The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-24
WAS 1T FLIRTING?

WAS 1T FLIRTING?
1 was engaged to Angelina Melville
and 1 thought myself the luckiest man
living. Angelina was so handsome that
no stranger ever saw her without ex-
pressing admiration, and did not weary
with the face after years of familiarity
with it. She was well bred, accom-
plished and a great heiress. / had
reason to believe that she was very
fond of me. No man could be more
content than was, as leaned back in
the first class carriage, which took me
from Glasgow into the country to the
Vale of CruiX, where l was to preach a
few Sabbaths. The pulpit was vacant,
and l was going to try my wings. With
my pecuniary prospects l scarcely
thought j should accept call to the
Vale of Cruix, but had no objections
to filling its pulpit for few weeks,
especially as Angelina had gone to the
west coast, and Glasgow was warm and
stuffy and stupid.
Casual remembrances of elegant par
sonages built in Queen Anne's style, of
study where the footballs were soft
CllCu NY Il ClSld4 lQSo, anu biC NOOlo
draped in portieres of velvets; chairs
and desk, carved richly as some old
confessional, fitted through my mind.
And l thought also of a table spread
with silver and rare china, with lady
at its head who resembled a queen.
And breathed a luxuriant sigh as 1
awakened from my day dream to the
knowledge that the word ''Vale of
Cruix" were being shouted on the plat
form, and that the train was coming to
standstill.
1 seized my travelling bag from the
rack overhead and hurried out of the
carriage. The porters had just pulled
four or five trunks on the platform.
Two old wagons stood in the road, one
driven by an old woman in sunbon-
net, the other by queer knock-kneed
horse, attached to queerer old gig,
was standing at a little distance. A
young man in light summer suit and |
a city family bent on rural happiness |
were my companions on the platform. |
The former put his trunks in the first |
wagon, kissed the old woman in the
sun bonnet, took the reins and drove
away. He was evidently the son of the
family, come home to spend his vaca-
ion. The rest of the trunks and the
,ity family-mother, father, little boy,
and baby-were put in the
wagon and driven off by the boy.
When the train moved away was
eft alone on the platform-alone but
or the station master, who sat upon a
'ench smoking clay pipe. In a mo-
nent more the official without looking
t me, made the remark: Deacon Ste
enson come for the new minister.
les over in the hotel, and will be back
4 a minute"
"Thank you," said |.
The station master took no notice of
lie but climbed upon n stool and made {
)me changes in time register on the
all of the station, locked the door, put S
ie key in his pocket and sauntered a
way down the railroad. / took his il
lace upon the bench and waited. In
few minutes prim little old gentle
AN appeared upon the top of the hill, e
lrrying in one hand tin can, in the C
her tin pail, and under either arm
brown paper parcel. | knew at q
ance that it was Stevenson. e.
"Are you Mr.. Mactaggert, he in ST
lired mildly, as he approached. II W
ant to know. l hadn't any expecta- il
IN of being kept so long; but, you see, III
saves the women folks trouble to
tch things when l drive to town. W
ep in, won't youp I'll just hang this tt
raffine lie on behind. Some dislike
Q smell-maybe you do. The sugar R
If, tea and coffee can 60 under the
1t as well as not. How's your health, it
, and how do you like the Vale of w
uixP" 81,
answered that my health was good.
d that | had not, as yet, seen much ne
the Vale of Cruix. sp
No, you haven't" said the old gen. he
man. 1--WE will drive through it tic
w." ar
and he shook the reins, and the old
'se began to stumble along. And on tn
drove past certain rows of brick co
Y much like each other, and with of
same kind of flowers in their front
'dens, until, having passed the &C
lrch, we came to one happily sci fiji
nut by old oak trees, before the gate tn,
which we drew up. MI
girl stood at the gate-a fair girl as
/ blue muslin dress and white apron. co,
Take the sugar, Marry, before it Sh
5 upset" said the deacon. This is da,
Mactaggert, that's going to preach wa
us. Mr.. Mactaggert, this is my Tn
ghter Marry" sol