Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-08-27
THE CLEARPOND STAGE.

feet deep in the snow, which was still
failing, and the evening stage was late.
TWAS due in Clearpond at eight o'clock,
but the pointer stood at nine in the vii
lagc Store and Post-ollice,n and yet
the stage had not come.
The store was full, as usual, of men
4, waiting for the mail. There was "the
judge" who had never held other court
than that which was now assembled
around him, but whose keen wit and
solid Judgment were well worthy of
higher bench; his Boswell, in the per-
son of " Uncle Cephas, - the village cob
g bier, from each corner of whose mouth
issued perpetually tawny ooze sug-
gestive of tobacco the Deacon a
notorious drinker and swearer, but of
' severe and digniied aspect; "Gran'pa
4, Billin's,n whose kindly smile and ven
/ cradle white beard gave stone " to the
20 assembly; and "Banty," the Postmas-
'gter, whose real name of Simpkins had
'A5been long discarded from common use
for, the nickname which his small size
and strutting manner had earned for
him. Beside these there were q dozen
young fellows and some old ones, of
e more or less consequence, the whole
forming company such as every New
England Post-office knew well at that
time. This was the place to get I" the
news" asmuch as the "sewin' -meetin' :"
"They do say remarked the Judge,
rolling quid of tobacco from one
cheek to the other" they do say,
Banty, that Seth amt a-gettin' so much
as he RELY wants for takin' the mail.
How is itP''
Seth Plunkett had faithfully carried
the United States mail between Selborn
and Clearpond for sixteen years.
"Guess it's so" replied the shrewd
little Postmater, with q knowing nod
"I'd like to know" said the Deacon,
"What he's a-goin' to do about it.
Striker"
Banty nodded several times impress
sively.
"Humph!" said the Judge, after q
moments pause. "He'll be a-buntin'
his head a-gin' stun-wall. The GUY
ment's economizin'. Seth won't cit no
, riz this year."
10 "Think notpn piped in old Uncle &C.
phas, making clean path for his words
at the expense of his hand. "He ruth
Or expects it, Told me so yesterday. !"
+" He won't-git-no-riz, | tell
,you!' repeated the Judge, pounding on
Z the counter to emphasize each word
q land the weight of opinion seemed to be
on his side.
- Just then the door opened, and a
pretty young girl, with bright dark eyes
and trim figure, peered in sbyly through
the cloud of tobacco-smoke. Grandpa
Billin's was near the door and becloned
to her reassuringly.
t"Come in, Hettie," he said. "Stagc
haiG't come"
"You don't suppose anything has
happened to Father, do youPn said pref
ty Henrietta Plunkett, coming just in
side the door.
claw, MOI" replied Grandpa Billin's
while from the crowd further in Il young
dman made his way, whose rising color
as he pressed forward, seemed to great
? @ly amuse his companions, one of whom
said, with sly wink; "Pelt Cressyl
r. tell her the news, Gran'pa. Save yel
breath"
Hettie was about to shut the door
quickly; but the young man was toe
close behind her and was soon by hel
side.
"What are you a.doin' out in thi!
storm, Hettie?" he asked, in tone O
tender reproach.
tlr 81 got real scared about father, >
&C. said Hettie Plunkett. 81 stood it a
long rs l could, and then | started out
'Tisn't far, you know, Pelt. You needn'
90 home with me. amt AFRAID
"Law!" said Pelt Greasy, facetiously
Us he made her take his stout arm
(" How Independent some folks are!'
And they walked on to Seth Plunkett'
little cottage.
Mr.. Pelton Cressy and his sweethear
would have told you that it was but
few moments before the stage came in
but the men at the store knew that i
was long hour, and were glad enough
to hear the familiar sound of the stage
bells coming. One pair of quick ear
heard them "down ter the bend o. tn
river and soon, with the light from
dozen uplitted curtains in the neighboy
hood streaming out on the snow-pow
dered horses, and with q grand houris
of whip and rein, the stage drew up a
the Post-onice door. Then Seth Plum
kett sprang from the high drivers seat
dragging after him the big leather
mail-bags, which always seemed ridicu
lousy too large to hold the Clearpon
mail, and burst into the bright light an
steaming air of the long, low room.
lie wore Il great bear-skin overcoa
which was white with snow, and his fu
cap and the turt of whiskers on his chi
were still winter. Everybody cleare
the way before the powerful fellow, q
he strobe to the counter and flung tn
mailbag over.
al tell you, boys, - said Seth Plunket
iiercely and with abundant profanity
turning to the eXpectant throng, at
. an awful night, and anybody that think
y I'm agoin' to carry this mail over tbs
road any longer for two hundred dollar
year, sold. That's all. I'll be blesse
if | willln
"What is he goin' to do" said tn
Judge, as Seth disappeared to ''put OF
his team" "IIe's driv' stage-wal,
must be nigh onto seventeen year. II
amt used TO dom nothn' else. s'poS
though he could team it, he addet
thoughtiully.
"No," said Uncle Cephas. who Tai
essga 9