Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-08-15
IN A STAGE COACH.

1t was midsummer in the mountains
and Lillian Ferguson had never seen a
fdrer scene than the billows of blue
hills that lay stretched out before her,
with here and there the flash of a half
hidden lake, or the ribbon-like glitter
Of a tiny river
She stood leaning ag inst the rustic
cedar post that formed the support of
the hotel piazza, while her modest lit
tie trunk and travelling bags were
piled up at the rear.
Don't fret, miss. said the landlady,
who was bustling in and out. "The
Stage will be along soon"
"Oh, am in no hurry for the stage,
sud Lillian pleasantly q could stand
and look at this beautiful landscape all
day"
"Ain't that strange, now" reflective
ly uttered Mrs. Peck, the landlady.
"Me and Peck, we never think about il
at all"
"Gs the stage often as late as this ?"
SAID Lillian, glancing at her neat little
silver watch.
"Not generally" said Mrs. Peck
"But to-day they're waiting, at Wells
station, for the deaf and-dumb gentle
man
"For whom?" said Lillian, in amaze
ment
"For the deaf-and-dumb gentleman
miss" explained Mrs. Peck. "a
cousin of our minister's, up at Crest
Hill. He's been down to New YORK
for treatment; but deary me, there
amt no treatment can ever do him any
good As deaf as a stone, miss, and
never spoke an intelligent word since
he was born. But they do say he's a
->-a,,, learned man, in spite of all his
drawbacks''
I'm afraid he won't be very lively
travelling companion" said Lillian,
smiling.
ono, | calculate not, said Mrs
Peck, in a matter-of- fact sort of way.
Just at that moment a box-wagon
drove up; the charioteer handed out a
yalise, and assisted young lady &c
alight
elias the stage gone?" she cried
hinging aside her veil, and revealing a
very pretty brunette face shaded by
jetty fringes of hair and flushed with
excitement.
you're just in time. miss" said Mrs
Peck, peering down the winding road
which her experienced eye could trace
when no ones else was of any avail
ats a-comin' now"
But Lillian Ferguson, who had been
gazing at the newcomer earnestly, now
came forward with an eager smile and
an outstretched hand.
"Surey l am not mistaken said
she. "and this is Eulalie Morton ?"
Lillian Fergusonl oh, you darling
l am 50 glad to see you" cried the
stranger. "But where on earth did
YOU come from ?"
And thus met the two lovely girls
who had graduated just a year age
from Madame De Tournaire's fashion
able boarding-school in New York, and
who had not seen each other since.
Just at this moment, however, there
was no time for explanations. The
ponderous stage relic of forgotten
generation, rolled up, with a creak Of
leathern curtains, tramp of horses, and
general confusion of arrival, to the
broad wooden steps of the hotel.
The sun was already down. In the
twilight, Eulalie and Lillian could only
discover that the stage contained but
one other occupant, man, who leaned
hack in the far corner, with the top of
his face partially hidden by a large
vide-brimmed hat. and its lower part
w.anped in the folds of a Persian silk
ooket-handkerchiet.
He inclined his head courteously as
tbey entered, and moved a handsome
traveling-case which lay on the middle
seat as if to make room for them.
is there another passenger?' said
Miss Morton, with a little, nervous
start. "
man" Lillian explained, her eyes full of
soft pity. The landlady told me about
him" -, ,o, P,,o,io
81 had hoped we should have the stage
), ourselves. But now, dear, as she
sottled herself in the most comfortable
.orner tell me what this unexpected
encounter means.
.It means" said Lillian, with shy
lilo that am going to be nursery
a,,orness at Chessington Hall, up
omonp the Adirondacks-that is If |
80 40 satisfaction. was engaged by
s.tor from the Educational Bureau, a
week ago"
awbat a singular coincidence said
,n.s Morton. shaking her cherry-color-
.horDat-strings. And l am going