The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-08-30
Select STORY.
PHANTOM LOVERS.

Before 1 begin my story must tell you
| am commercial traveller, born and bred,
so to speak, to the business.
have my wits about me, and, as Of
ten happen to have a good many valuable
articles also, have need of them.
l am an Englishman-English to the
back -bone-and live on roast beef, bottled
ale and old port wine.
If you could feel my arms, and look at
my cheeks, aud measure me across the
shoulders, you would have no doubt that
l am one of the men who does not dream
and don't fancy.
When l see thing see il.
When l hear a thing | hear it.
And what / saw and what | heard on
one particular occasion I mean to tell you.
You will not offend me at all if you
doubt it.
l should doubt it myself if any one had
told it to me.
/ cannot expect Of any one the credence
that | would not give myself.
Nevertheless shall, as said, tell the
story.
1t was in the year 1S-, and the month
was May, and the place was England.
had left London FIVE days before, and
now was miles and miles away from it,
in the very heart of the country, travelling
towards little town where / had business.
1t was an old fashioned place, and the
people we're kind and obliging.
You do not look for such qualities on
the road nowadays, if you are a traveller
of experience; but here they came upon
me at the inn | stopped in a way to make
me think better Of human nature.
Travellers did not stop often at that inn
l suspect, for they were as particular about
my meals as though l had been a prodiga
son come for the holidays.
They killed the fatted chicken for me
and to crown all, as the train did not stoT
to take me on as wanted to go, and al
il was only matter Of five miles or So
what did the landlord do but hunt up
rusty old coach that was tucked away ia
the coach house, and order his man Il
drive me over that evening.
1t wasn't an extra mind you. It wai
sheer good will.
So | shook hands all round, and | re-
membered the chambermaid and the waitel
with half crown each, aud off rode
the old coach creaking and the old horse
wheeling, and the old driver coughing vi
on the box, and il was like bit out Of al
old story, with an adventure in the middle
Of it.
1t was getting dark fast, and the road
wound away among the hills in very ro-
mantle sort Of way.
do not know much about art myself
but | think il that painter with the white
umbrella that used to sit about in the mud
making pictures could have seen some oi
those points, he would have touched then
up with pleasure.
When the sun went down and the moor
came up white aud bright, and up agains
It on the rocks you could see all the deli
cate, trembling little weeds and grasses
aud there were big, black shadows undel
the trees, and glimpses Of you did moi
know what under the bushes.
Why, it made you think Of ghosts, i
you were a commercial traveller.
Here's the place., says | to mysel
"wherc the gentlemen Of the road woul'
have liked to meet me and my black bal
fifty years ago"
A pretty joke il would have been to hay
handed my valuables over and danced
iig for their Amusement besides ffty year
ago.
A hundred years ae 1,anyhow | shOuldn'
have felt so safe as DO now.
Just then the coach came to suddel
pause.
"HalloT cried | out pf the window
"whnts the matter?"
"It's more than | cea tell, sir, said th
man. "Black Japz has turned sulky
She won't move 2. step"
with that gle began to shout and cracI
his whip, /, Nith my head out Of the win
dow, watching him, aud suddenly the bear
started off like mad, and l drew in m
face and saw had company.
While the coach was at stand still,
lady and gentlemen had slipped in.
They sat on the seat opposite me; an
though it was an intrusion, | had not tn
heart to find fault, for prettier pair
never saw 10 my life.
If be was twenty-one, it was as much q
he could be, and she was not seventeen.
l have seen pair Of china lovers on III
mantel-piece, the perfect inage Of wha
they were, and they were as pretty AM
dressed much the same.
His hair was powdered, and hers too.
She had on yellow silk, lower in III
neck than would like daughter Of min
TO wear it, and her arms would have beel
bare only for her long kid gloves.
She had pearls IN her ears and on he
throat, and she had just the most innocen
little face my two eyes ever rested on.
As for tie boy, he had chocolate vel
vet coat and white silk stockings, and lac
rufIles at his wrists.
And they had one large cloak--his,
iancy--cast about the two Of them, thouel
Il had dropped back bit sthey sat down
1.-TWO young folks going to fancy bali
perhaps, says !, "and just took lift q
the way
And touched my cap 10 .hen, nns
says l
"Fine evening sir.
He did not answer me, but she looket
a. me and stretched out her little whit
hand