Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-10-23

| The farmers for miles around the coun-
| tryside had come with their wives and
| their little ones the parson and the dea-
con, the lawyer and the doctor, were
there; there was Steve, the blacksmith,
his face washed white for the occasion; /;
Briggs, the landlord of the Golden
Swan" with the proverbial rotundity;
Tony, the shoemaker, with his half
dozen children out at the toes, as usual;
Uncle Billy Rogers, who had crossed
the plains with Col Carlton in 46, and,
as he said, "was raised in the same town
and know'd all the Colonel's kinsfolk. :"
Uncle Billy's talk always opened or
closed with some allusion to his departed
friend.
Tom Brown, the stage driver, had
taken day off to be present With just
the proper amount of dash he drove six
horses ON to the grounds, dressed in
| characteristic garb--M Mexican SouaDrer0,
immaculate shirt, red sash, high-heeled,
| close-fitting boots drawn over his panta-
| looms After slight excess Of anxiety
in the proper disposition of his team,
with the indescribable, GnS0ucaG11t air OF
| his calling he lounged over to where mine
host of the Golden Swan was standing
gave a scarcely perceptible nod of recog-
marked, patronizingly:
81 say, Briggs, what's all this yere
talk bout the schoOlmarm? | don't see
that she's to blame; she seems to be a
kind-dispositioned critter, and has alters
done her work we'll AS for me, I'm
blamed if l don't think she's got good
blood in her-thin in the n0stril, wide be-
tween the eyes, clean limbed; you bet
your life there's no mustang in her"
eyes, Tom," said Briggs, but you
know women are women, and naturally
hate each other. If they catch one of
their own sex out alone, without pro-
tector, they all go for her; and this girl
seems to be in that fix just now"
"Oh, Tom," with a half-defned side
motion of the head, at the same time
pointing mysteriously to his pocket.
AS Tom would have said, " A wink to
a blind man is sufficient" and the three
that is, Briggs, Tom and the flask
went quietly into the shadow of the
trees.
Uncle Billy looked querulously after
the departing worthless, and said sadly
to Tony: "The Colonel wouldn't "a done
that"
The servants had erected the Carlton
tent, but did not know if their mistress
would return in time to be present at the
festivities.
During the earlier part of the day
Fanny sat alone, or wandered about the
grounds, meeting cold looks and averted
faces from some; from others that pc
culiar recognition SO fraught with mean
ing Again and again she wished her
self far away, and only remained hop
ing by chance to meet Mrs. Carlton.
After the ceremonies had concluded,
Just as she had determined to leave the
grounds and go across the fields to her
own home, apparently by accident she
happened upon Tom Brown.
The stage-driver, who had never
spoken to Fanny, touched his hat-a re-
markable exhibition of politeness for
him-and said:
"I beg pardon, miss; Pm plain man,
and can't say what want to, but if you
should need anybody to speak word for
you, or to take your part, Tom Brown
knows how to do it."
Fanny comprehended the blunt SINGER
ity of the man, and as she thanked him
the tears which had been all day in her
eyes dropped upon her cheeks.
From that moment Tom was her slave.
He followed her at a respectful and un-
observed distance; for her sake he would
have charged and routed the whole
camp. Many a highborn lady has had
less faithful and puissant knight.
This incident served to lift the load
from Fannys heart. She wandered
down by the tiny lake, and for the mo-
ment was happy. Near at hand several
children were at play, their parents and
the elder ones being elsewhere occupied.
She heard splash, scream, and saw
little Benny struggling in the water
Springing forward, with rare presence of
mind she leaped upon a rock, seized the
child as he was sinking, brought him to
the shore, pacified him, and taking him
by the hand led him forward to find his
mother. At a distance was group OF
ladies and among them Mrs. Smith. AS
Fanny approached the circle she encoun-
tered the frigid stare of Mrs. Smith, who
said with metallic voice-all eyes being
riveted upon the two" Benny, come to
me; | do not wish you to associate with
thieves and murderers."
Not far away, with his hat over his
face, stood the stage-driver, as if waiting
the word of command; but nearest at
hand was another knight, Harry Carlton,
who with his mother had just arrived
upon the grounds and had been near
enough to overhear the words Stepping
forward, he said to Fanny, who stood
pale and trembling:
"Do not remain here to be insulted by
these people. My mother would like to
speak with you"
And taking her upon his arm he escort
ed her to the tent which had been pre-
porod for tl1ora1.
One standing near at hand would have
heard words of explanation, interrupted
by broken sobs on the part of Fanny,
with kind and gentle soothings by Mrs.
Carlton; would have seen Harry start
up with a naughty, unorthOdoX word on
the end of his tongue, saying he would
find out what all this meant, and after a
short absence would have seen him re-
turning, his hand clenched, and his big,
burly frame bristling all over with indig-
nation; would have heard animated con-
versation for moment in the tent, fol
lowed by subdued laughter.
Shortly thereafter the family carriage
was ordered, and Harry and Mrs. Carl
ton, accompanied by Fanny, left the
grounds.
The month of vacation was nearly
ended; Fanny had disappeared the Carl
| ton mansion was closed, and occupied
only by servants. Harry and his mother
were, some said, in the city; some said
at the seaside.
Upon the last day of the school vaca-
| ton, after the arrival of the mail, an un-
wonted something seemed to ruff1e the
surface of affairs in the quiet town.
Curiosity was upon tiptoe, and wonder
was looking out of open eyes into open
eyes.
Mine plethoric host of the inn, dressed
as was his wont of a summer afternoon,
in shirt, pantaloons, and slippers, from