The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-06-18
Harvey Middleton's Proposal.
Love in a Stage Coach.

Ut WAS a cold spring day, nearly ten
Il 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 1t was nine o'clock in the
morning when the stage-coach which con-
meets the little village of B., on the
Kennebec River, with the railroad terminus
some twenty-five miles below, drew up be-
fore the door of the public-house, where
Harvey Middleton stood waiting. That
gentleman watched its approach with some
doubts concerning his own chances of aseat.
1t was not coach, but thirg called
"mud-cart''-a kind of wide open wsgon
set on strong elastic springs, and having
several low-backed seats, which extended
over the wheels to afford more room. Every
seat was full except one on the elevated
perch of the driver, and thither Middleton
olambered with somS difficulty, and wrap
ped himself as we'll as he could from the
cold. He was just recovering from rather
a 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 well enough yet to bear tire
some stage drive, was just in that state Of
nervous irritability to be annoyed at every
thing. 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 a pleasant sound in it for all
that. At least he might have thoughtso IN
a more amiable moments now, however, he
turned, a little disgusted at the boisterous
outbreak, and, while settling himself on the
fur robes, took rapid survey of his fellow
travellers. 1ri
They were none of them of class likely
TO please his fastidious taste. On the back
seat were sharp-visaged Shaker, who had
pestered him to buy washing-machine at
the public house that morning, sleepy
looking elderly farmer, and his wife. The
latter was nervous, restless woman, who
had in charge three baskets, bundle, a
shawl, an umbrella, and her husband, and
seemed equally anxious about them all.
-Four red-shirted log-driyers, on their way
down the river to start big "jam" at
Caratunk Falls, filled the front seat.
They were decent men, though rough, and
rather disposed to treat the other passen-
gers TO good deal of chaff. On the mid
die seat were three persons. The first was
country youth of the hobble-dehoy age,
but with pleasant, intelligent face, inter
esting in spite Of immatufity and freckles.
Next him sat pale, tired-looking woman,
with sad, girlish face, who carried in her
arms an enormously fat and incredibly live
ly baby. The other occupant of the seat
was young woman Of certainly striking
appearance. She seemed about twenty
four or iive had tall, showy figure and a
handsome face-very handsome. Middle
ton admitted TO himself, after several sur
veys. A brilliant complexion, an album
dance of black hair In shining, satiny hands
lit was before the advent of "frizzles''--
clear, strong gray eyes, aweiLcut nose, and
ahandsome though somewhat large mouth
filed with dazzling white teeth. Plainly IL
was that mouth from which had issued the
ringing, boisterous laugh which had so Of