St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-07-29

| auueu, JnOugnu1ullN.
"No," said Uncle Cephas, who laid
mp every word that was uttered by the
great men around him and who was
elated at knowing some news. II
/ heerd him say t'other night that he
could run his stage an make livin'
ont of passengers an sich, an they
could get somebody else to carry their
consarned old mail"
ss,''You didn't :" said the Judge, with
an accent of unbelief.
''Yes, did" persisted Uncle Cephas.
''Wal wal ~ said the solemn Dea-
con, whose words were few but weigh
/ ty. II didn't think Seth was such a
fool"
''Jest So" said Grandpa Billin's, pla-
/ cidly. He never swOre himself; but
he felt, perhaps, that the eternal fitness
of things demanded strong language
from somebody, for he patted his cane
softly, and repeated: II say jest SO to
that, Deacon, every time. But who'll
carry the mail ~
Dunno" said Uncle Cephas, the re-
CARDS of the whole company forcing
out the mortifying confession, ~
heard Seth say that but hain't heerd
no more"
But Uncle Cephas, as well as the rest
of the village, knew before the month
OF December was ont that Uncle Sam
had absolutely refused to raise Seth
| Plmkett's salary also that another
stage was about to be put on the road,
which would convey the United States
mails and would also carry passengers.
Cant neither on 'cm pay said the
l IL, i, 4
this announcement, when first made by
Banty at the pOst-Olice. Neither on
'em won't pay but the feller that takes
the mail will get the best ont, fur he's
got sunthin', sure. An Seth's got his
team to keep, an all that. Mark my
words, boys, Seth'll have to 90 to the
wall"
1t was afterward recalled that at this
point Pclt Cressy looked uncOmmOnly
sober. The fact was that Pelt was one
of the best drivers in the section, and
had just had offered him by an intuen-
tial friend of his in il neighboring town
who, however, knew nothing of the
internal complications of Pelt's affairs
the chance to run the new stage be
tween Selborn and Clearpond.
Pelt was trying hard to get money
enough together to marry Hettie
Plunkett. He had pair of horses,
| which he had raised from colts, and he
had been ''teaming it'' for year back ;
| but what he could make in that way
was very little, compared with the
profits of the stage.
It'll make Seth mad, o. COURSE" he
reasoned, as he walked toward the
| post office. the evening after the fore
going conversation "but," straighten-
ing up defantly, ''he can team it. He's
! got better chance than have. Some
| bOdy's got to take the mail. 1t might
as well he me. I'll 90 right over and
see Hcttie about it nOw,n he continued,
| turning toward Seth Plunkett's cot
tage. ''lts got to he settled tonight,
and she can settle it."
Hettic was doubtful and finally tear
full but she was at last persuaded by
her lover that Seth, finding it impossi-
bic to compete with |the government"
would soon retire, more or less good
naturedly, feeling that the gain was
coming to the family anyhow, and that
he would make almost as good a living
at teaming.
"Well," said the yielding girl at last,
was near to counsel her, ''you decide it,
Pclt; and, if you take the stage, and
father is angry and won't let you come
here, Wen love each other just the
same"
During the second week in January
Il grand sensation shook ClcarpOnd to
its foundations. Pelt Cressy's horses
were to draw the new stage, and Pclt
himself was to drive them.
The first night after the new move
ment was inaugurated Seth Plunkett's
coach reached the pOst-of1ice first. He
stopped and settled with Banty for
some trifling errands which he had
done at SelbOrn, but his dark looks
and irritated manner showed that he
was in IA savage mood. The mail was
what they were waiting for there, and
the one who brought it was the man of
the hour. Seth Plunkctt felt that he
was discrowned and dishOnored, and
before he went to bed that night he
made ii solemn vow that Pelt Cressy
should never have his daughter.
'He's scoundrel - said Seth PUNK
cit, between his set teeth. Giles used
me mean, and I'll have none of him :"
This feeling grew day by day, as the
stages passed each other on the road OF
paused mt the half -way-house together
: Then the feud began to extend. The
ladies who went to SelbOrn to shop
rode with the one whose cause they
happened to espOuse : and, as Seth
though by no means protesting Chris
tian, nominally attended the Methodist
church, while Pelt's family were Bap-
fists. the lines between the two cOngre-
) cations marked pretty definitely the
limits of the factions.
/ Grandma Billin's stopped visiting
Mrs. Perkins (''the Deacon's wife, be
cause the latter had ridden up the rivel
with ''that sassy Pelt Cressy = the
Judge was no longer on speaking term'
with Banty: even the ministers wives
ceased exchanging friendly courtesies
The village of ClearpOnd was quite a
skies and sevens.
; About this time lay preacher de-
: scended upon the place, and the Meth
: odists were soon in the midst of pow
| erful revival. The Baptists held of
f for awhile; but soon the ice began t.
f thaw, and by a fortnight after the frs
+ ''uniOn meeting" the two congregation
had so far forgotten their difference
that they could worship together fer
vently and ignore the strife in thei
I midst Even the rival stage-driver
f hurried their horses, so that they to-
t could attend the meetings.
= The night of the twelfth of Marcl
was the most fearful one that the val
D lev had known for years. The snow
= which was constantly falling, inter
l mingled with hail, whirled and dashe
{ over the hills and through the valley