Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-12-18
MLLERsBURG, HoLMEs COUNTY, o. THURSDAY Dec 49, 1873

brought to bear on Arabella, that by the
time the discussion ended she had yield
ed her consent; and before month
went by,we found ourselves actually at
house keeping in a picturesque cottage
not far from Dexter Station. As for the
locality of Dexter, it will not be indica-
ted on the maps yet awhile, there being
not more than six houses in the place,
all told ;but for that We liked it none
the less. OF course there were in
convenienees, especially for the first
two days, when, owing to the non-arri-
val of our kitchen-ware and china, We
were somewhat puzzled to know how to
furnish forth our board, but they only
served to add zest to the enterprise.
"Jolly, isn't it?" Said I.presiding as
gracefully as possible at battered peach
can in place of teapot.
at is just fun," said Grace, using her
fingers for fork as she helped herself
to sardines.
81 wish you could find some more Ia
dy-like word, my dear" remarked Ar
abelIa, camly slipping her tea from q ter
ra-cotta vase, and managing to main
tain her native dignity in spite of the
fact of her being seated on an inverted
washtub.
"Jolly doesn't half express it, said
Frank, taking lingering looks at the
landscape as she buttered her bread with
pen knife SIT is blessedness itself;and
when we were fairly "put to rights"
even Arabella was ready to agree with
her.
One day it was found necessary for
some of us to go down and order house
hold supplies, and as Grace had head
ache and Frank was still too much in
love with the country to care for sight
of the city, Arrabella and decided to
take the morning express and make the
needed purchase. We had fully expec-
ted to be at home before evening, but
in one way and another we detained un-
til there was barely time to catch the
six o'clock train. 1t was only an hours
ride, however, ,and with delicious sense
of rest, we shook off the dust of the city,
and gave ourselves up so thoroughly to
the pleasant anticipations of soon be-
ing home, that we scarcely heard the
stations called.
"We mnst be near Dexter" said Ara
bella at last, rousing from a state of
semi-unconsciousness, and picking up
her handbag.
HBeg pardon ma 'am,' said voice be-
hind us,"but we have just left Dexter"
at can't be possibls!" cried L, rush
ing frantically to the rear OF the car,
and mentally wondering why in the
world we had not taken the opposite |
side where we might have seen the
name, even five had failed to hear it |
called; but regrets were unavailing, for
surely enough there was Dexter reced.
ing in the dim distance like dream of |
the past.
"Why, We shan't get home tonight!
We must stop the train! We must do
something!" / calculated, turning to
Arabella. who, after properly thanking
our informant, had followed me at her
usual dignified pace ;but her undisturb-
ed air exasperated me, and without
w ifinp for q N apcwar I hurr;a1 70 tho
other end of the car in search of the con-
ductor.
"There's no help for it miss, ,"said that
polite official. ''T'll put you off at the
next station, that's only three miles off
and you can easily find some one to
bring you back"
Small consolation it was, but as the
last uptown train had already passed
US, there was no alternative; and pres
emily we were standing forlorn and des-
olate OH the platform of the Bedford
station, three miles from home, and the
"shades of night" gathering about us
with unwelcome rapidity. Two un-
kempt boys, with their hands in their
pockets, stood staring stupidity at us.
"Dun know num- said one in answer
to our anxious inquiries, ,"there amt no
body round here as keeps hosses, 'cept
farmer HILL" and having pointed out
farmer HILLS house, they staggered
away leaving us to our own devices. A
tiracoma tramp onrors n rlo,uad f.1d
brought us at last to the farmers door,
and here it was that we were told to
walk in and make ourselves "to hum"
till "Ralph" could come to our rescue.
Five minutes later the old man reap
peared, flaming himself vigorously with
his broad-brimmed hat.
"Here's Ralph Strong, he'll take you
over" And this was our introduction
for, as he spoke, a spring wagon drew
up at the gate, and the bronzed-faced |
driver with gallant bow informed us
that he was at our service. Evidently
farmer Hills nephew, whatever might
be the state of his "naryes," was man
ofintelligence and refinement-we made
that discovery before we were mile on
the way-and so entertaining did he
prove that, tired and hungry as we were
we were half sorry when the ride came
to the end. Frank and Grace, alarmed |
at our long absence, were watching for
us at the gate, and Arabella, with graci-
GUS cordially, introduced the stranger,
explaining in an aside who he was. OF
course, we invited him in, and though
in consideration of the lateness of the
hour, he politely declined, he promised
to do himself the pleasure of calling in
few days.
aHe is very gentlemanly and agreea-
ble," said Arabella, with emphasis, as
seated at the tea-table we narrated the
events of the day; and it must be con-
fessed that we were all rather elated at
the prospect of having our solitude in
vaded now and then by this same gen.
tlemanly and agreeable person.
Beyond the simple fact that he was
farmer Hiif's nephew from college we
knew nothing at all about HIM, but his
face and voice were of themselves suffi-
cient to inspire confidence, and be-
fore many weeks by We had come to re-
gard him as eur right-hand man. Ara
bella consulted him oil all matters of