Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-03-28
rrow. I'll ask him to look out for

"Ihank you, sald l, sunny put rather you would not mention me to Captain Rayburn." I arose and went to the window, Ann Maria following
 'La, Belle," said she, presently. '.there's a new moon." She was lcan- ing over the brown sill. The thin white crescent hung like a broken ring of fire against the smoldering red of the low horizon. leaned out to look also. cover your left shoulderw screamed Ann Maria, dragging me ab- ruptly back. "That's the very worst of luck! Now, Belle, I'd never, never start to Shutdown after that"
 laughed outright. "Bah! Bad luck, indeed! Not if I find dear old nurse hale and hearty-not If the weather is fine tomorrow"
 It was fine-remarkably so. l arose early, for the numbering old stage left Passaquod at seven. l dressed with care, putting on plain travelling suit of dark thick cloth, with a plain hat and black gloves. l tucked the little gold hunting-watch which papa had given me at Christmas into a sly pocket un- der my belt, and buttoned the shining chain out of sight. My purse was in the leather traveling-bag which l car ried in my hand.
 "Here comes the stage, Belle! cried Kitty from the porch, and directly there was a rumble and a grumble, and the rumbling wheels had stopped at the gate.
 Ann Maria rushed to the door.
 "Dear me that French Canadian is driving today she said, under her breath.
 Kitty hitched up her shoulders.
 "Roque! so he is. That's too bad. Pa. be sure to tell him particular who Belle is, and where she's going. Hes mortal stupid. There's Captain Ray burn. Good-morning, Captain"
 On the outside of the stage two or three men were sitting, in red flannel shirts and glazed hats. The driver, Roque, a slender, black -browed fellow, was standing near his horses, curling about his hand sinuous length of whip-end, like a snake. As l came down the path he lifted his sloe-black eyes, and gave me look which had reason to remember afterward.
 Inside the stage, Captain Rayburn was the only passenger.
 The paternal Peters lifted me in and shut the door l took the seat facing the horses, oppositemy one companion, spread out my skirts languidly, kissed the tip ofmy glove to the group in the porch, after which there was a cracking of whiplash over the heads of the lead CTS, and the numbering vehicle rolled off up the gray, sunshiny hill.
 "Good-morning,' said Captain Ray burn, politely, from his place on the front seat.
 Hooked at him with due deiiberation.
 Altogether he was somewhat strik- ing person, with his great deep chested | H8uTt anu DIdNt U. biON II Aatf. anu tstN . ny mustaches, and handsome hands.
 .Good-morning," l echoed, with some hesitancy.
 He smiled under that huge mustache. May l ask, Miss Stacey, if you are travelling far?
 q am going to Shutdown" sAlone?"
 "Yes, sir"
 "Pardon me, 1 could not refrain from addressing you, you are so like your sister, Miss Louise. She is an old friend of mine.'
 It broke upon me, then and there, like revelation-the memory of Lou ise's last season in New York, and of sundry letters written to me from thence besprinkled with the name of Captain Rayburn, always termed by her the most elegant man of her set Very stupid ofme not to have remem- bered before. Very odd that l should meet the hero here, in'this obscure cor ner of Maine.
 "Oh,' said I, q am not like Louise. am not half so pretty" | This was a silly thing to say, and l turned quickly and looked out of the stage window.
 1 It was wild road over which we were going, washed ragged by recent rains. Like a thread, it wound up and 1 down an endless chain of hills, through gorges and ravines, past aromatic pine woods and lonely farm-houses sitting forlorn in lonelier fields.
 The clumsy vehicle creaked and groaned down the sharp descents; it dragged wearily up the rocky spurs.-- Now and then heard the voices of the men outside talking as they rode; the brawling of water in still places; birds chirping from wild, wet thickets. l Lonely and monotouous all. l Captain Rayburn was courteous, even kind. But one cannot talk alone. He soon grew tired. Then we jolted on in utter silence.
 l At fork in the roads the stage halt ed. The three men mred shirts scram- bled down from the top and went away together. a aA
 "Good-bye," they shouted back to the driver.
 'Good-bye," he answered from over head.
 It was the first time had heard his voice. It was smooth, with faint me- l talic ring and an accent, It thrilled me oddly. Then the heavy wheels rat