Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-29

er quickened my pace, for such an an
nouncement suggested that there might
be roughs ahead. Then listened, but
| listened in vain. l should have been
glad of the company of any good old
market woman with whom could have
| chatted as walked along, and in fact /
| would not at all have minded carrying
her eggs for her for company's sake.
Presently heard the sound of wheels,
the sound of rapid driving. A turn of
| the road discovered to me a young man
driving a tandem. The horses were
spirited and fresh, and he had some diff
ficulty in pulling them up when he came
close to me.
.'Well, my pretty maid,' he cried,
8" are you all by yourself? Shall l give
you lift? Take drive with me in my
trap. 1t will be lark for you.''
Now really was very tired. But it
was very impairment of him to call me a
pretty maid, which, indeed, was not.
Then knew that my father quite disap-
proved of young men driving tandem.
Then it was disrespectful, to say the
least of it, to make that remark about
"a lark" Besides, the young man s
eye and voice and manner were not at
all to his credit. They suggested the
idea that he had been at the inn which l
had left behind me, and had carried out
the idea Of getting drunk on the prem
ises."
So made up my mind in a moment.
"No, thank you, sir, l had rather
walk
''Where are you goingp"
1t was no business OF his, but | an
swered quietly, 81 am going to Man
ningham."
$50 am 1. And it is more than seven
miles. You will never be able to do it.
Get up, my dear; I'll lend you HAND"
This was very insolent-I mean call
ing me "my dear" 1 gave no answer,
but walked forward briskly. He was up
in a moment and jumped out of his gig,
keeping the reinS in his hand.
cat any rate you will give me a
kiss?''
shrieked and ran away from him as
fast as could in the opposite direction,
going over the ground which I had toll
somely travelled little while before.
My knees bent under me, and thought
l should have tainted. A glance showed
me, however, that he did not dare to
leave the two horses, which were champ
my aHu tio1oiLo " NC on. AAo"' III NY
heart of hearts, l blessed those honest
horses. Then the wretch actually shook
his fist at me uttering ugly words.
Presently, and with feeling of great
JOY and relief on my part, he was out Of
carry him. In the meanwhile, l had
sunk down exhausted by the wayside.
The road had wide margin of grass
rxy1,in Of inf int
Swallowed by cOpse of trees. There
was literally messy couch where re-
clined, and I also literally watered it with
my tears. In all my life had never been
so grossly degraded and insulted. Was
this, indeed, the beginning Of my entrance
upon the world? Surely the world was
something infinitely more vile and evil
than my fathers sermons had ever told
me it was. l felt like some poor damsel
in the days of Arthurian romance whom
some wicked Earl Doom had insulted;
but, alas! thought in these Victorian
abroad, redressing human wrongs" saw
ing fair ladies when they are lost in per-
ilous paths. But it will be seen that l
did the Victorian days an injustice.
The shadows were falling faster and
longer as ], once more summoning all
my energies, resumed the walk. It was
quite clear to me that should not get to
bennington till midnight; and what in
the world would they think of me? And
| am not partial to walking in the dark
in perfectly strange country; but
though 1 lost my spirits, my courage
kept up wonderfully. kept on bravely
for another three-quarters of an hour,
but instead of persevering in the walk l
had to sit down and rest myself, which
all good walkers know to be very bad
sign. Presently l once more heard the
sound of wheels, and looking back saw
that there was young gentleman in
dog-cart. He stopped his horse at the
bottom of the hill, and perceived that
he was lighting his side-lamps. That
alone would be enough to remind me
that the evening was fading into night.
He came slowly up hill, but easily over
took me, and might have passed me I'M
regardingly, only, happily, his eye fell
upon me as l was nervously trying to
crouch out of view.
"Ah,' he said, "my poor girl, you
seem tired. Have you far to go?''
l thought it best to put good front
on matters. My pride revolted at being
called poor girl, although such a word
exactly described me as [ then was.
AS l came to view by the light of the
carriage-lamps he most respectfully took
off his hat and said: II venture to ask
ma'am if l can be of any use. 1t will
soon be quite dark, and there is no moon
to-night!''
Il have missed carriage THAT was to
have met me-" said, and am walk
ing on
''This is the road to Manningham,
where l am driving. You are going
there too, presume. think you had
better allow me to drive you into the
town."
There was something very courteous
and pleasant in his voice. There was
sufficient light to discover bright-eyed
and handsome, kindly face, with thick !
curly hair. My instinct told me that l |
need not be afraid to be driven by him. |
At the same time had horror of being |
driven by solitary gentlemen, especially |
after what had happened such short |
time before, and answered, not, perhaps, |
IN SO firm a tone as ought: