The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-08-12

y
gladly have realized in person.
at was on our third days ride, while
taking a brisk walk back and forth on the
road, that l got to talking more freely
with the pretty girls father, and learned
that his name was Gardiner; that
he was from Baltimore; that he was
travelling for his health; that he was
now on his way to Newburgh to
visit a married daughter. In re-
turn, l told him my name, the same as
nv fathers; where lived; where l was
going: and in the free and easy conf
dence of youth was making long story
of it, when it was checked by his telling
me that father and ne were old friends
and classmates, and without having seen
each other for thirty years, he had no
doubt Morris Cooper remembered him
we'll.
"Then we were thrown into the depths
of despair by beng told that they ex-
pected to reach Newburgh by nine
o'clock that evening. l was pretty
nearly frantic, with all sorts of desperate
thoughts going through by head. Should
l 90 into the house and order mulled
wine Tor the party, giving the hint to
have one made very strong, and given in
the hope that it might make her watch
full sentinel sleep on post? L
had once heard of Its being tried
with success, but l lacked courage
for it. And this was to be the end
to shake hands, say goodbye, and go
our ways. You will lsagh if l talk about
my three-days.o old love, though l believed
it had really come TO that. How L hoped
that An accident might happen, that We
might collide with something, though it
wasn't the fashion then to collide; ard
if horse had gone lame, or the coach
tipped over, should have regarded 1t AS
special and timely blessing.
"But Fate sometimes will bring us
our desires in matter of-coursc-way so
natural and simple that we overlook it in
our high-strung moods; and so came my
deliverance. l had noticed that Mr..
Gardiner seemed uneasy and nervous
about semething-had loosen ed the
mighty brass clasp that fastened his cloak,
and had made vain attempts to uubutton
the leather curtain at the side that he
might admit the air. Both failing, he
leaned across TO me, and whispered,
"'Would you object to changing seats
with mel II dlsagrecs with me TO ride
backward, and feel quite ill.,
"Objectl couldn't believe my ears,
and in my eager delight and haste
sprang to my feet, fearing he might
change his mind and cheat me of my
blissful chance. l tried to steady my
voice and take little of the evident JOY
out of it before saying,
mCcrtainly. | am sorry you did not
speak before And with the most CON
siderato and ALPHABETICALLY care
iullness helped him 10 my place,
hoping from my heart that the air
would revive him sufficiently TO re-
lleve his illness, but not enough to make
another change of seats possible.
1--WE changed just as the day began to
fade, and she WAS IT, leave the coach in
a few hours, and should never see her
again. You can imagine my desperation,
50 1 will spare you the recital, onl "
waiting to say that if you think
il an exaggerated state OF feeling,
YOU must remember that in those days
young people did not, rs now, take
these matters into their own hands. They
did not make acquaintance on the stree,
nor did they, AS you call it, 'hIrt' by III
understood code Of signals. Young girls
were surrounded by many prim lormali-
ties that would be lagghed at now; but
I've never lost my admiration for fair
blossom of girl, having many of the
sweet ways of the violet, especially It's
quality OF shyness. In short, just such
girls MS present &C mpany.
81 was happy enough at first in merely
sitting beside the charming. girl and
watching in the half-light her sweet,
comforting face, anxiety Tor her father
being uppermost in it now. But the old
gentleman settled down into n heavy
sleep, evidently relieved Of his vertigo.
"Durlng my exile on the middle seat,
had thought of many bright things to
SAY, if could only have the chance, and
wondered at Charleys dizziness, but now
they were all gone l stammcrcd an
awkward protest against the time going
so swiftly, or something equally
intelligent, and felt rather re-
lieved when we stopped TO change
horses. On getting back again into tho
coach, had the felicity of holding tn"
young lady's muti while she adjusted her
wraps. even passed the cord or strin!;
attached to it over her head rs shc re-
sumed her seat, which was more of n
favor than had been shown Charley, in
spite of his advantage in point of time.
Then, growing Drawer, folded her mantle
around her, that had slipped from lis
place, for which she thanked mo in n
way that WAS enhancing.
$50 far, you will see, nothing very
origina! had been SAID, nor any great adj
vance made toward intimate acqua:nt-
snce, but it was enough to fill me with
delight, and make me forget everything,
except that time was going. Papa being
safely and soundly asleep-you may de-
pend there was no sleep to our young
eycs-we had some very small talk among
ourselves, during which, l remember, she
referred to my being on my way to
school, and making me feel as young Ms
the respecthDle DutltC uiu baN III S'FP''-
field. l took special care TO say college,
with strong emphasis, and TO refer TO my
graduating the coming summer, in tone
that had strong flavor of msnhishness
in it.
ain the mean time we were riding
fast toward the dreaded hour, and
| WAS wretched with the thought
Of never seeing this dear girl
again. For three days we had
b. en- together, and it was the one blessin Z
of the old stage.coach that hours did the
work OF ordinary weeks in the way ol
making iriends-or enemies, for I'm sure
| hated the snuty old woman rs IL had
known her twenty years. And now n
sudden lurch of the coach forced
me into position most delight
fully close 10 her side, and with
NV hand resting on her muh-an old
fashioned generous muif in which you
could lose one Of the toy affairs OF the
present day. The contrast made me bold
and from the outside | shyly passed my