The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-07-21

CoiiliAilS loll w DO ~ NCl 1OllS way lIOiii
the railway At this time our railway
system was still young, but even at the
present time, though there are four or five
railways in this neigbhorhood none come
within four or five miles of bennington.
| was to go down to Manningham Road
Station, which was ten miles, from the
market town Of Manningham itself, and
then the village of bennington was five
miles on the other side of Manningham.
1t was late in a September afternoon
when | came to Manningham Road Sta
ton. The station itself was in a little vii
lage, but it tambtiously preferred taking its
title from the market town, which was
many miles Oft. The arrangement was that
| should he met by one of the WilmsoWs
in their trap, which should take me and
my belongings over to bennington
! Everything was taken out, but un-
| fortunately the WilmslOws conveyance
had not arrived. The porter knew them
very well, and said they were sure to be
! there before very long. 1t was a long
way to come, and they might have bust
ness at Manningham. So after waiting q
rather long time, left my luggage on the
| platform. where the porter assured me
| II NOuIti Dt UullC SLlC, anu UJOh IL Sll ON
about the village-a very little one, but
presenting'two remarkable features. The
churchyard was very much tim mbered al
most groyG-like in character, and with an
avenue of fine branching elms Moreover,
the church doors were unlocked, with
| every appearance of that being the nor
mai state OF things, and the church was
/ gently filled with dim sut1uson of relig-
/ ious light.
paced that avenue, and sat quietly in
that church, and my eyelds being heavy
, with a little wholesome crying, it is Just
/ possibe-I admit this contidentially y
that | may have slumbered for few
minutes IN a most comfortable square
/ pew, which | gratefully recall to the
| present day.
/ At last the thought occurred to me
that might in my turn be keeping the
/ WilmSlOW'S waiting at the station, and 50
| somewhat hurriGdly rctraced my steps.
When | got once more upon the plat
form | noticed with dismay that my lug
gage had vanished.
"Wcll, porter, | said, ''What about my
luggage? suppose you have put it in
the cloak roam :"
Eli, HISS, ~ llltl YOU AdItl tlt
porter. "Who'd have thought of seeing
| YOU here ~
"But where is my luggage ?" answer
ed, 'and | wonder how long | shall have
to wait ;"
"Thc luggage, miss why, Mr.. Wilm-
slows got it. He are not been out OF the
station yard six minutes"
"Gonc. and without me :" | exclaimed
perfectly thunder struck.
"Why, miss, he came and asked after
YOU. said you had left your luggage
here, but how it was my belief that you
had walked on because he had KEEP you
SO long q waiting. Whercupon his man
Whisked up your luggage and they start
ed of after You.
| was in absolute despair, and asked if
he could by Il short cut get to any point
where he could attract their attention by
shouting or waving a handkerchief At
oar place at home, it was possible to re-
sort to a move Of this kind; but the rail
way porter only grinned, and explained
that it was quite impossible. Then, hay
ing caused me this Inconvenience and
annoyance, the fellow touched his cap,
and unconscionably expected tip.
Twas in a great quandary. What would
it be best to do! Surely, Mr.. WilmsloW
would return after he had gone 4 few
miles and found that was not to be over
taken. Perhaps it would be best, after
all, to hire a fly and 90 after him. 1t
would be annoying to spend one of my
precious s0Vereigns; and it would be also
annoying to meet Mr.. Wilnslow return
ing to meet me- perhaps as soon us | had
started. This part OF the question was
speedily set at rest by the porter inform
ING me that it was impossible to hire
anything. No fly was to be obtained
nearer than Manningham; SO | deter
mined to walk, if necessary, to Man
ningham itself, and hire from there. We
Leslie girls were strong, and | had done
my ten miles walk often before to-day.
But it would be much pleasanter to be
picked up, and | persuaded myself that
! it was this which was going to happen.
did not know that few miles before
You came to Mannineham there was a
road which left the town on the left, and
went on to bennington, saving three
quarters of II mile.
1t afterward transpired that Mr. Wilm-
slow, with a mans natural stupidity, took
this by-road, supposing that every one
must needs know the road which he knew
best himself. If a girl had been driving
she would have had more sense.
SO | walked on, solitary damsel,
along that intcrmlnable country road
walked in good spirits, and am always
delighted when first see new prospect
unfolding before me.
But had somewhat miscalculated my
physical strength. 1t is one thing to
walk out in the fresh morning, an an
other 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. | felt
that should be very glad if could make
friends with any good natured driver who
could give me Il lit. Sometimes when we
came back on a market day father did
not at all mind our carrier, who was also
parish clerk, giving us a lift in his coy
cred wagon. But this seemed to be a
lonely road through an uninhabited
country. There drove up a perfectly
white man i'll a cart full Of meal-bags !;
| but there was hardly room for himself
among his bags, and | besides did not
want to be perfectly white. BY the irony
Of fate there also came a coal wagon but
had as little wish to be black as to be
white. Then came to little roadside
inn which had a board with paintedre-
mark about being "drunk on the prem
ises." rather quickened my pace, for
such an announcement suggested that
there might be roughs ahead.
Then | listened, but listened in vain.
| should have been glad Of the company
of any good old market woman, with
whom | could have chatted as | walked
along, and in fact would not at all have
minded carrying her eggs for her compa
ny's sake.
Presently heard the sound of wheels,
the sound Of rapid driving. A turn of the
road discovered to me Il young man drv-
ing tandem. The horses were spirited
and fresh, and he had some difficulty i'll
pulling them up when he came close to