Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-05-10

ped passed him aud went swiftly UP tn
dark stairway, while the driver pro
ceeded 10 the bar,room, where the mel
were talking, laughing. smoking an'
drinking,
Here Holliiter listened to q detailed
account of the disappearance of Colone
Pressy, interspersod with various com'
ments concerning him and his daughter
Cora.
presSy was sligmatizcd as a cheat, a
villain and q sponge-anylhing aud ey-
erything they called him, but an honest
man. There were some expressions OF
sympathy for tho girl, but II was easy
to see that she was not liked, Miss
Prcssy had held herself too far alooi
from every one in the house to win the
approval Of this frec-and.easy western
community.
One loutish looking fellow, leaning
against the lar.rail, remarked, with u
sneering grin;
THAT gals II mighty stuck-up little
critter-reckon she won't put on any
more airs with me !! and he sent q
stream of tobacco juice in very skill
ful manner straight into the mouth Of
a spittoon which occupied the center of
the room.
HOLSTER, who had been u silcn, lis
tcncr until now, crossed lcisurely to
this extraordinary marksman, and,
striking him a light blow upon the
shoulder, said, evenly and distinctly:
'Look here, Jerry, you don't want
to talk any more like that about Miss
Pressy.'
Going to marry her, Frank
Il expect to- replied Frank, coolly,
as he turned to select cigar from the
case.
There were no more insinuations
against Cora Pressy in his hearing.
The daughter Of IN unknown adven-
turer, no matter how thoroughly lady
she might seem, aud the sweetheart of
the jolly, keen-eyed, strong-armed stage
driver, were two different persons, and
new duties the next day, she was sur
prised at the kindness and considera-
ton of all about her.
Frank did not try to weaken the I'M
preston which his words had make.
He knew that it would be her surest
protection; that he felt an intense de-
sire to protect and to help her-she
was so delicate and sorrowfnl, so abso-
lutely alone, now that her unnatural
parent had deserted her.
Two or three uneventful days went
by, Cora filling her new situation with
satisfactory promptness. Every night
on the arrival of HOLSTERS stage, she
was left to wait upon him in the dining
room.
She felt an instructive confidence in
this big, bluff, sunburned fellow. There
was bond of sympathy growing be-
tween them which she had no desire to
break.
One day twenty miles down his
route, Frank heard q bit Of news
which worked him into fever OF i'm
patience. Never had the whip curled
so sharply over the fanks of his sturdy
horses never had he made better time
than on that day, when it seemed to
him but q snail's pace.
At last, however the stage drew up
before the inn whose roof sheltered the
girl who. in a few short days, had
grown inexpressibly dear to the driver.
He had hurried consultation with
the hostler, which resulted in the latter
agreeing to drive the stage on to its
destination for certain sum of money.
Then Frank went into the long din
ing room, and seated himself at one OF
the sm all tables in secluded corner,
he waited for Cora Pressy.
He flushed to the roots of his crispy
curling brown hair as he smiled at her.
She noticed it, and wondered silently,
thinking, meanwhile that he was not
half as bad looking fellow, with his
broad brow, honest eyes and firm lips.
Miss Cora,' he said, rather awk-
wardly, Il would like to have you ride
with me this evening, if you will. l
have something of importance to tell
you, he added hurriedly, growing red
der than ever with embarrassment.
Cora looked at him wistfully. Was
it something about her father? But she
dared not put the thoughts into words
there were too many about. So she
merely bowed her head in acceptance
of his invitation, and went away.
Half an hour later she was tucked
into n trim little cutter beside him,