Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-11
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dies on the back seat, and middle-aged |
gentleman and Quaker on the middle,
and myself in the front. The two ladies'
might have been mother and daughter,
aunt and niece, governess and charge, or
might have sustained any other relation
ship which made it proper for two ladies to
travel together unattended. The middle
aged gentleman was sprightly and talka-
tive. He soon struck up an acquaintance
with the ladies, toward whom in his zeal to
do, he rather overdid the agreeable-bow-
ing and smiling and chatting over his
shoulder in a way painfully suggestive at
his time of life, of a crick in the back. He
was evidently gay Lothario. The Quak-
err wore the uniform of his sect, and con-
fined his speech, as many parlimentarian
would save his credit by doing, TO simply
"yeas' and "nays." AS for myself, make
it an invariable rule of the road to be mere
ly a locker on and listen.
Toward evening was aroused from one
of those reveries, into which young man,
without being poet or lover, will some
times fall, by an abrupt query from the
laxative gentleman.
"Are you armed, sirf'
81 am not" 1 answered, astonished, no
doubt, visibly at the question.
~ am sorry to hear it," he replied
"for before reaching our next stopping
place it will be several hours in the night,
and we must pass over portion of the
road on which more than one robbery is
reported to have been committed"
The ladies turned pale, but the stranger
did his best TO re-assure them.
"Not that 1 think there is the slightest
danger at present." he resumed, "only
when one is responsible for the safety of
the ladies, you know, such a thing as
pistol in reach would add materially TO
ones confidence.
"Your principles, my friend" address
ing the Quaker, 81 presume, are as much
opposed to carrying as using carnal weap-
ons?"
"Yes," was the response.
"Have the villains murdered any Of
their victims?" the elderly lady nervous
ly inquired.
'Or have they contented themselves with
with plunderlng them?" added the
younger in timorous voice.
DECIDEDLY the latter" the amiable gen.
tleman FASTENED to give assurance; land
we are none of us prepared to offer resis-
lance in case OF attack, so nothing worse
than robbery can possibly befall u.s."
Then, after blaming his thoughtlessness
in having unnecessarily introduced dis
agreeable subject, the gentleman quite ex-
ce!led himself in efforts to raise the spirits
of the company, and had succeeded so well
by the time night had set in that all had
quite forgotten or only remembered their
fears to laugh at them. Our genial COM
panion fairly talked himself hoarse. Per-
ceiving which, he took from his pocket q
box of newly "invented cough candy"
and amer passing il to the ladies he helped
himself to the balance and tossed the paper
out Of the window. He was in the midst
of high encomium on the new nostrum,
more than half the efficacy of which he in
sisted, depended on its being taken by sue
ton, when a shrill whistle was heard, and,
almost Immediately tho coach stopped,
while two faces. hideously black ened, pre-
scented themselves, one at each window.
"Sorry to trouble you" said the man on
the right, acknowledging with bow two
lady-like screams from the back seat, but
business is business and ours will soon
be over If things go smoothly"
"Of course, gentleman, you will spare, as
far as may be consistent with your disa-
greeable duty, the feelings of these ladies', -
appealed the polite passenger in his bland
est manner.
sob, certainly ! they shall first be attend
ed to, and shall not be required to leave
their places, unless their conduct renders
ii necessary"
"And now, ladies'" continued the robber
the barrel of his pistol glittering in tho
light Of the coach lamp, "be so good as Il
pass your purses, watches, and such othei
trinkets as may be accessible without loo
much trouble"
The ladies came down handsomely, ant
were no further molested. One by one th,
rest got out. The middle-aged gentleman
turn came first. He submitted with win
ming grace, and was robbed like yer,
Chesterfield. My own affairs, like tn
sum lost, are scarcely worth mentioning
The Quakers turn came next. He quiet
ly handed over his pocke book and watch
and when asked If he had any other val
uables, said, "Nay." A Quaker's word 4
good, even among thieves; 80, after has
ty 'good night" the robber thrust his pis
toll into his pocket, and with his two com
panions, one of whom held the reins of tn
leaders, was about starting.
"Stopp exclaimed the Quaker, in ton
more of command than Of request.
"Stopi What for?" returned the othe
In evident surprise.
"For at least two reasons" was the reply