Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-11-25
The Stage Drivers Wife.

Tour bay horses dashed in fine stvle
u. * me door OF the inn, pulling be,
IsNM,s ! lem the gorgeous red Essge
fENsE swayed and reeIed and rockad
pFaTashion that made the more ner
voss passengers vince ind shiver.
Hollister threw his reins to the
stable boy, ard went into the house.
He was bluff, big. listed fellow
rather rough looking in his welt skin
oyercoat and broad -visored cap. No
body ever doubted the kindness OF
heart under that unpolished exterior,
however.
Now, as he tramped through the
big hall, on his way to the bar room,
ne paused st the sight of female fig
Rre il one dim corner, with her face
Dropped into both hands, and her
whole attitude one of sorrow and de-
spair. The figure was slender and
yo9ng, clad in well-worn gray suit,
ana the hands on which the brown
lead was bowed were white and deli.
beg your pardon. ma'am. Are
you?" ~ : 70 - e0i 'ioo "
!. Then the girl looked up. and Hol-
rrsser recognized the daughter of a
Ian who had been at the inn for some
,s "e9ks-a man whom the driver had
-. ~ hesitation in chasing as an adyen-
'urer and blackleg.
ne had pitied the girl on that night
When he bad first seen her-when he
lad brought them out from the citv
'fesr7slsS seemed .. lady with her auiat
ways and her wistful eyes, and not al
all fitted for life of Bohemianism
such as it was evident her father was
leading her.
She looked up, | say, and meeting
the expression Of honest kindliness in
Frank HOLSTERS clear gray eyes, she
struggled moment for self control
and then burst into tears.
Frank squared his broad shoulders
before her in order to screen her from
the curious gaze of any who might
pass through the hall, and waited in
silence.
Presently the girl raised her head
once more, looked at him with tear
strained eyes and said with quiverinq
lips:
=" | am in trouble, sir. Yours are
the first friendly words | have heard
to-day. Ny father" here crimson
flush dyed her fair brow" my father
has left me; where he has gone dc
not know. I am absolutely alone
among strangers, and our bill here il
unpaid.
For one instant Frank looked al
her doubtfully, and then with sud
den rush of self-shame and chiyalry
his hand went into his breast-pocket
and drew therefrom big leather
pocket book.
The girl made a little indignant
4 paeture. and looked at him with wide
Is r,ened naughty eyes.
g Sir | scarcely expected an insult 2
Whereupon Frank began hurried
and indignant reputation of her in
situation. He insult woman He
who had the dearest mother and the
sweetest little sister in the world
away off there in the eastern states
praying for him!
P'raps | amt so dainty in my
choice of words as | might be, lady
I'm rough fellow at best but I'm
dreadful soft-hearted where woman
is concerned. If you choose to look OF
me as friend and straight man-one
that never goes back on his word, yor
shan't be disappointed. Now, then
how can / serve you?"
The big pocket book had disappeared
and the girls face softened at his rough
gallantry She extended one little
hand frankly.
Forgive me, sir; know that yor
are all that you seem. / cannot accep
any pecuniary aid from you or any
one. The landlord has offered me
situation as table girl / shall accep
it, and in that wav can pay our in
debtedness. Thanks for your kindness
shall not forget it,"
With little fitting smile she slip
ped past him and went swiftly up the
dark stairway, while the driver pro
ceeded to the bar-room, where th,
men were talking, laughing, smoking
and drinking.
Here Hollister listened to a detailed
I account of the disappearance of Colonel
Pressy, interspersed with various com
ments concerning him and his daughter
Cora.
Pressy was stigmatized as a cheat, &
villain and a sponge-anything ant
everything, they called him, but al
honest man. There were some expires
sions of sympathy for the girl, but i
was easy to see that she was not liked
Miss Pressy had held herself too ia
aloof from every one in the house to VIII
the approval of this free-and-eas,
western community.
One loutish looking fellow, leaning
against the bar-rail, remarked, with
sneering grin:
" That gals mighty stuck-up littl
crltter reckon she won't put on an,
more airs with mel" and he sent
stream of tobacco Juice in very skill
full manner straight into the mouth o
a spitton which occupied the center 0
theroom.
Hollister, who had been q silen
listener until now, crossed leisurely b
this extraordinary marksman, and, strik
ing him light blow upon the shoulder
said evenly and distinctly:
Look here, Jerry, you don't want t,
talk any more like that about Mis-
] Pressy."