Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-06-20
g MsisftIIansous.
In a Stage Coach.

L
state-deep muu-holes alternating with
old snow-drfts, and'treacherous spots
seemed frozen. but were merely crust
covering the porous mass below II
was nine o'clock in the morning when
the stage-coach which connects the lit.
tie village of B, on the kenuebee
River, with the railway terminus some
twenty-five miles below, drew up be.
fore the door of the public house,
where Harvey Middleton stood wait.
Ing. That gentleman watched its APP
proach with some doubts concerning
his chances of n seat. Ii was not \
coach, but a thing called .mud-cartN .
"A kind of wide open wagon Sc: on
strong elastic springs, and having sew.
eral low-backed seats, which extend d
over the wheels to afford more room.
Every seat was full except on the ele-
waited perch of the driver. and thither
Middleton clambered with some diff.
Guilty. and wrapped himself as well as
he could from the cold. He was lust
recovering from rather severe illness,
which had detained him fortnight in
that out-ot-th way place. \ busy
Boston lawyer, with an Office full ut
cases calling him home. he had not
borne the confinement very patiently
and not feeling really well enough Yet
TO bear tiresome stage ride, was lust
in that state of nervous irritabitity to
be annoyed at everything As ho
mounted 10 his place his ears were
greeted by a woman's laugh-a hearty,
ringing laugh. too loud TO be exactly
lady-like, but with pleasant sound in
it for all that At least he might have
thought SO in more amiable moment
now. however, he turned, little dis
gusted at the boisterous outbreak. and
while settling himself in the fur robes.
took a rapid survey OF his fcIlow-trav-
oilers.
There were none of them OF a clas,
likely 10 please his fastidlous taste. On
the back seat were sharp-visaged
Shaker, who had pestered him 10 buy a
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, a bundle. a shaw
an umbrella, aud her husband. and
seemed equally anxious about them all /.
-Four red-shirted log-drivers, on their
way down the liver To start a big .ia,o
AZ taIIatulA iiii~, n!icI the 'front.' seat.
They were decent men. though rough.
and rather disposed 10 treat the other
passengers to n good deal of chaf
On the middle seat were three persons.
The first was country youth VI the
hobbledehoy age, but with pleasant,
intelligent face, interesting in spite of
immaturity and frcckles. Next him
sat pale, tired-looking woman, with
a sad girlish face, VINO carried in her
arms an enormously fat and Incredibly
lively baby. The other occupant OF
the seat was young woman Of GER
tainly striking appearance. She seem
ell about twenty-four or twenty-five,
had tall. SNOWY figure and handsome
face, very handsome, Middleton adj
ntled TO himself. after several sur
veys. A brilliant complexion, an
abundance of black hair in shining.
satiny bands-ir was before the advent
'frlzzles strong gray eyes, a
well-cut nose, and handsome though
somewhat large mouth, filled with daz-
Zling white teeth. Plainly it was that
mouth from which had issued the ring
ing, boisterous laugh which had SO Of
Tended Middleton's fastidlousness
Her attire was remarkable. She wore
handsome blue silk dress. velvet
cloak richly ffinged and braided, u
light silk hat with feathers, and lace
collar fastened with a SNOWY brooch.
Gold bracelets on her wrists, and lem
on-colored kid gloves. completed a
costume which, though certainly be-
coming. could hardly be called appro.
pirate for a stage-coach ride in mud
| dy spring day.-Middleton' taste in.
stantly pronounced it and its wearel
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 pas
sengers. Her voice was pleasant
one, though its tone, like her laugh.
were SO loud as to jar disagreeably on
Middleton's ear. Ordinarily it would
not have occurred to him 10 be thus
annoyed indeed, his sense of humor
might have been pleased by the young
woman's shrewd and often witty com.
ments Ou the incidents Of their ride
but to-day he was ill and nervous. and
her loud tone, her unpublished and oc-
casionally ungrammatical speech and
vulgarly showy dress displease;. and
disgusted him. He bore it rs long as
he could, and then his impatienc-
broke out. Not loud enough, however,
to be audible to the object of it. 1t
was to his companion, the driver, that
he exclaimed, 'Confound that woman's
tongue Is there no end to its internal
clatter!'
The driver looked at our friend with
surprised and half offended glance
but in a moment he answered, in a
tone rather patronizing and tolerant,
as though the person he addressed
could really not be supposed to know
any better.
We'll, stranger, Iguess you feel kind
o out o sorts this morning. You don't
look well, ! snum. Been sick, amt
ye?
yes
We'll, it beats all how most any.
thing will kind o. hector 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 heartining in it she would
cheer a fellow up If he was blue as
Moxey Mountain
Il beg your pardon, said Middleton,
Il did not know she was q friend of
yours and meant no harm anyway.
oh, well. there's no offence. Lymp
amt anything to me in particular but
she's girl always like 70 have behind
my horses
4