Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-19

l
'it is too bad when fellow who has loved .
girl ever since she was a little mite, and seer
her grow up so pretty for him, has to stant
aside for whipper-snapper of a parson
who hasn't known her year? put 1t tC
you, Mahaly, If 1t is not too bad?'
| You have no right to talk TO me this
way, Anthony" said Mahala, now really
angry (and besides the swingle tree wal
mendcd). 81 have never given you the
least encouragement, and told you from the
| first that it could never be. And it is very
impertinent in you to send messages by me
to Mr. Cary. He is nothing to me. Every
body says he is going to marry Bessie Jones
and have no doubt it is true; aud, If she
is your girl, go and talk to her about it !
and she gathered up the lines and looked fol
her whip.
SIS that true?" said Anthony, his face
frightening. 81 beg, your pardon, but
felt sure about you and Cary ever since the
| picnic, and it has put me beside myself
But if it's Bessie Jones. don't care that
(snapping his fingers) s. for Bessie Jones
wish you would let me 60 TO Harmony
with you. Mother wants me to go, but
told her | couldn't, for there is not n horse
on the place"
=" That wonld never do, Anthony, after
all you have jus. said, Thank you for mend.
ing my swingle-tree; !" and she thoughtlessly
gave Blackey such cut with the whip as
made him spring forward, shaking Anthony
oil the wagon with such violence that he
staggered.
He watched her with scowling face un-
til she was out Of sight, and then he struck
across the fields toward the Harmony road.
THE RACE.
As soon as Mahala was out of sight of the
tavern she got out and examined the swim
gle-tree. 1t appeared to have been tied
firmly.
=" He had some idea of going with me, y
she thought, "and did not want his own
precious neck broken"
mile farther on she came to Long Hill,
and old Blackey made so much ado going
up, that, when arrived at the top, she was
iain to let him rest minute while she sur
veyed the prospect. AT the foot OF Long
Hill lay narrow valley, and right through
Il, to tha distant hills, ran the turnpike ON
which Mahaa now was. To the right of
The valley was long strip of forest, and
through this was the road to Harmony,
while some distance beyond the turning into
this road coming into the turnpike on the
left was broad, open road winding up aud
down the hills from the town of Pineville.
The first object Mallala saw was man
walking rapidly on the turnpike. He was
too far for her to see him distinctly, but she
knew by the way he lightly swung his cane,
and by the elasticity of his walk, so differ
ent from the shuilling, loping gait of the
country people, that il was Mr.. Cary.
$ He is coming this way she thought,
'anh sill no doubt turn into the Harmony
road on his way home. | will overtake
him and offer Inn seat. wish now | had
tho carriage
Just then another object caught her eye.
II was Il vehicle on the Pineville road,
moving rapidly toward the turnpike. The
next instant she had recognized Bessie Jones
in her pretty little basket carriage, and
driving her iast-trotting bay pony. Mahala
calculated the chances: IF she reaches the
Harmony road first, good-bye to Mr.. Carey.
She has the fastest horse and lghtest car
riagc, but have the best road and shortest
distuncr."
So thinking, and utterly regardless of the
swingle-tree, she put Blackey at his fastest
pace down the hill. BY this time Bessie,
too, had comprehended the situation, and
the bay pony flew along the road. Mr..
Carey, busily revolving something in his
mind, was not aware of the approach of the
two rival chari0cers.
For some weeks all the neighborhood had
teen wondering which one he would marry.
Sometimes it was Manala beyond doubt,
and then just as certainly it was Bessie. The
truth was, that Mr.. Carey himself had never
thought of marrying either. Of all the
young ladies in the county who were dying
for the popular young minister, he visited
only these two with any constancy, which
was not at all remarkable as they were both
pretty and attractive and could talk pleas
antly and intclligently, and play accompani-
| ments and sing songs very sweetly. But the
! two girls knew, il he did not, that his heart
was in critical condition being all prepared
for combnstion, and that any accidental puff
| of circumstances might kindle the shoulder.
| ing sparks into an ardent flame. Who,then
would have the gond luck to give this gentle
puff? All, who?
| 1T reach the bottom of the hill before
she gets TO the milestone, | shall win,
thought Mahaa. 81 may us well give up
| She is almost there. Good! she is out o.
the carriage; something is the matter will
the harness Now AIN all right"
| But, alas. just here Blacliey hethough
himself that he was taught in his youth no
to go down hill ut such headlong speed, ant
therefore lie subsidized into solemn walk
and neither whipping nor coaxing woult
turn him from the path of reclitude, greatly
to the delight of Bessie, who had one eye OF
her pony and the other on Mahala.
| On the level BlacScy moved his stiff leg
as fast as he could to conciliate his mistress
but it was then too late; for, just as Mr.
Carey was about TO turn into the Harmon,
road, md had lifted his hat to salute Mahala
now only Il short distance from him, Bessie
drew rein by his side. She gave merr,
little laugh at his look of establishment, AM
Mahala alone detected the malicious note o
triumph in its ring.
Are you going to Harmony, Mr.. Carey?
said Bessie, very innocently and demurely
Yes, MIR. Carey was going to Harmonys
"Then ! shall be happy to give you
seat in my carriage, for am on my way I,
Harmony to my aunt Ellis,
Mr.. Carey did not wait 10 be urged, bu
sprang at once into the little carriage. an
Bessie turned into Into the wood, follow
closely by Mahals, who, while ela,ii.
pleasantly with the two in front, was thinl;
ing with modification of the guy she mus
look in that old, shackling wagon, and wit
deeper modification of her defeat and VA
wondering, too, how she could get the h
ter of Bessie yet.
WHAT WAS DONE IN THE WOOD.
1t was no part of Bcssie's plan to wal
her pony through this pleasant wood in he
] rivals company SO after few minutes sh
, nodded goodbye, and signtied to the pom
that he was to put on his best pace. BIZ
, before the fast trotter could take them ot
of sight of Mahala, sharp scream frol
that young lady caused both Bessie and MI
J Carey to look back. Blackey was standin
J still in the road and Mahala was spriugin
out of the wagon. Bessie. having littl
doubt that this was some ruse, was dispose
: to let the pony go on, muttering somethin
about being in a hurry to get to her aunt's
I but Mr. Carey laid Lis hands upon the reir
7 and checked the pony.
"Excuse me-" he said, "but perhaps
can be of some assistance to Miss Bruc
But won't detain you"
"Oh, can wait few minutes" So
! Bessie. 81 won't go away and leave Nj
8 hala in trouble"
Before she had finished speaking, NJ
' Carey was examining the broken swingl
g tree. i" l think this could be mended wi
r a piece of rope, he said, "but l suppo
you have nothing of the kind in yol
I wagon"
d at was tied for me at the Star Taver
y and the rope cannot have been off vel
s long, said Mahala, very much confused.
. She had good reason for this belief ina
I much as she had unwound it with her ow
d hauds not two minutes before, and h,
d thrown 1t back in the road as far as 81