Morris tribune., 1880-12-23
ETHEL'S COACHMAN.

city steamed away.
No carriage, it seems-nther beastly i'll
Anglesey to neglect sending for fellow.
Well, can foot it to Cedar Shade-where
ever that may be-if the thermometer does
stand at ninety"
Then, after thinking some such thoughts
Mr.. Frank Strathenden spied the perishing
shirt sleeved agent, in the stutfy little office.
DO YOU happen to know where Cedar
Shade is? or how far from here, or what
road am to take?"
The official slowly came around outside
the saloon precincts of the ticket office, and
pointed to a shade -embowered cottage,
about q mile distant, on the very apex of
an eminence that lowered against the blue
sky.
There YOU are, sir. lisa pity you hadn't
q took the train ahead Of this what you came
on--Mr. Anglesey was down here with his
phaeton and horses for somebody as didn't
come"
Mr.. Stratheden looked disgustingly up
the long, ascending road, then gave his
handsome shoulders a shrug that meant re-
signation, perforce to cruel fate.
Il am in for a breather. Well-Im much
obliged to you.
And shifting his valise to the other hand,
he started off. as unmindful of the broiling
sun as any healthy, hearty young fellow of
twenty-seven ought TO be; and wondering,
as h went, if Anglesey had told the exact,
honest, unvarnished truth, when he had
said that Ethel, his cousin was the fairest,
loveliest girl upon whose golden hair and
sweet gray eyes the sun had ever shone.
The truth was that for some time he had
been quite particularly interested in Angle
sey's letters from Cedar Shade, in all of
which Ethels name was frequently men-
toned. and EtherS charms elaborated upon,
and when, at length, pressing invitation
from Anglesey had come, for him to spend
a month at that delightful paradise called
Cedar Shade, away up among the noun
tains, Stratheden had been nothing loath to
accept it, and here he was.
Ten minutes. at swinging pace with
valise, under broiing sun, would have
made nine fellows out of ten cross and i'll
natured by the time the cool, shady stretch
of path alongside riotous little rivulet, was
reached; but Frank Stratheden, was the
tenth young man of that imaginary number,
and instead Of fuming over what he had ac-
complished. he very sensibly sat down in the
coolest shadiest place, to rest for a amoment.
Only little further up was the cottage,
its cool gray walls visible through the naked
foliage, the lace draperies at the windows
swaying to and fro in the crisp breeze that
was fifteen degrees cooler than at the
sunny foot of the hill. From somewhere
he could hear the sound of merrily- playing
and FLASHING fountain, and all around him
was the delicious, eXhierating odor of pure,
sweet air, and forest trees, and earth.
For little while he lay there, stretched
lazily and comfortably on the grass, then
went Oh his way again, arriving at the pri-
yate grounds of Cedar Shade almost before
he knew it, and to meet, as he turned de-
ceiving little curve in the shady forest road,
n charming young girl, with wide trimmed
shade hat over her bright eyes, and start
led little look on her face. as Strathedon
made his debut so suddenly.
He bowed and raised his hat.
Il beg your pardon, but believe this is
Cedar Shade?"
How You frightened me coming so sud-
denly. Yes, this is Cedar Shade. and we've
been looking for YOU all the morning. You
are Francis, believer
Stratheden was just little surprised.
Anglesey might have known better than to
have talked of him as Francis, particular
ly as that gentleman knew he detested the
name.
Yes" he said, "my name is Francis"
ut is good thing that you came to. day, -
she went on, looking brightly at him. Do
You know we wouldn't have waited any
longer? Papa said this vGy morning at
breakfast, if YOU didn't come before noon
he'd get some one else"
1t was rather bewildering, to be sure
Strathenden thought; but perhaps Cedal
Shades guests were treated like those OF
royalty-expected to come on time, and in
turn 60 on time, to give place to other COM
ers.
Il am very glad, however, that you are
come. My cousin isn't in just at present
and papa is busy with his partner, Just NJ
from the office, SO I'll take you around tc
the stables myself. Shall T."
To the stables A curious way of intro.
ducing guests to the hospitalities of Cedar
Shade, to be sure, but then-he would have
gone to the pig-sty, or the hen house, with
such a charming little chaperone as this.
Il shall be glad to be shown the stables,
he said, as he stepped in the direction hel
dainty little fingers indicated-a large, pleas,
ant-looking building, with plenty of shade
and room about.
She looked at him a second-just little
wide e-eyed and wondering.
II am so glad you are -gentlemanly,
she said, gravely 81 am Miss Ethel Yor
may call me SO, Francis"
He bowed, delightful sensation occurring
to him.
This, then, was the sweet girl of whom ht
had heard and thought SO much! Well
Ethel scattered his thoughts most effec
tually.
There is just one especial word I want tt
say, Francis, and that is about my ponies
the dear little jet-black ponies, only clever
hands, that nobody ever drives but myself
want you to be particularly careful o.
them, and never give them over two quarts
of oats day. And hope you will keer
my phaeton looking like new all the time
1 am very particular about the condition o.
my rig. Our last man was too provokingly
careless about the lamps for anything"
And then, with the strangest of all strange
sensations occurring to him, this hero OF
ours discovered that-shades of departed
racers and memories of dead and-g
jockeys!-that fair Ethel Anglesy, whom he
had come to fall in love with thought he
was newly hired coachman! Just the mer-
est glimmer of smile was upon his lips fol-
a second, as he allowed himself to thorough
ly enjoy the racy joke, and then he resolved
to carry it out indefinitely. So he bowed
grayely.
''1ll remember, ma'am; I will do my best
maam."
And then, with pleasing little smile ant
nod, Ethel went away-so fair, SO passing
sweet, graceful and lovely-leaving him il
most delightful bewildered state, as he
walkedinto the roomy stable, and found
the miniature ponies that were charming
Ethel's darlings.
While Ethel went back to the house, ant
presented herself before placid beautiful
elderly lady, in pale gray lawn, and white
lace breakfast cap on her rppling, fail
hair.
Mamma, the new man has come.
took him out to the stable myself, and told
him about Flirt and Dandy, and do thinl
never say handsomer, more gentle.
manly fellow. Mamma he has the lowell.
est eyes and mustache. Truly, if hadn'
known Francis was the new coachman's
narne, and he hadn't told me it was he,
never would haye believed he was hired
man."
ethel, child yoH talk SO eytravagantly.