example. He WAS IL
raw, uncouth, country servant, with HE
great merit of being cheap, whom Miss
Norman had undertaken to educate; but
he was still so lar from being proficient,
that in the Importance of announcing the
death to his mistress. he omitted one o!
those minor tokens Of respect which she
also vigorously exacted.
It was now my own turn to come for
ward, and as deterentially as if indeed she
had been the last of the Conqueror'> Nor
mandy pippns, I rendered Il seat in my
chaise, which she tacitIy declined, with II
gracious gesture of the head and hand.
"If you please, ma'am," said Hum
phreys, taking care TO touch his hat. and
shutting his head into the carriage SO that
1 might not hear him, "he's a respectable
Is IL tad
with some Of the first houses"
"The gentleman's name ?"
"TU be sure, ma'am, the gentleman
can't help his name," answered Hum
phreys. fully aware of the peculiar pr"ju-
dicos of his mistress; "but be it HugSjns."
"Shut the door,
It appeared on explanation with the
coachman, that he had mistaken me for IL
person in the employ of the opu!ent firm
Of Naylor & Co., whose province il was to
travel throughout Britain with samples OF
hardware in the bOx-srat Of his gig. [
did not take the trouble to undeceiye him.
After toIerably long pause on all sides,
my expectation was excited by the appear
ance of the W coach coming through
the Binn gate, the only public vehicle that
used the road. At sight Of the dead horse,
the driver (thc noted John Wade) reign>
ed up. alighted. and standing at the car
riage door with his hat off, as il he knew
his customer, made an offer of his servi-
ccS.
But Miss Norman, more dignifed than
ever, waved him off with her hand. Jem
became more pressing, and the lady more
rigid.
"She never rode in public veAicles. -
Jem entreated again, bat she was accus
toned to be driven by her own coNchman.
1t was in vain that in answer he prais-
ed the quietness Of his team, the safety Of
his patent boxes, besides promising the
utmost steadiness and sobriety on his own
part.
Miss Norman still looked perseveriugly
at the back Of the coach box, which, on
an unlucky assurance that "he would tpke
as much care of her as her own mother"
she exchanged for a steady gaze at the
side window, opposite to the coachman,
so long as ne remained in her presence.
"By your leave, a'am," said Hum
Phreys, putting his hand to his hat and
leaving it there, "Mr. Wade be very civ
il-sPoken, careful whip, and his coach
loads very respectable society. There is
Sir Vincent Ball on the box
''It Sir Vincent chooses to degrade him
self, it is no rule for mc." retorted the la
vdy' without turning her head-when 10