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

me "my dear" | gave no answer but
walked forward briskly. He was up in a
moment and jumped out of his gig, keep
ing the reins in his hand.
cat any rate you will give me a kiss ~
| shrieked and ran away from him as
fast as could in the opposite direction,
going over the ground which | had toll
somely travelled little while before. My
knees bent under me, and | thought
should have tainted. \ glance showed
me, however, that he did not dare leave
the two horses, which were champing
and tretting to be Oft. How, in my heart
of hearts, blessed those honest horses.
Then the wretch actually shook his fist at
me, utterjng ugly words
Presently, and with a feeling of great
JOY and relief on my part, he was out of
sight as fast us his two horses could carry
him. In the meanwhile, had sunk down
exhausted by the wayside. The road had
wide margin of grass which rose at this
point into a hillock shadowed by copse
OF trees. There was literally messy
couch where ! reclined, and also liter
ally watered it with my tears. In all my
life | had never been 50 grossly degraded
and insulted. Was this, indeed the be-
ginning OF my entrance upon the world ?
Surely the world was something infinitely
more vile and evil than my fathers ser
mons had ever told me that it was.
| felt like some poor damsel in the days
of Arthurian romance whom some wicked
Earl Doom had insulted but, alas
thought, in these Victorian days there is
no knight Geraint 'ridlng abroad, re-
dressing human wrongs, saving fairladies
when they are lost in perllous paths. But
it will be seen that | did the Victorian
days an injustice.
The shadows We're falling faster and
longer as |, once more summoning all nv
energies, resumed the walk. 1t was now
quite clear to me that should not get to
bennington till midnight; and what in
the world would they think Of me? And
| am not partial to walking in the dark in
perfectly strange country; but though
| lost my spirits, my courage kept up
wonderfully. | kept on brayely for
another three-quarters Of an hour, but
instead Of persevering i'll my walk, ! had
to sit down and rest myself, which all
good walkers know to be bad sign
Presently | once more heard the sound
Of wheels, and looking back | saw that
there was a young gentleman in q dog
cart. He stopped his horse at the bot
tom Of the bill, and perceived that he
was lighting his side lamps. That alone
would be enough to remind me that the
evening was fading into night He came
slowly up hill, but easily overlook me,
and might have passed me unregarding-
ly, only, happily, his eye fell on me as |
was nervously trying to crouch out of
view.
"-Ah,' he said, my poor girl, you seem
tired. Have YOU far to go?'
thought it best to put good front on
matters. My pride revoted at being
called poor girl although such a word
exactly described me as | then was.
AS | came into view by the light of the
carriage lamps, he most respectfully took
off his hat and said
II venture to ask, ma'am, if ! can be
Of any use. 1t will soon be quite dark
and there is no moon to night !"
II have missed a carriage that was to
have met me, said, "and | am walking
on"
"This is the road to Manningham
where | am driving. You are going there
too, presume. think you had better
allow me to drive you into the town.
There was something very courteous
and pleasant in his voice. There was
sufficient light to discover bright eyed
and handsome, kindly face, with thick
curly hair. My instinct told me that
need not be afraid to be driven by him.
At the same time, had horror Of be
ing driven by solitary gentlemen, especial
ly after what had happened such short
time before, and answered. not, perhaps
in SO firm a tone as | ought:
"No, thank you. shall manage to
walk on"
He moved his hat, and with sinking
heart saw him proceed on his way. 1t
came into my mind that would call after
him and accept his proposition. Pride,
however, came to my help, and | refrain
ed from doing so. Fortunately, however,
he stopped his horse, and waited till
should come up.
II hope, ma'am,' he said ''that you
will accept my offer. 1t is really not tit
that a lady like yourself should be out
after dark, in country You don't know,
and evidently very tired
| stammered out some kind of refusal
'But yoll must come," he said, with an
air of authority. Only horse will not wait
any longer, and it is impossible to leave
YOU here. No one could answer 70. the
consequences. Please jump in at once"
He was positively ordering me to get
in, and | had not sufficient strength of
mind OF body to resist his orders If he
had tried to beg and entreat and coax
me to get in, know | should have walk
ed on till dropped; but, being peremp-
torily told to get in, my gIrlish instinct
of obedience came to my help, and | Was
lifted in BY strong arm before quite
knew what was being done with me.
was 50 thankful when | was being
comfortably driven along, the swift mo-
ton and brisk air bringing back my high
spirits as they always do. | told my de-
liverer what was my destination. He
knew bennington, and he also knew Mr.
WilmsloW very well, but he did not think
that should be able to get there that
night He questioned whether at that
time of night | could get Il vehicle to
take me on. Perhaps it might not be
right to travel up to the Wilmslow's at the
late hour when should arrive ITntor-
tunately, he himself had to go five miles
in another direction. Perhaps, too, we
both doubted how far it would be in good
taste tor Il young gentleman to drive up a
young lady at midnight to asedate house
hold where she was to be an exemplary
govcrneSS.
But we had a very pleasant talk He
told me all about the gentleman to whose
house | was going, a country squire, and
at the same time q practical farmer cul-
tlvating a thousand acres of his own. He
thought | should like the place and peo-
pie, and he certainly amused me very
much by the way in which he described
all my future surroundings. But all the
time it was easy for me to see that his
mind was not quite at rest, that he was
not quite certain what was best to be
done, and was rather anxious as to the
upshot of the adventure.
At last the town Of Manningham came
in sight, pleasant streets, and broad
,n,,Iyn f,,n 1l,1i,