The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-07-13
MIGGLES.
BY BRETE HARTE.

of the last six miles, since the Joltlng OF
the heavy vehicle over the roughenlng
road had spoiled the Judges last poeti-
cal quotation The tall man beside the
Judge was asleep, his arm passed through
the swaying strap and his head resting
upon it,-altogether limp, helpless
looking object, as if he had hanged him
| self and been cut down too late. The
| French lady on the back seat was asleep,
too, yet in half-conscious propflety OF at
titude, shown even in the disposition OF
the handkerchief which she held to her
forehead and which partially Vailed her
| face. The lady from Virginia City, tray
cling with her husband, had long since
| lost all individuality in a wild confusion
ofribbons, wells, furs and shawls. There
was no sound but the rafting of wheels
and the dash of rain upon the roof. Sud
denly the stage stopped and we became
dimly aware of voices. The driver was
| evidently in the midst of an exciting col
| loouy with some one in the road, e
colloquy of which such fragments as
"bridge gone" twenty feet of water,''
''can't pass" were occasionally distin-
guished above the storm. Then came a
lull, and mysterious voice from the
road shouted the parting adjuration-
Try Miggless
We caught glimpse of our leaders as
the vehicle slowly turned, of a horseman
vanishing through the rain, and we were
evidently on our way to Miggles's.
Who and where was Miggles? The
Judge, our authority, did not remember
the name, and he knew the country thor
oughly. The Washoe traveller thought
Miggles must keep hotel. We only
knew that we were stopped by high wat
er in front and rear, and that Miggles
was our rock of refuge. A ten minu-
tes' splashing through tangled by road,
scarcely wide enough for the stage, and
we drew up before barred and boarded
gate in a wide stone wall or fence about
eight feet high. Evidently Miggels S,
and evidently Miggles did not keep a
hotel.
The driver got down and tried the gate.
1t was securely locked.
"Migglesl o Miggles ~
No answer.
"Migg- ellis You Miggles I" continued
the driver, with rising wrath.
"Migglesy" joined the expressman,
persuasively. go Miggy Mig!"
But no reply came from the apparent
ly insensate Miggles. The Judge, who
had finally got the window down, put
his head out and propounded series of
question:. which if answered categorical
ly would have undoubtedly elucidated the
whole mystery, but which the driver
eYaded by replying that ''if we didn't
want to sit in the coach all night, we
had better rise up and sing out for Mig
gles."
So we rose up and called Miggles in
chorus: then separately. And when we
had finished, Hibernian fellow-passen-
ger from the roof called for 'May-
gallsT - whereat we all laughed. While
we were laughing, the driver cried
"Shoo ~
We listened To our infinite amaze
ment the chorus of 'Miggles" was re-
peated from the other side of the wall,
even to the final and supplemental MAY
CALLS
Extraordinary echo, said the Judge.
Extraordinary id skunk - roared
the driver contemporary. Come out of
that, Miggles, and show yourself! Be a
man, Miggles Don't hide in the dark
/ wouldn't if l were you, Miggles," con-
tinued Yuba Bill, now dancing about in
an excess of fury.
"Miggles continued the voice, "Oh
Miggles p
MY good mani Mr. Myghail |" said
the Judge, softening the asperites of the
name as much as possible. Consider
the inhospitality ofrefusing shelter from
the inclemency of the weather to help
less females. Really, my dear sir
But succession of "Migglesl y ending
in burst O. laughter, drowned his
voice.
Yuba Bill hesitated no longer Taking
IL l., -
down the gate. and with the exlressman
entered the enclosure. We followed.
Nobody was to be seen. In the gather
ing darkness all that we could distinguish
was that we were in garden-from the
rose-bushes that scattered over US min
ute spray from the dripping leaves-and
before a long, rambling wooden build
ing.
''Do you know this Miggles?" asked
the Judge of Yuba Bill
No, nor don't want to" said Bill,
shortly, who felt the Pioneer Stage Com
pany insulted in his person by the contu-
macious Miggles.
but, my dear sir" expostulated the
| Judge, as he thought of the barred gate
'Lookee here said Yuba Bill, with
| fine irony, hadn't you better go back
| and sit in the coach til yer introduced :?
I'm going in.' and he pushed open the
door of the building.
A long room lighted only by the en-
| bers of fire that was dying on the large
hearth at its further extremity; the walls
| was curiopsly papered. and the fiekerjnp