The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-05-30
In a Stage Coach.

It was n cold spring day, nearly ten
wears awo. The SNOW were melting, anu
the frost uSt tWiummIg tn coMr out of the
Ground consequently the hllly roads OF
Maine We're in 4 prrluns state deep mud
holes alternating with old snow drifts.
aud irrnrhrruuS spot which seemed frozen.
BAT were merely :, crust covering the pn-
rous mass below. II WAS nine r'ciork in The
morning when the Stl9r-coarh which con
meets the little village of r. on the
krnnehec river. with the railway terminus
some twenty five miles below. drew IA.
hrt'nc the door of The public house, where
Harvey Middleton stood waiting. That
Gentleman watched its approach with
some doubts concerning his own chances
nt :; seat. 1t was moi Il coach. bat 4 hing
called II "mnd r;lrt''-a Kind Of wide open
wagon set on strong elastic springs. and
having several lnW-h;trkrd seats. which
extcndcd over the wheels to afford more
room Every seat was full except one on
the elevated perch of the driver, and
thithcr Middleton cllnbercd with some
difficulty. and wrapped himself rs we'll rs
he could from The cold He was iu~t re
covering FROM y rather severe illness.
which had detained him for 4 fortnight i'll
this out Oft hr-wav place. \ busy Boston
lawyer, with nm of1irc Iull o eases calling
him home, he had not borne the cunlinr-
mrnl very patiently: and not feeling read
" we'll enough vet TO bear a tirrSomr stage
ride. was inst in thnt state of nrrvons ir-
rii:ihIltv TO be ANNOYED :i every thing.
greeted bV Il womnn'S laugh hearty,
Al.
like. but with a pleasant sound i'll it for
all that. At least he might have thought
50 in amorr amiabe moment now, how
ever, he turned, u little Disguised ut the
boistcrous outbreak. and. while settling
himself in the fur robes, took a rapid sur
Vey O? his fellow travellers.
They were none ot them of 4 class like
ly TO please his tasidous taste On the
back seat We're 4 sharp-NiSagcl Shaker.
who had pestered him to buy il Washing
machine al the public house that morn
ing, u sleepy-iooking elderly farmer. and
his wife. The Latter was - nervous, rest
less woman, who had in charge three
baskets, u bundle, a shawl, m umbrella.
ana her husband. and seemed equally
anxious about them ALL Fonr reh-~hirteh
Io9-driVcrS on their way down the river
TO start a biz jam" ut CHIrarmh Falls.
filled the front seat. They were decent
men. though rough. and rather disposed
to treat the other passengers TO 4 good
deal ni chal. On the middle seat were,
three persons. The first WAS a country
youth of the hoblcdeluV ame. but with Il
pleasant intelligent face, interesting in
spite ot mmaturtv and trecklcS Next
him sal Il pale, tired looking woman. with
4 sud giriSh face. who carried in her arms
an enormously Fat and incredibly lively
baby. The other occupant OF the seat
was 4 young woman ol certainly striking
appearance. She seemed about twenty
tour or five, had a tail, showv figure and
handsome tace--very handsome, Middle
ton admitted to himself after several sur
Veys. A brilliant compleNio an abund-
ancr of black hair in shining salinv bands
it was before the advent of ''irzzles''-
clear, strong grey eyes, a well cut nose.
and 4 handsome though somewhat LARGE
mouth filled with dazzling white teeth
Plainly it was that mouth from which had
issued the ringn@ o"isterous laugh whcl,
had so offended Md,Ilrton's fasiidious-
ness. Her attire was remarkable. She
wore n handsome blue silk dress, a velvet
silk hat with feathers. and a lace collar fast
cncd with u snowy brooch. Gold brace
lets on her wrists, and Iemon-coIorrd Kid
gloves, completed II costume which,
though certainly becoming. could hardly
be called appropriate for n stare coach
ride in u muddy spring day. Mlddlrton'S
taste instantly pronounced il and its wearer
hopclessly Vul car. She talked constantly,
not only with the youth nj her side, who
seemed 10 belong TO her in some way,
hnt with all the other passengers. Her
voice was :. pleasant one, though its tones
like her laugh. We're SO loud US to isr dis
agrerablv on Middeton'S ear Ordinarily
it would not have occurred to him 10 he
thuS annoyed; indeed, his sense OF hlmor
might have been pleased by the Young
woman's shire wd and often witty com
ments on the incidents of their ride; but
to-day he was i'll and nervous, and her
loud tone her mpolshed and occasionally
ungrammatical speech and vnlgarly snowy
dress dlspleaSed and Disguised him. He
bore it rs long as he could, and then his
Impotence broke out. Not loud enough,
however, to he audible to the object Of it.
1t was To his companion, the driver. that
he exclaimed. "Conlound that woman's
tongue! Is there no end to its internal
catlcr 2"
The driver looked at our friend with a
surprised and half-oflendeL olance: but
in n moment he answered, in II tone rather
patronizing and tolerant, as though the
person he addressed conld really not be
supposed to know any better.
"Well, stranger, guess you feel kind
O out o sorts this morning. You don't
look well, snum. Been sick, amt We ?n
eyes"
.'Well, it beats all how most anything
will kind o hector a fellow when he don't
feel just right. Now, for my part, rd
rather hear Lymp Tucker laugh than to
there's something hcalten-
in in it; would cheer u fellow up if he
was blue Us Moxev Mountain"
81 beg your pardon. 's;,id Middleton. Il
did not know she was u friend Of yours,
and meant no harm any way
"Oh, well, there's no oi1ensc. Lymp
amt anything to me in PARTICULAR; but
she's y girl | always like to have behind
my horses"
"What did you call her?"
'Lymp Turker-Short tor Olympia
Deacon Ben fuckers daughter; oldest of
six
Are they aIl like her? ?'
II there was any hidden snecr in his
words the driver did not perceive it. "Not
much" was his emphatic reply. "They're
u plndlin' set She's Us strong Us Il thresh-
in machine, and as smart as chain light- |
MIN"
"lndeed What can she do 90
"Wcll. ! should like To have you men
ton anything she can't do.r
Middelon's good breeding constrained
him to express an interest in the drivers
theme which, perhaps, he did not wholly
feel. The latter wen. on cnndentiaIly. |
Their seat being higher than the Others,
The lond rattle OF the wheels kept their
words within bounds.
..Ynu see Sir Daacon TucLar ha hain,t |