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

Four bay horses dashed in fine style
up to the door of the inn, pulling
behind them the gorgeous red stage,
which swayed and reeled and rocked N
a fashion that made the more nervous
passengers vince and SILVER. HOLSTER
threw his reins TO the ~stable-boy, and
went into the house. He was a bluff,
big-iisted fellow-rather rough looking
in his wolf,skin overcoat and broad
visored cap. Nobody ever doubted the
kindness of heart under that unpollsh-
ed exterior, however. Now, as he
tramped through the hall, on his way
to the bar-room, he paused at the sight
of a female figure lingering in one dim
corner, with her face dropped into both
hands, and her whole attitude n OF
sorrow and despair. The figure was
slender and young, clad in a well-worn
grayssuit, and the hands on which the
brown head was bowed were white and
delicate. 81 beg your pardon, ma'am.
Are you in trouble? Can / be Of service
to you?''
Then the girl looked up, and HOLSTER
recognized the daughter of a man who
had been at the inn for some weeks
man whom the driver had no hesitation
in CHASING as an adventurer and a
blackleg. He had pitied the girl on that
night when he had first seen her-when
he had brought them out from the city;
for she seemed a lady and not at all fitted
for a life of Bohemianism, such as it
was evident her father was leading her.
She looked up, l say, and, meeting the
expression of honest kindness in Frank
HOLSTERS clear gray eyes, she struggl-
ed a moment for ~self-control, and then
burst into tears. Frank squared his
broad shoulders before her, in order to
screen her from the curious gaze OF
any who might pass through the hall,
and waited in silence.
Presently the girl raised her head
once more, looked at HIM with tear
stained eyes, and said with quivering
lips: 81 am IN trouble, sir. Yours are
the first friendly words l have heard
to-day. My father"-here a crimson
flush dyed her fair brow-''my father
has left me; where he has gone do
not know. I am absolutely alone
among strangers, and our bill here is
unpaid" For one instant Frank look
ed at her doubtfully, and then with a
sudden rush Of self-shame and chivalry,
his hand went Into his breast pocket
and drew therefrom a big leather pocket
book. The girl made a little indignant
gesture, and looked at him with wide
opened, naughty eyes. "Srrl l scarce
ly expected an INSULT"
Whereupon Frank began a hurried
and indignant reputation Of her in
situation. He insult a womanl He,
who had the dearest mother and the
sweetest little sister in the world, away
of there in the Eastern States praying
for him! "P'raps 1 amt SO dainty in
my choice Of words as l might be,
lady. I'm a rough fellow at best; but
I'm dreadful soft-hearted where a
woman is concerned. If you choose to
look upon me as a friend and a straight
man-one that never goes back on his
word, you shan't be disappointed. Now
then, how can l serve you. The big
pocketbook had disappeared, and the
girls face softened at his rough gallan-
try. she extended one little hand
frankly.
Forgive me, sir; l know you are all
thai you seem l cannot accept any
pecuniary aid from you, or from any
enc. The landlord has offered me a
situation as table-girl. l shall accept
it, and in that way can pay our indebt-
edness. Thanks for your kindness. l
shall not forget it,"
With a little fitting smile she slipped
past him, and went swiftly up the dark
stairway, while the driver proceeded
to the bar-room, where the men were
talking. laughing, smoking and drink
ing. Here HOLSTER listened to a de-
tailed account of the disappearance of
Colonel Pressy, interspersed with var
ious comments concerning hum and his
daughter Cora. Pressy was stigmatiz-
ed as a cheat, a villain, and a sponge
anything and everything, they called
him, but an honest man. There were
some expressions of sympathy for the
girl, but 1t was easy to see that she was