Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-04-17

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 rln-
regardingly, only, happily, his eye fell
upon me as L was nervously trying to
crouch out of view.
"Ah,'' he said, &c my poor girl, you
seem tired. Have you far to go?''
thought it best to put good front
on matters. My pride revolted at being
called a poor girl, although such word
exactly described me as 1 then was.
AS came to view by the light of the
carriage-lamps he most respectfully took
off his hat and said: 81 venture to ask
soon be quite dark, and there is no moon
to-nightr'
Il have missed a carriage that was to
have met me,'' said, q and am walk
ing on"
This is the road to Manningham,
where l am driving. You are going
there too, l presume. l 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 a horror of being
driven by solitary gentlemen, especially
after what had happened such a short
time before, and answered, not, perhaps,
in so firm tone as l ought:
''No, thank you. l shall manage to
walk on"
He moved his hat, and with sinking
heart l saw him proceed on his way. 1t
came into my mind that l would call
after him and accept his proposition.
Pride, however, came to my help, and
l refrained from doing so. Fortunately,
however, he stopped his horse, and wait
ed till should come up.
"I hope, ma am,' he said, "that you
will accept my offer. 1t is really not fit
that 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.
g But you must come,'' he said, with
an air of authority. ''My horse will not
wait any longer, and it is impossible to
ltdNc YOU ucIt NV OIc COltlti duSN VI
for the consequences. Please jump in
at once"
He was positively ordering me to get
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 l dropped but, being
peremptorily told to get in, my girlish
instinct of obedience came to my help,
and l was lifted in by strong arm be-
fore quite knew what was being done
with me.
l was so thankful when | was being
comfortably driven along, the swift mo-
ton and brisk air bringing back my high
spirits, as they always do. l told my
deliverer what was my destination. He
knew bennington, and he also knew
Mr.. Wilmslow very well, but he did not
think that 1 should be able to get there
that night. He questioned whether at
that time of night 1 could get a vehicle
to take me on. Perhaps it might not be
right to travel up to the Wilmslows' at
! the late hour when / should arrive. I'm
| fortunately, he himself had to 90 five
miles in another direction. He was al
ready past his time, and his horse was
nearly Knocked up. Perhaps, too, we
both doubted how far it would be in eX-
| actly good taste for young gentleman
to drive up young lady at midnight to
sedate household where she was to be
an exemplary governess.
But we had a very pleasant talk. He
told me all about the gentleman to whose
house | was going, a country Squire and
at the same time practical farmer, cul-
tivating thousand acres of his own.
He thought l should like the place and
the people, and he certainly amused me
very much by the way in which he de-
scribed 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 up,
shot of the adventure.
At last the town of Manningham
came in sight; pleasant streets, and 6
broad market-place full of twinkline
lights. We drove up to the principa
inn, and entered beneath an archway
Here he asked me to hold the reins for 6
moment while he went in to talk to his
friend the landlady, of whom he had
spoken in kindly and confident terms a:
we came along. Now, it so happened
that there was little window under
meath the arch, opening into the land
lady's private room, from which sht
could look out into the yard and ISSUE
her directions. A little conversation wa.
going on in this room which turned out
to be of very unpleasant character. Al
first there was an indistinguishable mur
mur of voices, and presently the accents
made themselves clear.
''No, indeed, Mr.. William, you mus
go somewhere else. l cannot find ac
commodation for this person.
Mr.. William appeared to be speaking
in demonstrating tone, but 1 could no
make out what he said. But the land
lady's next words, sharp and clear
brought the hot blood to my face.
''Those who really are ladies dom g
ten o'clock, and then take seats in youn!
gentlemen's gigs. We never take il
tramps at the Royal George
'But, Mrs. Brown, what is this youn.
lady to do? You say that all your file
are out, and she is quite unable to wall
/ to the Wilmslows of bennington.
ssThe Wilmslows of bennington dom
expect the likes of her, Mr.. William
, Those sort of people who run about tn
country always get hold of Il good nam
or two"
''But this is dreadful" said poo
William. ''What am l to do with thi
lady?''
: ''You should have thought of that
sir, before you took her into your faith
/ er's carriage. There'll be fine talk a
over the country about this bit of work
l know you mean no harm, but you al
: ways were wild and willful, Mr.. viii
lam. and it's my belief that if you put
, pair of tongs into petticoats you woul
want to drive them tire-irons all abou
the country
"You are talking utter nonsense, Mrs
S Brown; you are quite insulting"
81 know what 1 am about, Mr.. Curtis
: which is more than you do, when yo
!. let yourself be taken in in this way
t You will make yourself as bad nam
i as John Blades himself, who's the terre
0 of all the decent girls ten miles round
= ''But only come and look at her, Mr.
y Brown. Look at her for single me-
It ment, l entreat you, and you will /
K more than satisfied"
80, I'll take look at my lady, neve
It fear.''
# She came round to the door and loolket
d and in return she encountered the indis
d nant look of an honest English GIRL. VIII,