The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-01-20
Select Story.
A WILD RIDE.

Before l begin my story L must tell
you that am commercial traveller,
born and bred, so to speak, to the bust
ness.
have my wits about me, and, as |
often happen to have a good many valu-
able articles also, | have need of them
am an Englishman-English to the
back bone and live on roast beef, bot,
tied ale and old port wine. am one
of the men who don't dream and don't
fancy
When I see "A thing see it. When |
hear thing hear it. And what | saw
on one partic ular occasion | mean to
tell you.
You will not offend me if You doubt
it.
Nevertheless, shall, as said, tell the
story.
1t was in the year lS-,and the month
was May, and the place was England.
| had left London five days before, and
now was miles and miles away from it,
in the very heart of the country, travel
ing toward little town where | had
business. 1t was an old fashioned inn,
and the people were kind and obliging,
Travellers did not often stop at the
inn, suspect, for they were as partic-
ular about my meals as though | had
been a prodigal 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
| 4, III, I oil
and as it was onl ly 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 ! 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 way; why, il made you think Of
ghosts, it you were commercial tray
eler.
Here's the place" says to myself
where the old gentleman of the road
would liketo have met me and my black
bag fifty years ago.
a hundred years ago,anyhow,I woult
not have felt as safe as do now.
Just then the coach came to a suddeI
pause.
"IIallo, cried | out of the window
"what's the natter
"It's more than can tell, sir" sale
the man, "Black Jane has turned sulky
she wont move one step"
With that he began to 81 t and cracl
his whip, !, with my head out Of tn
window, watching him, when suddenl
the beast started off like mad, and
drew in ny face and saw had com
pany
While the coach was ut n standStill
lady and gentleman had slipped in.
They sat on the seat opposite me, an,
though it was an intrusion had not tn
heart to find fault, for IA pretter pair
never saw in my life
If he was twenty one years,it was jus
as much as he could be, and she was no
4 seventeen.
have seen II pair of china lovers Of
the mantle-piece the perfect image O
what they were, as pretty, and dresse
much the same.
+ His hair was powdered, and hers, toe
She had on yellow silk, lower in tn
neck than | would like daughter G
mine to wear il, and her arms woul
have been bare only for her long XII
gloves, She had pearls in her ears an
on her throat, and she had just the mo,
innocent face my two eyes ever reste
g upon, As for the boy, he had n chocC
!, late velvet coat and white silk stocking
Z and lace ruiiles at his wrist And the
e had one large cloak--his | fancy--ca
4 about the two of them, thought droope
ID back bit as they sat down
I. 1.-TWO young folks going to fame
I ball, perhaps" said |, sand just took
v lift on the way"