The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-09-19

me, fearing ii might annoy Charles or
be caught in the whizzing wheels, it
was so long.
Faster and faster we went, but for
tunately there was clear road before
us. / almost went over the dasher--
Charles had to brace himself with all
his might--when the horse abandoned
his wild run and walked deliberately
into pool of water by the road side,
where horses were in the habit of
drinking. Anything more delicious
than that stop! The horse drank
long, aud seemed to enjoy the draught,
but his pleasure was as nothing when
compared to the happiness of the two
breathless people who had been driving
behind him. We told each other our
thoughts and emotions, and were
properly serious and grateful for our
preservation.
"Ievity seems out of place after
such peril, but truly, dear, you do pre-
sent rather funny appearance" My
husband looked more cheerful than at
any time during the drive.
Anything wrong excepting my
hair7' | asked, sadly.
"Rather: your bonnet is missing
your gay gown is very dusty, and
Pardon me, but really you do not look
like my idea of minister's wife. But
perhaps when YOU"
"Oh, Charles | am so sorry, for l
wanted to look very old and very
serious. had particular reason. "
l looked in the pool in which the car
riage was standing, and saw Just what
a failure had made, for plainly, as in
a mirror, saw myself, and fantastic
enough l looked in my pink gown and
disordered yellow hair. "Oh dear, Tin
sorry we ever started !"
"But you must be glad of one thing
that the horse felt thirsty and stop
ped. CHARLES took advantage of the
rest to dust himself, put on his gloves,
and make his companion look as re-
spectacle as he could, with handker.
chief for her only bonnet. "What do
you say, now, to going on and stop
ping just before we reach the parson
age to arrange your hair ?"
'Perhaps, if we can go more slowly,
| dear
81 shall be satisfied with a less rapid
pace. Now, Deacon-for so believe
You are inappropriately called--slowly
is the word Charles picked up the
reins gingerly aud chirruped gently.
fHh., hor,n f,,rnnl on1 lnAl.al f,,n -,
our faces, as much as to say. Is it pos
sible you two are not satisfied yet? |
felt that it was tempting fate to ask
him TO move until he made the sug-
geston. The only drawback TO the
enjoyment of the next two hours
drive through the pine woods, with the
waving ferns and bright lady slippers,
and the odor of the linnna, was that
the horse seemed exhausted. I never
exclaimed of the stiffness and beauty
of our surroundings that he did not
breathe heavily, as though to chide me
for my forgetfulness of his weariuess.
| hesitated to speak, so well he seemed
to understand my speech, aud by his
behavior to show his comprehension.
When we reached the sign-board,
Mile to Hayto,on, pointed 1t out to
Charles joyfully. In spite of my de-
termination, though, the horse saw it..
He walked in his most sedate manner
| just one mile, and when we were in
Haytown and observed by ell Mr..
Mayberrys congregation, he resumed
his original rate of speed Again re-
turned our uneasiness and mortitica-
ton. My hair again blew streaming
behind me. The sound of our flying
brought every one to the windows,
and people in the streets looked disap-
provingly after US, as though We had
! adopted such speed from choice and
| not from necessity.
"How shall we know the house?"
asked, after we had dashed through a
series of well-settled streets.
"Look out for my hat" my hus-
band answered, irreleyantiy, and l
caught it just before it fell under the
wheel.
A larger group of people than any
we had seen was standing before what
looked like hotel. All eyes were
turned in our direction as we emerged
from the cloud of dust far down the
road, The horse was going faster
than his fastest up to that time, and
we seemed in fair way to be out of
| the sound of the merriment our appear
ance caused, when again the horse as
tonished us by turning into the hotel
yard, and stopping stockstill, his nose
| sunk in the stone watering-trough.
Evidently that horse had made it a
rule of his life never to pass by a
chance to get drink. His eyes were
keener than ours, and both our breath
ing-spaces would have been lost had it
depended on US to spy out the drink
ing fountains. 1t was wonderful, too,
what power water-d drinking gave that
beast The second rest was not so
delicious as the stop where the alder
bushes were our only observers. To
make ones toilet and dust ones hus-
bands face and clothes within the
sight of a dozen loungers was not
pleasant. Had they been content to
watch us silently it would have been
bad enough, but they evidently were
much amused by our sudden appearance,
and made audible jokes at our expense.
One old man looked up from his whit
ting to remark that we had been in
considerable of hurry, and to ask if
we had not all the time there was
going.
"Ain't l seen that hoss on the
track somewhercs ?" a horse. Jockey
asked, eyeing our steaming beast APP
proyingly,
81 am happy to say do not own
this animal. am driving him for the
first time" my husband answered,
with show of dignity.
Then arose in the crowd a lively
discussion as to whether some peculiar
ity in the horse was or was not a
quarter crack, and my husband was
appealed to by one side and the other
lie had never owned a cent in any
horse, and knew absolutely nothing of
horse lore, He told them this, and
then, with much dignity, inquired the
shortes: way to the parsonage.
"Ha! l thought as much, There,