Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-02-24
5ELECTEll s5T'l5AJ
A DAY AS "A NEW YORK HACK


Heigho, McGrecr! friend-what in the
world are you swearing about SO furiously
I asS ed, entering the livery stables Of the
above named person, amid volley Of oaths
that might have shocked his Satanic majes-
ty. .e.-tl
"Oh goad-morning,' replied the man J;
''excuse me, Mr.. Morris. | acas talking
rather too strong, perhaps; but the fact is,
| am III desperate strait You see, Mr..
Elmores horses are both sick, and he has
sent for me to let him have my best span
and coach Immediately Well, the uapples
are the best, and to my eye, better than his
own but there's rot man belonging 10 the
stables dare drive them but Cary, and he is
down with fever The other horses are
all out, or engaged, and | don't know what
the -
There ! there !" said !; ''ao oaths. |
have nothing on hand, and really believe I
should like. to play hackman for day"
''Surely, Mr.. Morris, you are joking p
calculated the man, i'll amazemcnt
"Ne am in earnest" fer the idea was
Sc novel that I, lover of adventure, be-
came every moment more determined to try
it, II am really in earnest, Mr.. Greer SO
say no more about it. You know [ can
manage anything. Just have them hitched
up, and give me the livery coat and hat
Now, leave me the Office for moment
but stop don't let the men know who am.
and by-the-way-I almost forgot it--havc
our team sent around in about an hour"
Left alone, I proceeded to alter my ap-
pearance as much as possible, assuming the
habillments of a driver. made a frstrate
Iriahman of the higher grade. The meta
morphose was scarcely completed, when Mr..
Greer entered. e .r4
"Mr. Nor" efs
"Michael, ye mane," | Interrupted
'Sure there is no raison [ should be cheat
ed out of he name" We both laugh ed =,
and / received congratulations upon making
so good son Of Erin. -s4
Stepping out OF the Office, l mounted the
box, gathered up the reins, and was off. -
The horses were unusually gay, but had
them in good trim by the time | stopped be-
fore Mr.. Elmore' residence.
1t may be we'll to state, Grace Elmorc
was not the least inducement for my assum.
ing my present position. All winter she
had been dream idol Of mine, or, rather,
half one, for I could not really decide
which preferred, Grace, Or Maud de Mer.
ris, young French lady, who was spend
ing the winter in New York, with her par.
erts Both were bewitchiDg, and I en-.
braced every opportunity of being with eth
er.
Springing from the box, I rang the bell
and, presently assisted Miss Gilmore ano
two friends into the carriage. r
The day was warm for March, and the
four windows were open-Grace sitting or
the seat nearest me.
Round the pleasantest streets, driver
anywhere for ride," she said
We started, and, for quarter Of an hour
the ladies' "chit chat" was of no account tt
me, then suddenly Miss Fanny exclaimed
by the way, Grace, rumor says you are
engaged to Geo. Morris, and the fsolitaire
on our fore-fnger appears to confirm it.
''Rumor honors me" was the reply
NOW, Grace" chimed in the third lady
stop ypur nonsense, and tell us candidly
are you eHSdSeu
"WeIl, I am arraigned before court fol
some terrible crime, and commanded to an
swer guilty, or not guilty ?-is that it ?
was the half-laughing, half annoyed respose
"No," returned the third lady, mot a
all only urged to crafty friendly curlosi
ty."
"Well, the truth is, am not at liberty
to say all wish; but this much aoiU ac
knowledge the ring you mention did once
belong to George Morris''
Was there ever such an abominable false
hood told, every word Of which is true
thought, angrily, as I heard the comments
obout my money, person, parents, etc.
That girl has led them to suppose we are en-
gagged, and there is the ring to prove it
ring she took from me in sport, q few
evenings since, and which l intended to re
cover upon our next meeting. Well, Their
was one thing certaiu- Grace Gilmore vii
never be my wife I could not trust such
schemer. This resolution was strengthepe,
when heard her say. in a confidential un
dertone, to third lady Miss Fannie having
been left at her own house y
II nave, OF course, no 1eeling IN the MAJ
ter, only schoolgirls love; but l thinl
George will make a desirable husband
while his wealth, with my own, will plac
us quite above any change of fortune. :
Then, he is really very Handsome, and
have decided to take him. 1 don't kno'
that could do much BETTER
"Pity I have not arrived at similar de
cision," was my mental sarcasm.
Just then she called affectedly, "Home
driver" Willingly did place her on tn
carriage steps and turn toward the stables
"By Jove I wish could have as good al
r opportunity to try Maud de Merrisp'
calculated, as drove up to my station.