The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-08-07
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many strange experiences 10 aY ume
Aad thins I may call mice rather a
tFcntfal life.
+ Forty yetrs ago last Jaue, be resumed
after moment of shoaghiial silence,
Ersdaa,ed with high hohors, and receives
a hospital appoinlmenl, which wonic
furnish the with employment for the mex
Eve year,, and snAble me 20 oatsin !
I practical knowledge Of medicine before
se,,ing up for myself
4 Ny duties did DO, begin. however, be-
fore the Grst Of August, and as was !
little worn out by bard study, was glad
70 be able 10 spend the intervening si1
weeks with my mother in The country.
I | lett Philadelphia one day at noon, By
The stage that was 10 convey me to the
town where she lived. We were "a
travel nsli late In the evening, when We
were TO stop for The night at little pub
Tic house on the road, TesumiDg our Jour
ney by the mail coach at six The next
morning.
There we're two other passengers be-
sides myself young man who had
secured the box-sest which had expect.
ed to get, and lady who sat inside with
me. We drove along merrily enough, In
good bumor with ourselves aud each
other, and placed about mile between
us aud the town, when, as ! looked out
OF the window, saw, standing by the
roadside, 4 man with carpet-bag 10 one
hand, who was beekoniug to the driver
With the other. We presently came mp
with him.
Inside or outside, sirY asked the driver
as be dismouDled.
Inside; inside, Of course, was tle re-
ply, little irasciby, thought, as the
new conner placed his feet upon the step.
Yer pay in advance, sir, beggin' yer
pardon, reminded the driver, OBTAINING
him and touching his bat,
The old gentleman-be was elderly,
aud to all appearance gentleman-seem-
ed further irrilated by the delay. lie
asked ihe amount, however, paid il at
once, and took his seat beside me, be-
slowing bis eaFpet.bag under his feet, and
evincing great satisfaction rs we started
again.
bad feared we were TO have dis
agreeable addition TO our party, Judging
from first impressions; but when, after
while, the man joined in conversation
with US, we found him remarkably intel
ligent and affabe.
Before he bad talked great while |
discovered he had led rather nomadic
liie. Europe, South America, East India,
seemed equally familiar to him. Without
being gsrrulous, he had so many charm
ing incidents TO relate of life in many
lands, that he contrived to entertain US
most delightfully."-.
Judged be was travelling on important
business, he seemed so jealous Of any
attention. When we stopped TO allow
the boxseat passenger TO slight, and
again At three o'clock, when we halted
for dinner, | noticed he became restless
and anxious. At dinner, his manner was
constrained. He ate little, and talked
less, consulted his watch frequently, aud
finally excused himself before we had
half finished the meal, and left the room.
When we resumed our seats in the stage,
we found him there before us. lie was
seated In his old place, with bis head
drawn back In an uncomfortable corner,
efIectually shielding him from obserya-
ton. Indeed, had handed the lady in
before she discovered him, and she gave
little cry Of surprise.
| hope haven't startled you, madam,
be said. had no appetite for dinner, so
thought might as well wait here as IN
the house,
These delays are rather annoying when
one is anxious to get on, remarked.
Yes, sir; yes, he replied with a little
sigh. II is highly important, too, that |
should lose no time on the way.
lie then changed the subject, with the
ease Of man OF the world, and our con-
versation became general. lie was GER
tainly very pleasant. After five o'clock
when the laAy inside, as the driver called
her, left as to ourselves, our tete.a.tete
was especially sgreeable. just at dark,
we drew up In front OF the little inn
which was TO furnish us with our nights
lodging. The proprietor came ont TO
meet us, and with many apologies re-
grelied that be had but one spare room to
offer Us. There was a wedding In the
ueighbofhood hat evening, and party
from town bad driven down aud en-
gagged all biz apartments except this one
chamber. But II you two gentlemen
don't object sharing the same room for
couple Of hours-yon'Il bsve TO rise early
10 take the mail coaeh--l think | can
make you very comfortable. There are
two clean beds 10 the room, and
I'm sure III not object, ! interrupted,
turning TO my fellow traveller.
He hesitaied an instant, and then said,
Well, sir, I'm agreed IL yon Are; then,
With au almost solemn tone, remember,
sir, the proposal came from you, aud II
fate should
The astonlshment expressed, no doubt,
upon my face 81 ibis pasticnlar address,
caused him to stop. Then he laughed
pleasantly, aud resumiog his usual man.
ner, said, Excuse me, but my mind, just
nov, Il 50 occupied with affairs very i'm
porsknt 10 me that l'm afraid my atten.
ton sometimes wanders. You are very
I hind 10 offer me half OF Your room. |