Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-02

two hours ago and should be now sight
ing Haddington. put down the win
iowand looked snxiouslv ahead but all
WAS one great foggy blank. | could
discern nothing for the drilling snow
that nearly blinded me. Suddenly the
carriage gave tremendous lurch and
we came to a full stop.
Merciful powersl what is the mat.
teri" shrieked my wife, jumping up and
fumhling at the carriage door handle.
while she fell 10 weeping and reciting
her prayers.
Now sit down, Amanda, aud don't
be foo"
Please, EUR, we Gamma foind the
rawd," bawled the postboy from the
back of the near-side wheeler. "Urr >
(mesning the road) "'ave lett tie, an
we be nav on yum koind o. 'eath. We
Gamma be far fra 'Addington, but aw
Gamma tell for zlrtiu zure."
We'll, don't sit there like couple of
stone images. Hang it all, men. get off
your horses and lead them and pull up
AZ the first house you come to, no mat.
ter what it is. Stopl hsd better walk
at the head Of the otf-side leader N.Y.
self"
Hastily embracing my Amanda, who
ny this time WAS choking herself with
sobs in her corner Of the chariot, over
come by the cruel heartlessness Of her
Alfred and the brutal inclemency of the
elements, left her to get over her emo
tional tendencies as best she could and
descended to take command Of the de
spending couple of idiots who had
parted with the little wit they had ever
been blessed with at the same moment
that they had missed their way
Ugh how cold it was and getting
dark as pitch The sleet peted pite.
ously in our faces, driven by the fierce
blast from the north, rs weplodded for
ward like u funeral procession, hearing
nothing but the whistling of the icy
wind and the tramp of feet and hoofs in
the ever-deepening snow. AT length,
in the far distance, as it seemed to us,
u little to our left, looking like n rekin-
died spark in the embers of an expiring
fire. we could dimly perceive faint
glimmer Of light.
"Make for that point there to the
Left | shouted, pointing eargerly to
where the welcome CLEAN was shining,
urging on at the same time with voice
and rein the wretched quadruped that |
wastrying to steer safely over the slip
perry uneven ground, and to turn in the
direction | Indicated.
90 Alfred, my love-" screamed
Amanda, hanging out of the carriage
window, "are you not coming back to
me? I'm 30 unhappy and SO dread
fully alarmed, and it is so cold inside
all alone ~
"Put up the glass, then, and hold
your tongue, Amanda." rejoined her
lover. "We see L light close at hand,
and shall soon he under shelter"
60 darling arc you sure'tis a house
and not wigwayman !? All, ali There
there there he is, and mes pointing his
pistol at me screeched my bride.
1t was only the stump of a tree, but
anyhow it had the effect Of silencing
the timid fair one, who instantly re-
treated and promptly pulled down ali
the carriage blinds on surveying this
narrowing object, and who remained
speechless i'll close retirement for the
rest of her evening drive.
Presently, after another quarter of a
mile of this forced march, accompanied
by mutfied curses on our bad luck, and
mutterings of a very uncomplimentary
nature addressed to the horses and
their ancestry, a low one-storied pot
house sort ola place stalked suddenly
into view. The light in one of the two
upper windows fitted about agitatedly
as we knocked loudly and necessarily
with the butt-end of the whips on the
door, but for a couple OF minutes with
out other results than the one noted.
Then It was opened cautiously by
rougn-looking, shock-headed youth Of
nineteen or twenty, who peered Curl
ously out into the misty darkness under
his sandy, shaggy eyebrows with keen
ohservant gaze.
"Wha's yer wili?' he asked, without,
however, making way for admission
across the threshold.
INV good fellow, we are benighted
travellers, seeking supper and shelter
for the night" answered. you shall
be we'll paid 50 let us in at oace, with
out more ado"
"Hoo mony are YEP" was the next
question that issued from the lips OF
this growing Cerberus.
"Four all told, but one is a lady, ]
replied.
"Ughl aw maun jeest ga an consult
wi tina mither," said the youth, and
suiting the action to the word he de-
parted, clapping to the door, leaving us
staring with blank dismay into each
others faces and shivering outside in
the piercing cold. Fortunately we had
not long to wait, our grim host soon re-
on the scene.
Jaw can cum in, all on We, an aw
can stable yer cattle in the BARN, an
We will" he said, motioning US at the
same time to enter.
Clinging closely 10 me, Amanda
alighted from the clumsy vehicle, and
we both followed our uncouth conduct
or into poor, bare kitchen, that reeked
horribly Of tobacco and peat smoke.
Bearing aloft in his band an empty
black bottle in which was stuck light
ed candle that fared and guttered Wild
ly with much greasy besprinkling in
the fitful gusts Of wind that blew freely
- y. u