The Penn's Grove record., 1884-07-19

oCIl wv IhA w AAOhA ONOAJ W.
house to win the approval Of this free
and-easy Western community.
One loutish. looking fellow, leaning
against the bar-rail, remarked now,
with a sneering grin: THAT gals a
mighty stuck-up little critter-reckon
she won't put On any more airs with
mel" and he sent a steam of tobacco
juice in q very skilful ann straight
into the mouth ofa spittoon which occu-
pied the center of the room.
HOLSTER, who had been a sif5nt
listener until now, crossed leisurely 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."
There was a dead silence for the
space Of a minute, and then Jerry,
laughing ~uneasily and flushing under
the drivers keen eyes, said, with an
attempt at facetiousness: "Goin' to
marry her, Frank?"
81 expect to-" replied Frank, coolly,
as he turned to select a cigar from the
case.
There were no more insinuations
against Cora Pressy in his hearing.
The daughter of an unknown adventur-
or, no matter how thorough a lady she
might seem, and the sweetheart OF the
jolly, keen-eyed, strong-armed, stage
driver, were two different persons; and
when the lonely girl entered upon her
new duties the next day she was sur
prised at the kindness and consideration
of all about her. Frank did not try to
we ken the impression which his words
had made. He knew that it would be
her surest protection; and he felt
an intense desire to protect and to help
her-she was so delicate and sorrowful,
so absolutely alone, now that her I'M
natural parent had deserted her. Two
or three u%neventful days went by Cora
filling her new situation with satisfac-
tory 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, sun-burned fellow.
There was a bond of sympathy growing
between them which she had no desire
to break. One day, twenty miles down
his route, Frank heard a bit Of news
which worked him into a fever of
impatience. Never had the whip curl
ed so sharply over the TANKS of his
sturdy horses; never had he made
better time than on that day, when it
seemed to him but a 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
held a hurried consultation with the
hostler, which resulted in the latter
agreeing to drive the stage on to its
destination for a certain sum of money.
Then F ank went into the long dining
room, an d, seating himself at one of
the small tables in a secluded corner,
he waited for Cora Pressy. She came
directly. bearing the fragrant cup of
coffee with which he always refreshed
himself after his long, cold ride. He
flushed to the roots of his crisply-curl-
ing brown hair as he smiled at her.
She noticed it, and wondered silently,
thinking, meanwhile, that he was not
half a bad-looking fellow, with his
broad brow, honest eyes, and firm lips.
"Miss Cora" he said, rather awkward
ly, ST would like to have you ride with
me this evening, if you viii. have
something of Importance to tell YOU"
he added, hurriedly, growing redder
than ever with embarrassment.
Cora looked at him wistfully. Was
it something about her father? But she
dared not put that thought 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 a trim little cutter beside him,
dashing along over a white moon-lit
road, and waiting anxlously for HIN to
reveal the matter Of Importance at
which he had limited.
But Frank was curiously silent for a
long while. 1t seemed to Cora that he
would never speak, At last, with a
sudden effort, he said: miss Cora,
you've known me only a few days, but
you've seen enough of me to know that
| am a blunt-spoken fellow, so l hope
you won't he upset by what I'm gong
to say. I'm not much Of a fine gentle
man, but I haven't any very bad habits,
and 1 make a fair living, and-and-
well, l want a wife, little gal, and l
love you. If you'll have me, I'll do
my prettiest to make you the happiest
woman in the county" Cora smiled
up at him through tear. filed eyes,
and this gave him courage to slip
arm over the back Of the cutter and
draw her closer to hts side.
She mnrmured snmathinu ah0ut