Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-11-28
BEAUTY AND THE BARBER.


ters; it was getting rather late-nearly
ten o'clock-for I'd had hard day
work of it; and no wonder, for it was the
night of the lord-lieutenant's ball. We
think q good deal of the lord-lieutenant
down in Yorkshire; and when We get up
a bit in the world, and get asked to his
lordship's ball, we think deal of our
selves; and my word! some folks are a
bit proud. Yes; that very day l had
dressed the Misses Milhkin's hair for the
ball-pretty early, mind you, for l
wouldn't put my old customers out of the
way for any of your upstart people, seeing
as I've dressed the hair of all the first
families in Lydford, and my father before
me, whereof no man knoweth to the con-
trary, as the lawyers say. Now MiIlikin
has drawn me many gill of ale in the
days when he kept the tap up Newsman's
Yard, and has borrowed many sixpence
of me too-not but what he was welcome
to them, as ] told his lordship when he
came to ask me for my vote for the town
council. But that's neither here nor
there. 1t isn't Millikin and such-like as
I trouble to tell story about. 1t was
passed nine, as 1 told you, and was put
ting up the shutters pretty smart, not be-
ing a thing l often do myself, but it so
happened that night; and in another
minute | should have been off to the
White Horse to meet one or two goM
fellows who were in the habit of having o
glass or two together of night; but as |
was screwing up the bar of the Shutters
what should see drawing up to my door
but splendid carriage and two beautiful
horses, all of lather with sweat! we'll,
that put me about bit, to think what a
carriage should be doing at my door at
this time of night; but l hadn't long to
wonder, for grave, tall, solemn.looking
chap comes up to my door and calls out,
els Creecher here F
"That's me" says I.
ooh, then," says he lump in" point
ing with his finger to me to get up the
steps of the carriage, where there was q
tall funky holding the door open for me.
Well, that capped me still more. [ had
heard Of things like it N the "'Rabian
Nights" where they seem to think deal
more of US barber chaps than they do in
this country. But then this is a land Of
freedom. Well, as l were saying, this
t'other chap kept motioning of me to get
into the carriage, but says |, "Master,
where are you boundp
"Oh, never you mind" says he; you'll
be well paid. Look sharp"
"But I'd like to beautify myself bit, "
says /, "and nun tell the missis."
With that he took up my hat, that was
lying on the counter, and bangs it or my
head, and pushes me into the carriage,
and away we went before you could say
"Jack Robinson."-and away we went
Eh, but we did go rarely! 1t were dark
night, and frosty; andiwe soon got out OF
the lights Of the town, and still the horses
galloped CD, and l could see the stars
twinkling overhead; and then it grew
colder all of sudden, and the windows
of the carriage were covered with ice in
minute, and could see naught but the
inside, where were sitting with the
strange man. And he said never a word
But still we galloped on and after gooG
bit I heard the murmur and dash of 6
river hard by above the clatter of the
hoofs, and we crossed bridge, think
for we went up and down for q minute o:
if we had been in a swing. And then the
sound of hoofs died away altogether, as i
we were travelling over soft turf or gravel
and presently the carriage stopped all o
a sudden. A footman stood at the door
the silent man jumped out. Stay there
he cried as he went, with a gesture of au
thority-" stay there!" And there
staid, for 1 were cowed like with being
carried off like that, and didn't know i
my soul were my own. "What II tht
old woman say, though" ?" I thought t.
myself. The carriage moved Oh q bit
and stopped again.
"Now, then, my lad!' says the foot
man, opening the door.
ButI weren't gsing to be ordered abou
by such cattle as he. Says l, "I'm OF
thy masters business, and if thou doesn'
speak respectful, I'll smite thee in the ear
hole" It's we'll to stand on your dignit.
with those chaps. you see.
"Oh, beg your PARDON" says th'
man, more respectful; "but will yol
step into the house-keeper's roomW ~
And with that I fell off the high hors,
= had been riding; for, to tell you th'