The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-20
One Clean of Romance

along that lntermlnable country road.
walked in good spirits, and am always
delighted when I first see new pros
pect unfolding before me. But I had
somewhat miscalculated my strength. 1t
is one thing to walk out in the fresh
morning and another thing to make a
forced journey after the mornings work
Is done. got quite angry with myself
for feeling tired almost on the outset of
my walk. I felt that 1 should be very
glad if could make friends with any
good-natured driver who could give me
q lift. Sometimes when we came back
on market day father did not at all
mind our carrier, who was also parish
clerk, giving us lift in his covered
wagon. But this seemed to be lonely
road through an uninhabited country.
There drove up perfectly white man
In cart full Of meal-bags; but there was
hardly room for himself among his bags,
and I besides did not want to be per
fectly white. e.
By the irony Of fate there also came
by coal wagon, but I had as little wish
to be black as to be white. Then |
came to little roadside inn which had
board with a painted remark about
being "drunk on the premises" l rather
quickened my pace, for such an an
nouncement suggested that there might
be roughs ahead.
Then I listened, but listened in vain.
1 should have been glad of the company
Of any good old market woman with
whom could have chatted as walked
along, and in fact I 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 tandem. The horses we're spir-
tied and fresh, and he had some difficulty
in pulling them up when he came close
to me. .u e..
"Well, my pretty maid" he cried,
"are you all by yourself? Shall ! give
you a lift? Take drive with me in my
trap. 1t will be lark for you"
Now really was very tired. But it
was very impertinent for 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 quite disrespectful, to say
the least of it, to make that remark
about "a lark" Besides, the young
mans eve and voice and manner were
not at all to his credit. They suggested
the idea that he had been at the inr
which had left behind me, and had car
ried out the idea Of getting "drunk or
the premises" ..sr
So made up my mind in moment
"No, thank you, sir / had rathel
walk" ''lt sr.
"Where are you goingT
1t was no business Of his, but an
swered quietly, II am going to Manning
ham," fr, . .utt.
" $50 am I. And it is more than sever
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" l gave no answer
but walked forward briskly. He was W
in a moment and jumped out Of his gig
keeping the reins in his hand.
"At any rate you will give re kissT
I shrieked and ran away from him al
fast as could in the opposite direction
going over the ground which I had toll
somely travelled little while before
NV knees bent under me, and thought
Ishould have tainted. A glance showed
me, however, that he did not dare leave
the two horses, which were champing
and fretting to be off, How, in my heart
OF hearts, I blessed those honest horses
Then the wretch actually shook his fist
at me, uttering ugly words. u
Presently, and with a feeling Of great
Joy and relief on my part, he was out q
sight as fast as his two horses could carry
him. In the meanwhile, had sunl
down exhausted by the wayside. Th'
road had wide margin of grass which
rose at this point into hillock shadowet
by copse Of trees. There was LITERAL,
a mossy couch where I reclined, and ais
literally watered it with my tears. In al
my life had never been 80 grossly de
graded and insulted. e
Was this, indie ed, the beginning of m,
entrance upon the world? Surely tn
world was something infinitely more vii
and evil than my fathers sermons hat
ever told me it was. I felt like som
&, poor damsel in the days of Arthurial
romance whom some wicked Earl Doom
had insulted; but, alasl | thought, il
these Victorian days there is 10 knigh
Geraint "riding abroad, redressing hu
man wrongs" saving fair ladies whel
they are lost in perilous paths. But j
will be seen that Ibid the Victorian day
an injustice.
The shadows were falling faster an,
ionger as l, once more summoning al
my energies, resumed the walk. 1t wa
quite clear to me that / should not g g
to bennington till midnight; and whs
IN the world would they think OF me
And am not partial to walking in th
dark in perfectly strange country, bu
+. though l lost my spirits, my courae
kept up wonderfully. kept on bravel
for three-quarters Of an hour, but il
stead Of persevering in the walk ! had
lit down and rest myself, which all goo
J-..-, - 1., q xvarxy I,oA os =