The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-08-07
Arabella was ready to agree with

ry for some OF us to 60 TO town to
order household supplies, and as
Grace had headache and Frank
was still too much in love with
the country to care for sight Of
the city, Arabel!a aud decided
to take the morning express and
make the needed purchases. We
had fully expected to be at home
before evening, but in ono way
aud another wo were detained
until 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 thor
oughly to the pleasant anticipa'
tions Of soon being home, that we
scarcely heard the stations called.
1--WE must be near Dexter"
said Arabella at last, rousine
from state of semi unconscious
ness, and picking up her handbag.
"Beg pard,n, ma'am." said a
voice behind us, "but we have
just left Dexter"
lit can't be possible (" cried ],
rushing 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
namc, even if we had failed to
hear it called but regrets were
unavailing,for surely enough there
was Dexter reccding in tho dim
distance like a dream Of the past.
"Why VIC shan't get home to-
night We mnst stop tho train !
tWc must do something!" 1 eiacu-
lated, turning t. .Arabella, who,
after properly thanking our in
formant, had followed me at her
usual dignifed pace; but her un-
disturbed air exaspcratcd me, and
without waiting for m answer, l
hurried to the other end Of the
car in search of the conductor.
"There's no help for it, MISS"
said that polite official. 'l'Il put
you off at TIE next station, that's
only three miles on, and you can
easily find some one to bring you
back"
Small consolation It wa, but as
the last uptown train had al
ready passed us, there was no al
ternative; and presently we were
standing forlorn and desola'o On
the platform of the Bedford sta
ton, three miles from home, and
tho 'shales of night" gathering
about us with unwelcome rapid
ty. Two unkempt boya, with
their hands in their pockets, stood
staring stupidity at us. "Dun
know, num-" said one Of them
in answer to our anxious inquiries,
'.there amt nobody round here as
keeps hosses, 'cept farmer Hill,
and having pointed out farmer
Hills house, they staggered
away and left US to our own de-
vices. A tiresome tramp across a
p!owed field 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 Tho old man
reappeared, tanning himself Wig
orously with his broad bri,nmed
hat.
"TIere's Ralph Strong, he'll
take you over" And this was our
introduction, for as bo spoke, a
spring wagon drew mp at the gate
and the bronzed faced driver with
a gallant bow informed us that he
was at our service. Evidently
farmer Hills nephew, whatever
might be the state of his "narve,"
was a man Of intelligence and re-
tinement We made that discov-
cry before we were mile on the
way--and 30 entertaining did he
provo that, tired and hungry as
we were, we were half sorry when
the ride came to an end. Frank
and Grace, alarmed at our long
ABSENCE, were watching for us ut
the gate, and Arabe!la, with gra.
cious cordiality, Introduced the
stranger, explaining in an aside
who ho was. Of course, we in
vited him in, and though, in con-
sideration Of the lateness of the
hour, he politely declined, he
promised to do himself the pleas
uro Of calling in few days.
"lle is very gentlemanly and
agreeable" said Arabella, with
emphasis, as seated at the tea-table
We narrated the events Of the day;
and IL must be confessed that wc