Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-13
NO. 2l7
"uP AT AIRLIE'S."


soft, and at the same time bracino. Mr.
Alrlle will meet you if you write him
week ahead. Get off at Vale Station
from thence the stage takes you to Hilrs
Tavern, where Mr.. Airlie will be waiting
with his wagon"
These were my directions, and placing
the most implicit reliance upon Mrs. Muir.
rvs knowledge OF just what | needed. |
wrote, as advised, a week ahead, to "Eli
Airhe, ESD" and followed the letter one
warm morning in August.
Such treat of mountain ride as it
was Great sweeps of forest, with hazv.
blue-tinted mountain backgrounds, dash
ing black river waters winding in and out,
ana breezy breaths of crisp, cool noun
tam air floating over all. Vale Station
was foriorn sort of place, and found
the road to Hills Tavern was not a turn.
pike. by any means; it was decidedly and
iearfally an natural, and if bumps and
dumps and lurches and bounces are con-
duclve to health, mine was in fair way
Tor recovery before had gotten half way.
Hills Tavern" sign swung out before
US al last. and | alighted.
Coin up to Alrlie's?" repeated the
landlord. when l timidly asked if Mr..
Airlie had driven over for me.
l assented, upon which he looked very
closely at me, and replied: f.aa
mo, Mr.. Airlie has not been over In
several weeks"
WAS there no stage nor conveyance of
any kind, then, by which | could get
there ?"
Guessed not. The stage went right
back TO Vale Station after supper. and
there wasn't anybody round here that
went up to Airlie's.".
BY this time little crowd of people.
among which were two wonder-eyed wo.
men, had come out of the tavern to hear
The unusual colloquy. | felt that | was
being examined from top to toe, and des-
pite the knowledge that my travelling suit
and pretty hat were in the latest style.
felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny,
Com up to Airie's y' heard one of
the women whisper, and thought the
other laughed out something like, "a
queer set.?' Were they eriticizing my
polonaise !"
"Surely lhere must be some way of get
ting there | cried, in a sort OF despera-
lion, looking round at the different curious
faces before mep Mr. Airlie has evidently
not received my letter, else he would have
spared me the humiliation of begging a
passage in this manner ~
Tne landlord scratched bis head, the 9TH
ers looked ut one another, but no one Of
Tered 10 be my valiant knight. The land
lold at last SAID:
at you will walk up stairs into the sit
ting room. Miss, I'll hail some OF the neigh
bors as they pass; maybe some one going
that way will give you ill.,"
/ accented bIs invitation and followaI
him up into the "sittin' '-room,n where |
sat down on the hard shiny sofa and tried
to be patient.
1t was growing on towards sunset, and
prayed fervenlly that might be rescued
from this horrible place before dark. |
took off my hat, and was brushing out my
tangled short curls, when the landlord
came busting up stairs, his face quite red,
and breathed out the welcome news that
"AIrIie's man had come, just got the let
ter. and | could start right away r'
caught up my hat and strap, and with.
ont another word l fairly jumped down
the stairs, felt so rejoiced and relieved
that some one had CLAIMED me at last. and
that could shirk my own responsibility.
"Alrlie's man" was short, sun-brown-
ed, broad shouldered young fellow, in a
navy blue suit, and a great, wide-brimmed
straw hat. He just glanced at me, and
pointed to the seat beside his own, while
he gave the horse drink. stepped in
The wagon unassisted, and arranged my
shawls and things to my entire satisfac-
ton without any offer of help. The whole
tavern turned out to see US of. and fan
cied the women whispered to one another
about my clothes again as We started.
e.. al. ...,ts.
volunteered no remarks, and replied to
my questions concerning my letter. and
SO forth. in monosy llables. Ii he was
specimen of the people | should meet ''up
at Airlie's" ''quiel" | certainly should
have!
Up, up, up we went, and ever upward
and onward, round the winding mountain
road. sa
"Excelsiorn' involuntarily cried aloud
when we stopped at last before the great
tarm-gate that swung open its hospitable
arms To let US in. aeI -
A gray-haired, weather-beaten old farm.
er came out on the porch to greet me
wien alighted, still without assistance.
Alrlies man was evidently brought up in
the backwoodsa Behind him hurried a
motherly, plump little body OF woman,
and Two great shepherd dogs shifted APP
probation as they walked round me.
"l'm right glad TO welcome Mrs. Muir
ry's friend" said Mr.. Airlie, taking both
my hands and looking down into my face.
Pm sorry your letter did not get here
sooner; we don't often go down TO the
post office, and so it lay there till this
morning. hope you didn't have to wait
long"
Tired and hungry too, no doubt.
Come right along in. dear, and lay off
your things, aud wash your hot cheeks,
and eat your supper, before You answer
any more questions !" and mother Airlie
took off my hat, and hustled about and
poured out the water tor me with her own
hands into the great flower -bordered bowl
that stood on the white wash-stand In the
pretty room that was TO be mine.
Oh. it was blessed, quiet peaceful rest.
| looked out of the low windows into the
western sky, that blazed all pink and pnr-
pie, and il seemed heaven indeed A lit
tie twitter of birds going to sleep In their
nests out on the lawn, a rustic OF waters
from the brook across the garden, whis-
fCoptjnued on fourtb pa0e,