Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-12-22
4 WILD RIDE.

| Before L begin my story must teli
vou that / am a commercial traveller,
born and bred, 50 to speak, to the bus
mess.
| have my wits about me, and, AS
often happen to have good many vaiu-
able articles also, have need OF them.
I am All Englishman-English to the
back bone-and live on roast beef, bot
tied ale and old port wine. l am one
of the men who don't dream and don't
| fancy.
When see a thing see it. When |
hear a thing l hear it. And what l saw
on one particular occasion | mean to
tell you.
You will not offend me if you doubt
it,
Nevertheless, shall, as l said, tell
the story.
1t was in theyear 1S-, and the month
was May, and the place was England.
had left London five days before, and
now was miles and miles away from 1t,
in the very heart of the country, travel
ing toward a little town where L had
business. 1t was an old-fashioned inn,
and the people were kind and obhging.
Travellers did not often stop at that
inn, 1 suspect. for they were as partic-
ular about my meals as though l had
hean a prodioal son come home for the
holidays.
They killed the fatted chicken for me
and made much of me altogether; and
to crown all, as the train did not stop IN
time to take me on, as / wanted to go,
and as it was only matter of five miles
or so, what did the landlord do but hunt
up rusty old coach that was tucked
away in the coach house, and ordered
his man to drive me over that evening.
1t wasn't an extra, mind you. 1t was
sheer good will. So I shook hands all
around, and remembered the chamber
maid and the waiter with half crown
each, and off | rode. 1t was getting
dark fast, and the road wound away
among the hills in very romantic sort
of a way ; why, it made you think OF
ghosts, if you were a commercial trav-
eler.
Here's the place" says | to myself.
"where the old gentlemen of the road
would like to have met me and my black
bag fifty years ago."
A hundred years ago, anyhow, l
would not have felt as safe as | do now.
Just then the coach came to q sudden
pause.
Halo" cried I out of the window !;
twhat's the matter?"
'It's more than 1 can tell, sir, said
the man. "Black Jane has turned
sulky; she won't move one step"
With that he began to shout and crack
his whip, I, with my head out of the
window, watching him, when suddenly
the beast started off like mad, and
drew in my face and saw I had com
pany.
While the coach was at a standstill a
lady and gentleman had slipped in.
They sat on the seat opposite me, ana
though it was an intrusion had not the
heart to find fault, for prettier pair
never saw in my hfe
If he was tWenty-one years, it was just
as much as he could be, and she was not
seventeen,
I have seen a pair of china lovers on
the mantle-piece the perfect image OF
what they were, as pretty. and dressed
much the same.
His hair was powdered, and hers, too
She had on yellow silk, lower in the
neck than 1 would like daughter of
mine to wear it, and her arms would
have been bare only for her long kid
gloves. She had pearls in her ears and
on her throat, and she had just the most
innocent face my two eyes ever rested
upon. As for the boy, he had choco-
late velvet coat and white silk stockings,
4 ana lace db lid WI hIlO
had one large cloak-his, I fancy-cast
about the two of them, though it dropped
back bit as they sat down.
1.-TWO young folks going to fancy
ball, perhaps" said L. "and just took 8
lift on the way"
And I touched my cap to them, anc
says 1: "Fine evening, sir"
He did not answer me, but she looked
at me and stretched out little white
hand.
"Oh, sir" she said, ''look out at thu
back of the coach, I pray you, and tel
me if he is gaining on us"
looked out of the window.
'There's man on horseback ridin,
up the road, said I, for saw one.
"Oh, heavens!" said she.
Courage, Betty ?" said the youn
fellow. "They shall never part US.