Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-21

my pace, for such an announcement 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 maj
ket woman with whom could, have:chatted as
walked along, and In fact 1 would not at all
have minded carrying her egg for her for CON-
pany'S sake.
Presently heard the sound of wheels. the
sound OF rapid driving. A turn of the road dis
covered to me young man driving a tandem.
The horses were spirited and fresh, and he had
some dlfflculty In pulling them up when he
came close to me.
'well, my pretty maid" DE cried, .'are you all
by yourself? Shall give you lift? Take
you"
Now really was very tired. But It was very
1mpertinent of him to call me pretty maid,
which, indeed, l was not. Then / knew that
my father quite disapproved of young men driv-
ing tandem: Then 1t was disrespectful, to say
the least OF 1t, to make that remark about "a
lark" Besides, the young mans eyes and voice
and manner were not at all to his credit. They
suggested the idea that he had been at the inn
which ! had left behind me, and had carried
out the idea OF getting ''drunk on the premises !"
so made my mind in moment.
mo, thank you, sir, had rather walk"
.'Where are you going?"
lt was no business of his, but l answered
quietly, 81 am going to Manningham."
so am l. And 1t 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 calling me
my dear" gave no answer but walked for
ward briskly. He was up in moment and
jumped out of his gig, keeping the reins In his
hand.n
''At any rate you will give me a k1ss?"
shr1eked and ran away from him as fast as
could IN the opposite direction, going over the
ground which had tOilsomely Travelled little
While before. My knees bent under me. and
thought should have tainted. A glance showed
me, however, that he did not dare leave the two
horsesi which were champlng and fretting to be
Off. How, in my heart of hearts, blessed those
honest horses. Then the wretch actually shook
his fist at me uttertng ugly words
Presently, and with feeling of great joy and
relief on my part, he was out of sight as fast as
his two horses could carry him. In the mean
while, had sunk down exhausted by the way
which rose at this point into hillock shadowed
by copse of trees There was literally messy
couch where 1 reclined, and also literally
watered it with my tears. In all my life 1 had
never been so grossly degraded and insulted.
Was this, indeed, the beginning of my entrance
upon the world? Surely the world was some
thing infinitely more vile and evil than my
fathers sermons had ever told me it was. l felt
like some poef damosel in the days of Arthurian
romance whom some wicked Earl Doom had in
suited but, alas! Thought, in these Victorian
redressing human wrongs" saving fair ladies
when they are lost in perilous paths. But it
will be seen that did the Victorian days an in
justice.
The shadows were falling faster and longer as
!, once more summoning all my energies re-
sumed the walk. 1t 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 a
perfectly strange country; but though lost my
spirits, my courage kept up wonderfully. kept
on braVely for another three-quarterS of an
hour, but instead Of perseveriug in the walk /
had to sit down and rest myself which all good
walkers know to be a very bad sign. Presently
once more heard the sound of wheels, and look
ing back / saw there was young gentleman In
dog-cart He stopped his horse at the bottom
OF the hill, and perceived that he was lighting
his slde-lamps. That alone would be enough to
remind me that the evening was fading into
night. He came slowly up the hill, but easily
overlook me, and might have passed me unre-
gsrdngy only happily his eye fell upon me
Have you far to go?'
l thought it best to put good fro9ton mat
ters My pride revolted at being Gained a poor
girl, although such word exactly described me
as then was.
AS came into view by the light of the car
and said: 81 venture to ask ma'am If can be of
any use. 1t will soon be quite dark, and there.
is no moon tonight"
- 81. g, have missed carriage that was to have
met me-" said, land am walking on.D
"This Is the road to Manningham, where 1
am driving. You are going there too l pre-
sumo: | think you had better allow me to dive
There was something very courteous and
pleasant In his voice. There was sufficient
light to discover frightened and handsome
IL.
told me that need not be afraid to be driven
by him. At the same time, had horror Of
being driven by solitary gentlemen especially
before, and answered, not, perhaps. in so firm
tone as ought:
mo, thank you. 1 shall manage to walk
He moved his hat and with sinking heart l
saw him proceed on his way. 1t came into my
mind that would call after him and accept his
proposition. Pride, however, came to nv halp
and / refrained from doing so. Fortunat ely
however, he stopped his horse, and waited till i
should come up.
- hope, ma'am,n he said, " that you will ac-
eept my offer. 1t is really not fit that lady
like yourself should be out after dark in col1n-
try you don't know, and evidently very tired
stammered out some kind of refusal
But you must come" he said, with an air of
authority. my horse will not wait any
longer, and 1t Is impossible to leave you here.
No one could answer for the consequences.
He was positively ordering me to get in, and
had not sufficient strength of mind or body to
resist his orders If he had tried to beg and en-
have walked on till dropped; but, being per
emptorily told to get in my glrlish instinct of
obedience came to my help, and was lifted in
by strong arm before quite knew what was
was so thankful when was being comfort
ably driven along, the swift motion and brisk
ar bringing back my high spirits, as they al
ways do. told my deliverer what was my des-
tination. He knew bennington, and he also
knew Mr.. Wilmslow very well, but he did not
think that l should be able to get there that
night. He questioned whether at that time OF
night could get vehicle to take me on. Per-
haps 1t might not be right to travel up to the
W1lmSlowS' at the late hour when should ar
rive. Unfortunately, he himself had to go five
miles in another direction He was already past
his time, and his horse was nearly knocked up.
Perhaps, too, we both doubted how far 1t would
be In exactly good taste for young gentleman
to drive up a young lady at midnight to a Sc
date household where she was to be an eXemp-
larry governesS
But we had very pleasant talk. He told me
all about the gentleman to whose house was
going, country squire and at the same time
practical farmer cultlVating Thousand acres
OF his own. He thought should like the place
and the people, and he certainly amused me
very much by the way in which he described all
my future surroundings. But all the time it
was easy for me to See that his mind was not
quite at rest, that he was not quite certain what
was best to be done, and rather anxious as to
the upShot OF the adventure.
At last the Town Of Manningham came in
sight; pleasant streets, and a broad market
place full of twinkling lights We drove up to
the principal inn, and entered beneath an
archway. Here he asked me to hold the reinS
for moment while he went in to talk to his
friend the landlady, of whom he had spoken in
kindly and confident terms as we came along.
Now, it so happened that there was a little
window underneath the arch, opening into the
landladys private room, from which She could
look out into the yard and issue her directions.
tn