The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-01-11
Selfrt Sbrv.
DID ! FLIRTWITH HER?'

I was engaged 10 Margaret Sheppard,
and thought myself the luckiest man
living. Margaret was so handsome that
no stranger ever saw her without ex-
pressing admiration; and one did no.
weary of her face after years Of famil.
iari,y with it. She was we'll bred, &C
compIished and great heiress. / had
reason to believe she vas very fond OF
me. No man could be more entirely
content than I was as l leaned back in
the palace car that bore me over the
country tc New Valladolid, where l vas
to preach for few Sundays.
The pulpit was vacant and Twas just
irving my wings. With my liecuniary
prospects, l scarcely thought should
care to accept call to Nes Valladolid,
but had no objection TO filing lis pull
pit for few weeks, especially as Mar
earet had gone to Saratogs, and New
York was warm and stutfy and stupid
Casual remembrances Of elegant par
sonages built in the Q1een Anne style,
sofss ssuav tsefes tlse footfslls were soft
ened by Persian rugs, and the doors
draped with portiere of velvet; chairs
and desk carved richly as some old
confessional, all fitted through my mind.
And i thought also OF table spread
with silver and rare china, with lady at
it's head who resembles queen. And
brealhed luxurious sigh as l wakoned
out Of my day dream to a knowledge
that the words New Valladolid" were
being shouted through the ear, and that
the train was coming to standstill be-
fore a little pine station.
al caught my travelling bag from the
cstchalI overhead and hurried out of the
car. The porters had just dumped four
or five trunks on the platform. Two
very old wagons stood in the road, one
driven by an old woman in sun bonnet,
the other by red-haired boy with bare
feet; ana queer, nock-kneed horse, at
tsched to still queerer old buggy, was
tied to post ut little distance.
A young man in very light summer
suit, and city family bent on rural hap
piness, we're mycompanions on the plat
form. The former put his trunk into
the first wagon, kissed the old woman
in the sun bonnet, took the reins and
drove away. He was evidently the son
OF the family, come home to spend his
vacation. The rest of the trunks and
the city family, mother, father, little boy,
nurse and baby, we're put into the wagon
driven by the boy.
Some one cried, "All aboard!" Con.
ductors leaned out over the platforms
and made mysterious signals to each
other with hands held sideways. The
cars ratified and clashed, the whistle
shrieked and the train moved away.
was left alone on the platform
alone hut for the baggage master, who
sat upon log chewing straw.
In another moment more this func-
tionary, without looking at me, made a
remark:
deacon Clever has come down for
the new dominic. He's over to the
store. Comm back in a minute"
"Thsnk you," said 1
The bag gage master took no notice oil
me, but having climbed upon stool and
made some changes in time register or
the wall Of the station, locked the door
put the key in his pocket, and sauntered
away down the sandy road.
took his place upon the log and
waited. In few moments prim little
old gentleman, in linen duster, appear
ed upon the top of the hill, carrying in
one hand a tin can, in the other tlr
pail, and under either arm brown pa
per parcel. | knew at a glance il wa.
Deacon Glover.
"That Mr.. Gsnnettl" be inquired
mildly as be approached II want tt
know! 1 hadn't any expectation Of he
ing kept 80 long, but. YOU see, it saves
the women folks trouble to fetch thing
over when drive down. Step in, won
voup I'll get IN after. I'll jest hang
this can of kerosene lie on behind. Som
dislikes the smell-mebbe YOU do. Th
moIasses, and tea and coffee can 60 un
der the seat as we'll as not. How's you
health, sir. and how do you like Ne'
Valladolid ?"
answered that nv health was good
and that I had not, as yet, seen much
Valladolid, the New"
"No more you haven't" said the oil
gentleman. swell. you'll drive through
liz now" He shook the reins and tn
old horse began to stumble along. An
on we drove past certain rows OF fran
houses very much like each other, an
with the same flowers in their front gar
dens, until, having passed the church W
came TO one happily set about by ol
oak trees, before the gate Of which b
drew M, ts gsys aa