Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-05
Tke Sturp Teller.
A STAGE-COACH STORY.

A STAGE-COACH STORY.
1t was cold Spring day, nearly ten years
ago. The SHOWS were melting, and the frost
just beginning to come out Of the ground
consequently the hilly roads of Maine were in
a perilous state-deep mud-holes alternating
with old snow-drifts, and treacherous spots
which seemed frozen, but were merely crust
covering the porous mass below. twas nine
o'clock in the morning when the stage-coach
which connects the little village ofB--, on
the Kennebec river, with the railway terminus
some twenty-five miles below, drew up before
the door of the public-house, where Harvey
Middleton stood waiting. That gentleman
watched its approach with some doubts con-
cerning his own chances of a seat. 1t was
not coach, but thing called ''mud cart
kind of wide open wagon, set on strong elias
tic springs, and having several low-backed
seats, which extended over the wheels to af-
ford more room. Every seat was full except
one on the elevated perch of the driver, and
thither Middleton clambered with some diff
Guilty, and wrapped himselfas we'll as he could
from the cold. He was just recovering from
rather severe illness, which had detained
him fortnight in that out-of:the-way place.
A busy Boston lawyer, with an office full of
cases calling him home, he had not borne the
confinement very patiently; and not feeling
really we'll enough yet to bear tiresome stage
ride, was just in that state Of nervous irrita-
bility to be annoyed at everything. AS he
mounted to his place his ears were greeted by
woman's laugh-a hearty, ringing laugh, too
loud to be exactly lady-like, but with pleas
ant sound in it, for all that. At least he
might have thought so in a more amiable
moment; now, however, he turned, little
disgusted at the boisterous outbreak, and,
while settling himself in the fur robes, took a
rapid survey of his fellow-travelers.
They were none Of them Of class likely to
please his fastidious taste. On the back seat
was sharp-visaged Shaker, who had pester-
ed him to buy washing machine at the pub
lie house that morning, a sleepy-looking el-
derly farmer, and his wife. The latter was
nervous, restless woman, who had in charge
three baskets, bundle, shawl, an umbrel-
Ia, and her husband, and seemed equally
anxious about them all. Four red-shirted log
drivers, on their way down the river to start
a big 'jam" at Carratunk Falls, filled the
front seat. They were decent men, though
rough, and rather disposed to treat the other
passengers to good deal Of chaf. On the
middle seat were three persons. The first
was country youth of the hobbledehoy age,
but with pleasant, intelligent face, interest
ing in spite of immaturity and freckles. Next
him sat pale, tired-looking woman, with a
sad, girlish face, who carried in her arms an
enormously fat and incredibly lively baby.
The other occupant of the seat was young
woman of certainly striking appearance. She
seemed about "a or 25 years of age, had a
tall, snowy figure and handsome face-very
handsome, Middleton admitted to himself,
after several surveys. A brilliant complex
ion, an abundance of black hair in shining, sat-
iny bands-it was before the advent of 'sfriz-
zles"-clear, strong gray eyes, weli-cut
nose, and handsome, though somewhat large
mouth, filled with dazzling white teeth
Plainly it was that mouth from which had is
sued the ringing, bosterous laugh which had
so offended Middleton's fastidiousness. Her
attire was remarkable. She wore hand
some blue silk dress, velvet coat richly
fringed and braided, light silk hat with
feathers, and a lace collar fastened with a
snowy brooch. Gold bracelets on her wrists,
and lemon. .colored kid gloves, completed a
costume, which, though certainly becoming,
could hardly be called appropriate for stage
coach ride in muddy Spring-day. Middle
toms taste instantly pronounced it and its
wearer hopelessly vulgar. She talked con-
stantly, not only with the youth at her side,
who seemed to belong to her in some way,
but with all the other passengers. Her voice
was pleasant one, though its tones, like her
laugh, were so loud as to jar disagreeably on
Middleton's ear. Ordinarily it would not
have occurred to be thus annoyed indeed,
his sense of humor might have been pleased
by the young woman's shrewd and often wit
ty comments on the incidents of their ride ;
but to-day he was i'll and nervous, and her
loud tone, her unpublished and occasionally
ungrammatical speech and vulgarly snowy
dress displeased him. He bore it as long as
he could, and then his impatience broke out.
Not loud enough, however, to be audible to
the object of it. 1t was to his companion, the
driver, that ne exclaimed, "Confound that
woman's tongue! Is there no end to its in
fernal clatter?"
The driver looked at our friend with sur
prised and halfohended glance; but in a
moment he answered, in tone rather patro-
nizing and tolerant as though the person he
addressed could really not be supposed to
know any better
"Well, stranger, I guess you feel kind OF
out o sorts this morning. You don't look
we'll, snum. Been sick, amt ye?"
eyes"
"Well, it beats all how most any thing
will kind O hector a fellow when he don't feel
just right. Now, for my part, I'd rather hear
Lymp Tucker laugh than to hear preachin'
there's something heartenin' in it; would
cheer fellow up if he was blue as Moxey
Mountain"
II beg your pardon" said Middleton. 81
did not know she was a friend of yours, and !
meant no harm any way"
"oh!well, there's no oftsnse. Lymph amt