Smyrna times., 1877-09-12

| IatneGs; where | lived, were | was going
and in the free and easy confidence 0t
youth was making long story of it, when
IL was checked by his telling me that father
and he were old friends and classmates
ana without having seen each other fol
thirty years, he had no doubt Morris Coopel
remembered him well.
| Then we were thrown into the depths oil
dlspalr by being told that they expected tc
reach Newburg by nine o'clock that even.
ing. was pretty nearly frantic, with all
| sortS OF desperate thoughts going through
my head. Should go into the house and
order mulled wine for the party, giving a
hlnt to have one made very strong, and
given in the hope that it might make her
watchtul sentinel sleep on post? | had
once heard of its being tried with success.
but lacked courage for it. And this was
to be the end-to shake hands, say good.
bye, and go our ways You will laugh if 7
talk about my three days old love, though
really believe it had come to that. How
hoped an accident might happen, that we
might collide with something, though it
WASH the fashion then to collide: and if n
morse had gone lame or the coach timed
over, l should regarded it as special and
timely blessing. ''''>'
" But fate sometimes will bring us our
desires in matter-of-course way so natural
and simple that we overlook it in our hinh
strung moods; and so came my delivcrance.
L had noticed that Mr.. Gardiner seemed
uneasy and nervous about something-had
loosened the mighty brass clasp that
fastened his cloak, and had made vain at
temps to unbutton the leather curtain at
the side that he might admit the air. Both
failing, he leaned across to me, and whis-
pered,
90 Would you object to changing seats
with me? 1t disagrees with me to ride
backward, and feel quite ILL.,
Object | couldn't believe my ears and
IN my eager delight and haste sprang to NV
feet, fearing he might change his mind and
cheat me out of my blssful chance.
Certainly. | am sorry you did not
speak of it before. And with the most
considerate and hypocritical carcfulness
helped him to my place.
During my exile on the middle seat
had thought OF many bright things to say,
II could only have the chance, and
wondered at Charities dullness. but now
they were all gone. stammered an awk-
ward protest against the time going so
swiftly, or something equally intelligent,
and felt rather relieved when we stoned
to change horses. On getting back again
into the coach, had the felicity of boIdino
the young lady's mutf while she adjusted
her wraps. | even passed the cord or
string attached to it over her head rs she
resumed her seat which was more of favor
than had been shown Charlie, in spite of
his advantage in point Of time.
In the mean time we were riding fast |
toward the dreadful hour, and | was
wretched with the thought Of never SEEING |
TINS dear girl again. For three DAYS we |
nad been together, and it was the one bles. |
sing OF the old stage.coach that hours did |
Ihe work OF ordinary weeks in the wav of |
making friends. And now a sudden Inrcb
d the coach forced me into position most
delightfully."- close to her side and with INV
hands resting on her muff-an old.fas6.
oned, generous muf, in which YOU could
lose one OF the toy affairs of tho present
lay. The contact made me bold. and
rom the outside l shyly passed my hand
inside the muff, and | can remember
nothing in my after.life that has made me
30 entirely happy as when in that warm
covert felt her little gloved hand clasp
mine. wished the road would lengthen
out indefinitely, that nine o'clock could be
for a week or two.
'1DId say before that we had the coach
% ourselves by this time? The other pas.
engers had been dropped at intervals
Ilong the road. The old gentleman was
Weeping peacefully, Charlie had scarcely
poken for an hour, and was awaiting in
N agony OF dread the minute when the
Iriver would shout the fatal word. sun.
'ose the wretched creature did right to
hticIpate our arrival at Newburgh with a
ell loud enough to wake the dead, rousinp
aPa TO an uprgh position and a knowledge
It his whereabouts.
"' Come, Annie he said, with vawn. {
Here we are, and with this horrible rivor
D cross again. Have you everytbing {
pady, dear? e /
"' shall have in one moment she said
5 the coach stopped giving NV hand n
loser clasp before withdrawing it forever '
Mr.. Gardiner expressed himself with
reat irlendliness, sent kind messages to |
'ther, hoped we might meet again, Shook
anus, and stepped down into the deem |
now. P {
In moment, papa she repeated. |
nd then in low tone, that hesmig ght not {
ear her, Parden me, Mr.. Cooper, but if S
on and your friend are throught with nv {
lutf, l shall have to trouble YOU for it. I I
ope you have both found it comfortable. j
hank you. No apologies, l beg. You e
ere quite welcome to it. A pleasant Jour. a
ey. Good night And she took her S
'ther's offered hand-he would not allow /
) to leave the coach to assist him-ond Z
1T us both stunned. I
Even now, after all these years, can v
ot recall this, even when alone, without b
,ushing and burning with shame Think v
us two boobies sitting there for three b
ortal hours squeezing each others hand I
was not so much to blame, for Charities u
lnds as I've told you, were small and r
'licate as woman's. But think of his e
'essing such hand as that, and supposipp Il
belonged to pretty Annie Gardiner I I
I'd mind to cuff him then and there for b
e insult to her, but it was too abomina r
g. ridiculous for anything but laugh r
I'd laugh We did, though there was more I
'ise than mirth in il. We jumped over Il
e seats, and pounded the seats like a c
uple of lunatics, trying to emphasize our "
outs. " "Charlie's explanation and ex. n
Ise was, that noticing that his pretty p
'ighbor kept only one hand in her mua. a
I'd desiring to make some tender demon.
alton before parting, he thought it would
1t be aniss to capture and hold il. and W
rs surprised when the indignant little d
ind was withdrawn. Before he could r,
low ct,sf fHok I = n |