Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-07-13
THE MANIAC PASSENGER.

never looked death m the lace but
once," said aunt Mary, and that was
some years ago, while riding in q stage
coach In one of the northern states"
90, tell US about it" SAID Ellen, " how
did it happen?"
/" Get your work, dear, and sit down,
and I'll tell you the story. You may,
perchance, learn lesson from it. as /
did"
"I had been spending some time in a
northern state, when was informed that
dear friend lay at the point of death.
I therefore returned home with all pos
sible speed, that | might once more listen
to that loved voice before it should be
forever lost in death. 1t was about two
O'Clock in the afternoon when / arrived
at the hotel where was to take the stage
for home. The stage was some hours
late. A wheel had been broken, and
while it was being repaired, the driver
had spent the time with some boon COM
panions at the tavern. On his arrival at
the hotel, about five o'clock in the after
noon, he again drank of the maddening
cup and placed further supply in his
pocket. / did not know this at the time,
or should never have dared to start
with him.
"There was but one passenger beside
myself, a gentleman some thirty-five
years of age, whose whole demeanor and
personal appearance at once gave me the
idea of great strength of intellect, well
cultivated mind, and heart full of gen
erous sentiments ard noble impulses. j
was at first well pleased with my travel
ing companion. Never have 1 met an
individual who possessed such wonderful
conversational power as he displayed du-
; ring the first hour of our ride. He not
, only talked himself, but he actually made
me talk with him. l was charmed with
! the surprising ability with which be
, drew forth, one after another, the treas
t ure of his richly-furnished mind, and as
: tonished at the consumate tact with which
| he contrived to make me express my own
r thoughts and feelings. Still there was
f something in the fash of his dark eye
f that made me feel ill at ease. was moi
afraid, for / saw nothing to fear. Yet
! as his remarks became still more brillian
! and his eye burned brighter light, in.
. voluntarily wished myself at home.
! "GIancing out at the window, per
ceived that we were just commencing tht
4 descent of what was then called thu
e dug way 1t was upon the side OF
n steep hill. where the road, for some dis
O tance, was dug out of the hillside, ant
IS rising obliquely from deep river at th
; bottom, wound upward amid a thick for
o est, where, at that time, no human habi
is tation could be found. The shadows @
1t evening were falling around US, and 500
d after entering the wood, it became S
d dark the driver was obliged to stop an
Il light the lamps. To my utter dismay
1t saw that his step was unsteady, and b
Y more than once caught by the carriage t
,e keep from falling. He managed, how
IN ever, to return to his seat; but, judge N
nt feelings, if you can, when l saw hir
he draw from his pocket pint-bottle, an
IN apply it to his lips.
ie "Ha, ha, friend" exclaimed my con
er panion, don't be selfish now, pass you
81, bottle this way, if you please
I'D The driver turned and handed dow
ID the bottle. Just at that moment III
Id horses started, and the gentleman WI
bit had risen from his seat, was suddenl
to pitched forward, and the bottle fell I'M
. the bottom of the coach. In an instal
n my foot was upont it, and with all n
as strength ! strove to crush it. Failing
he this, caught it, and would have hurlt
he from the window, but strong hand a
ed rested the movement. By this time Il
be driver had stopped his horses, and loo
or ing down demanded his bottle. Up
20 this momen: the idea of insanity had n
- occurred to me. But the fendish 10,
: upon the mans face, as he refused
be give up the brandy, convinced me that
:, had now to deal with maniac as we'll
Cor drunkard.
= a "The driver became angry, and wi
t;ll oaths and imprecations demanded an
is slant surrender of bis property. W
I frown, beftting demon, it was aga
,lIv refused.
the "I'll just see about that sir r. excIai
nd. ed the driver, now perfectly beside hi
the self with passion.
,id- " Shaking his fist in impotent wrath,
again dismounted, and proceeded W
tfottering stems To oman the door To recla