Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-07-12


few yards further down, turned in
through the narrow gate way Of the
Angel into the dim, deserted inn-yard.
From 4 single half-open doorway came
n stream ofligrt. Aligure issued forth
in answer to my summons.
Good evening, Mr.. Tom" said this
person, approaching and patling the
mares neck.
Halo Jack! is that you?" said |, as
| drew the reins through my fingers
and alightcd, recognizing, as | did so,
Mr.. Jack Plover, to whom was in
trusted the important duty of convey
ing the queens mail-bagS from Worth.
ington TO the railway town. You'll
have to wrap up warm tonight"
SAY! bitter cold, that it is,' an-
swercd Jack, undoing the traces. "But,
law bless me! Pm used TO it. If only
I'd got rs. good \ thing between my
shafts as you have here, I'd think moth
ing of n seventeen mile drive, do rs.
sure you, sir.
Your old pOnyisn't TO DO dcspiscd,
either" said /, holding up the Shaft
while Jack drew the mare out. "A
new pair of forelcgs and sound bellows
would improve him, but cNccp! for
that
"Wcll, he isn't quito Newmarket OF
Doncastcr, do confess" said Jack,
leading the mare in through the open
doorway and putting her in Il vacant
stall. "BuL he's good for his work.
start early and we take il easy. You
won't have the collar OIL, sir?'
"No," | said. II am of again in IN
hour or 50. Will you have Il drink,
Jack?"
We crossed the yard, passcdthrougll
Il swing door, and found ourselves in
the warm, cheerful bar, where the
bright light made us wink after the
darkness outside, and the huge fire sent
u lcaping, ruddy glare on the red cur
tains, and reflection that danced
merrily ON the trim rows Of bottles and
glasses. The barmaid, buxom and
frcsh-colorcd, smiled welcome, and
rewarded my compliments on her pink
ribbons and the roses in her cheeks by Il
go along with you," and couple OF
glasses of stcaming whiskey and water.
There was only one other occupant
Of the bar, stranger to me. He was
a man apparently verging on forty,
buttoned up in II shabby grcat-coat,
and with his hat so slOuchCd over his
eyes that his features were hard TO bC
disccrned. To the salutation which
gave him on entering he madenoreply,
but, with arms folded, gazcd liNGdly
on tho floor.
"My service. sir" says Jack, raising
the tumblcr to his lips and taking of
the contents at Il draught. "That's
the stuff 10 keep the cold out. Although
this is bit too early. | ought to have
waited until eight O'Clock, just before
started"
you can have another then, if you
like" said |, with laugh.
NAY, sir" demonstrated Jack. 81
didn't mean that. Is the clock right
miss?" he inquired of the barmaid.
"Thcn | must bo going about my
work." he added, receiving an answer
in the affirmative. "Good night, sir,
and thank you kindly"
And Jack Plover, who was sport
lug looking figure with his quccn's
livery and clean-shaycn face, touched
his hat politely and passed through tho
swing door.
The man with the slouchcd hat looked
up rs ho left, and, addressing nobody
in particular, inquired in II harsh
rough voice, with queer burr in 1t:
What time does the post so on
herc?"
AT eight o'clock" replied the bar,
maid, looking at her interrogation will
no particular favor. That is tho
driver of the mail-cart who has jus
loft"
$50 l judged" replied tho man
rising, and putting some money on thC
table. SIS that rightP Good night tC
you"
And with u heavy, slouching gait, hi
strobe to the door and was gone.
After tea in the half-lit colic room
and u pipe in the bar, with the barmaiC
to tell me the gossip, started at abou
halt-past eight, called at the saddlcr's
put my saddle under the seat, and Sc
out for home. AS we passed the black
smith's forge at the end of the stree
there was Il pony being shod, and Mr.
Jack Plover, in big grcat-coat, wa.
looking on at the process.
Cast n shoe, Mr.. Tom, and had t
turn back he called out as pasSc,
by.
Out into the country, looking doubl,
black and dismal by contrasts with thu
cheerful light and warmth we wcr,
, leaving behind; with the slanting rail-
, driving full in ones face, 50 that i
dazzled the sight; with gray piles o
cloud hurrying overhead; with u vel
, of mist and darkness blending hurdle
and hedgc-row, field and tree, into
: vague, indistinct, gray mass. Th
, road is muddy, and, albeit the higl
: road, in bad condition; but the littl
, mare has got her head homeward, an,
pulls her hardest toward warm stabl
, and well-stocked rack, and the socict
of heavy Dobbin and his brethren. No
, that my little hunter is to be pormitte,
to pull herself to pieces through rut
| and over ill-laid stones, for there j
D Saturday in prospect, and, with tn
: country in this state, we shall wan
| the very last ounce. Now we ar
/ climbing u hill, and, anon, we arc o.
| the top, and the rain and the wind bea
savagely upon us and the prospect o.
, either hand is dreary enough. No,
Y steadily down the shedding ground
Y with q tight rein and careful lookou
Y for loose stones; for this is dee
descent, and one false step may tax
0 twenty pounds off tho little mare
: value. The banks are high, at n
Q events, so there is some shelter, an
down at the bottom there are trees o
0 either hand.
0 II was pitch dark in this no
v low, but l let the mare out at tn
' bottom of the hill and gave her heat
q Suddenly, with loud snort, sh
: swerved violently, ran the wheel {
h the trap on to q heap of wayside stones
!, put there to mend the road; and in
r second we were over. 90
0 Iwent out, of course, and the dri,
= ing-box, the saddle, and u debris {
!, miscellaneous articles after me.
9 landed partly on my shoulder, partl
= ON my head, and was up again ia I
= moment, although bit dazed. Th
: moment gained my feet l was seize
b by the collar, and a harsh voice e,
V piaimpd-not tn mo hut In soma nm