Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-02-27

once more heard the sound of wheels, and
looking back l saw that there was n young
gentleman in dog-cart He stopped his
horse at the foot of the hill, and perceived
that he was lighting his side lamps. That
nlono would be enough to reveal to me that
the evening was leading into night. He came
slowly up hill, but easily overlook me, and
might have passed me unregardingy, only,
happily, his eye fell upon me as l was nerv-
ously trying to crouch out of view.
"Ah, he said, my poor girl, you seem
tired Have you far to go?"
thought it best to put a good front on
matters. My pride revolted at being called a
poor girl, although such a word exactly de-
scribed me as then was.
As l came into view by the light of the
carriage lamps he most respectfully took off
his hat and said 81 venture to ask, ma'am, if
can be Of any use. II will soon be quite
dark, and there is no moon to-nghtI'
II have missed carriage that was to have
met me, 4" | said, 'and am walking on"
This is the road to Manningham, where l
am driving. You are going there, too, pre-
sumo. 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 a bright-eyed and handsome,
kindly face with thick curly hair My in
stii ct told me that need not be afraid to be
driven by him. At the same time had a
horror of being driven by solitary gentlemen,
especially after what had happened such a
short time before, and answered, not, per
haps in so firm n tone as I ought
NO, thank you l shall manage to walk
on
! He moved his hat, and with u sinking heart
saw him proceed on his way. 1t came into
my mind that | would call after him and ac-
cept his proposition Pride, however came
to my help. and l refrained from doing so.
Fortunately, however, he stopped his horse,
and waited till should come up.
Il hope, ma'am," he said, that you will
accept my offer. 1t is really not fit that a
lady like yourself should be out after dark in
a country 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 it is impossible to leave you here.
No one could answer for the consequences.
Please jump in at once"
He was positively ordering Inc to get in,
aud had not sufficient strength of mind or
body to resist his orders. If he had tried to
beg and entreat and coax me to get in, !
know l should have walked on till / dropped /;
but being peremptorily told to get in, my
| girsh instinct of obedience came to my help,
and | was lifted in by strong arm before l
quite knew what was being dune with me.
l was so thankful when | was being COM
fortably driven along, the swift motion and
brisk air bringing back my high spirits as
they always do. | told my deliverer what
was my destination. He knew bennington,
and he also knew Mr.. Wilmslow very well,
but he did not think that | should be able to
get there that night. lie questioned whether
at that time of night l could get Il vehicle to
take me on Perhaps it might not be right
to travel up to the Wilmsows' at the late
hour when | should arrive. Unfortunately.
he himself had to 90 five miles in another di-
rection. He was already past his time, and
his horse WAS nearly knocked up. Perhaps,
too, we both doubted how far it would be in
exactly good taste for n young gentleman to
drive up young lady at midnight to a sedate
! household where she was to be an exemplary
! governess.
But We had n very pleasant talk He told
Inc all about the gentleman to whose house
was going, country squire and at the same
time a practical farmer, cultivating thous-
and acres of his own. He thought | should
like the place and the people, and he certain
ly amused me very much by the way in
which he described all my future surround
ings. But all the time it was easy for me to
htt tA4hl Lllllh Nuh AlON ihlAt ~ IthNs lAlil
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 mark ct
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 a moment while he went in to talk
with 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 little window underneath the arch,
opening into the landlady's private room,
from which she could look out into the yard
and issue her directions. little conversa-
ton WAS going on in this room which turned
out to be of "A very unpleasant character. At
first there was an indistinguishable murmur
of voices, and presently the accents made
themselves clear.
mo, indeed, Mr. William, you must 10
somewhere else. | cannot find accOmmoda-
tion for this person"
Mr.. William appeared to be speaking in a
demonstrating tone, but l could not make out
what he said. But the landlady's next words
sharp and clear brought the hot blood to my
face.
Those who really are ladies don't go
tramping about the country till nearly ten
O'Clock, and then take seats in young gentle
mems gigs. We never take in tramps at the
Royal George"
"But, Mrs. Brown what is this young lady
to do? You say that all your flies are out,
and she is quite unable TO walk to the Wilm-
slows of bennington"
''The Wilmslows of bennington don't ex-
pect the likes of her, Mr.. William. Those
sort of people who run about the country al
ways get hold of good name or two"
IN II = RI
'What am l to do with this ladyI 2"
"You should have thought of that, Sir. be-
fore you took her up into your fathers car
riage Therell be a fine talk all over the
country about this bit of work. know you
mean no harm. but you always were wild and
wilful, Mr.. William, and it's my belief that if
you put a pair of tongs into pettcoats you
would want to drive them fre-irons all shout
the country"
you are talking utter nonsense, Mrs.
Brown; you are quite insulting"
81 know what l am about, Mr.. Curtis,
which is more than you do, when you let
yourself be taken in in this way. You will
make yourself as bad name as John Blades
himself who's the terror of all the decent
girls ten miles round"
"But only come and look at her, Mrs.
Brown. Look at her for single moment, l
entreat you, and you will be more than salts
fed"
"Oh, I'll take a look at my lady, never
fear"
She came round to the door and looked,
and in return she encountered the indignant
look of an honest English girl, who, although
almost heart broken, had enough spirit and
energy left to hold her own. Directly the
landlady saw me she became suddenly and
strangely altered. She gave me a smile and
a curtsy, and came forward to greet me. She
did not know that I had overheard this strange
conversation, and l am glad to say that l had
enough tact to refrain from alluding to it at
the time.
Dear me, Miss she exclaimed Mrs.
Wilmslow will be so dreadfuly sorry that
Won LnNa haan nreYented coming to her to-