The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-11
THIRZY'S ROMANCE.


me to ''write it upn This being requested and
expected to write up" all sorts and
conditions of things, from patent nut
meg-graters to unaccomodating streetcar
companies, is one of the embarrassing
features of tampering with that powerful en-
CINE. the public press However, in this in
stance. experienced no hesitancy in accepting
Miranda's invitation, as l enjoy riding very
much. Miranda was good talker, and it was
more than probable that whatever she had to
tell would be worth recital and attention Be-
sides, knew that if her story should not prove
available material for publication, I could get
out of using it by pleading press of other matter.
or fall back on my weak eyes, or any other OF
those mean subterfuges of which every we'll
equipped woman is supposed to have on hand
large and varied assortment l thought OF all
this as I climbed ia over the wheel. Mir
ands explained that she didn't make her
horse turn out for people to get in, because he
didn't seem to like to. and she had theory that
horses ought not to be forced to 90 against their
inclinatons any more than folks. She also said
that it was not very much trouble to get in over
the wheel after you had got used to it; in fact,
she had become 30 used to it that she felt very
lonesome and strange when she goti street
car any other vehicle which had no wheel to
be climbed over. After we had both scaled the
wheel successfully, Miranda began to turn the
horse 50 that we could go up street and out into
the country, we had planned to do. I didn't
admire Miranda's way Of turning around very
much, but, as it is of my favorite rules of
conduct to avoid if possible, speaking to the
man at the helm, | restrained myself, and
awaited divulgements. The lines had become
some critical seconds there appeared to be to-
tai difference of opinion between Miranda and
the steed as to which way the whole equipage
would go. was silently unanimous that it was
going over, but to my great relief, it didn't
Miranda got her lines reorganized, gave the
horse good cut with the whip to pay
him up for acting that way, and we
ratified gaily up street and out
towards the country. Part of us were gay, at
least Miranda seemed hilarious. and the horse
was lively. but felt, to tell the truth rather de-
pressed. Our start had not been exhilarating.
] had never been riding under Miranda's auspices
before, and the getting in over the wheel and
her queer way Of turning around made me ap-
prehensive. / am decidedly weak minded where
hcrses concerned, and began to be afraid
that Miranda was one of those 'women who
drive" that the newspapers are always poking
fun at However, knew that it would never
do in the world to have Miranda suspect that
was low-spirited at this early stage of the drive,
SO brisked up, and, with that base deceitful-
ness for which my sex has always been dis
&iuOuichQd hoOap IN az apU hat
ing myself immensely. By this time we had got
fairly out of town into the country in moderate
ly good style, only having shaved the wheels of
two carriages and barely escaped the curbstones
on several corners. 1t was a glorious day-one
of September's best make. The sky of dazzling
and uuclouded blue, the cornfeds of picturesque
shocks of fodder the forests yet un-
touched by autumn's fiery finger, the road
sides and fence-corners decked with golden
rod tsolidago pyramidata) and the purple bloom
of the iron-weed (vernonia novebaracensis)- the
air so delightfully."- mild and balmy-all made me
feel glad that was alive and getting a ride in
the country AS thus rhapsodzed to myself
concerning the beauties of nature as illustrated
by the month of September, became aware
that Miranda was talking TO me, and suddenly
remembered that she had said she had some
thing very romantic to tell me. So far I hadn't
heard word she had said, and of course hadn't
the remotest idea what it was all about She
was getting along so swimmingy did not like
to interrupt her and ask her to begin again, and
moreover, she did not seem to have noticed that
was not listening; SO concluded that would
just try to get the thread of the discourse with
out her assistance. I bent my head in a very
intent and deferentia manner-which was all
thrown away on Miranda as she was gazing off
into vacancy-and she babbled on. / do not
wish to convey the impression that Miranda
was a great talker, but will say that in all our
long acquaintance, have never known converse
ti0n to flag when she present She has a
fine flow of language large fund of that wit
and humor in which men have pronounced
our sex altogether deficient and in our respect
i've houses or hanging over our respective front
gates, l have always reveled in Mrandas facile
and felicitous way of expressing her views on
matters and things in general. So listened,
and heard Miranda say: "Thirzy's mother
thought she ought TO marry the old banker, as
he owned part of the bank, had house and lot
and horse and buggy, while the young doctor
didn't own anything. and hadn't enough practice
to say so.' | was dreadfuly anxious to know
who Thirty was-who the old banker was-who
the young doctor was-and where they all lived;
put didn't dare to ask any questions, and, like
One.o AsoHuoS tdr-odov, KEEP on not Savln
nothin'." hoping to CLEAN a few facts relative
thereto in the course of the story. Miranda
went on: But thirty loved the young doctor,
and told her mother" Just at this critical
period in Thirzy's love affairs my glance fell
upon the horse. Horrorl In her earnest pursuit
of Thirzy's tender experiences Miranda had EVIL
IDENTITY entirely forgotten all mundane or equine
affairs; she was holding both lines loosely in one
hand. and they had become badly mixed up with
tho horses tail He. too, had cast all care and
r0gDOnSlbllitV to the winds. and was amblinp
aiInlessy along the very edge of the road while tho
buggy was tilted at a most perilous angle over a
ditch. Miranda's eyes were gazing dreamiiy
away over the corn6elds aud forests into the
next county. and she was repeating, $50 Thirty
told her mother" Something would have to be
done, and that quickly, so broke over my long
established principles and spoke to the man at
the helm. said: Miranda, excuse me, but do
look at the horse; what makes him leave the
road sor Miranda dropped Thirty and her
zr,othar all in a haan and vioorouslu iarkad nm