Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-02-02
In a Stage-COach.

lOWS VI blto ulllo Cuftt Id oliCCSuCN
out before her, with here and there
flash of half-hidden lake, or the
ribbon-like glitter of tiny river.
She stood leaning against the rus
tic cedar post that formed the sup
port of the hotel piazza, while her
modest little trunk and travelling
bags were piled up in the real.
ssDon't fret, Miss" said the land
lady, who was bustling in and out.
1.-The stage will be along soon.''
"Oh, | am in no hurry for the
stage" said Lillian pleasantly; Il
could stand and look at this beauti-
full landscape all day.
can't that strange now?" reflect
lively uttered Mrs. Peck, the landlady.
ssMe and Peck, we never think about
it at ALL
SIS the stage often as late as this p
said Lillian, glancing at her little sill
|
yer watch.
"Not generally" said Mrs. Peck.
"But to-day they're waiting at Wells
Station, for the deaf-and-dumb gen.
| tleman."
"For whom?' said Lillian in amaze
ment.
'sFor the deaf-and-dumb gentle
man, Miss explained Mrs. Peck.
ga cousin of our minister up at Crest
Hill. He's down to New York for
treatment; but deary me, there amt
no treatment can ever do him any
good. As deaf as stone, Miss,
and never spoke an intelligent word
since he was born. But they say he
is very learned man, in spite of his
drawbacks"
''Im afraid he won't be very live
ly companion, said Lillian, smiling.
''No, | calculate not" said Mrs.
Peck, in matter -of-fact sort of way.
Just at that moment a box-wagon
drove up; the charioteer handed out
valise, and assisted young lady
to alight.
"Has the stage gomez" she cried,
flinging aside her veil, and revealing
a very pretty brunette face, shaded
with 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 one else was of any
avail. ''It's a-comin' now p
But Lillian Ferguson, who had been
gazing at the new conner earnestly,
now came forward with an eager
smile and outstretched hand.
"Surely l am not Mistaken" said
she, s'this is Eulalie Morton ?"
Gillian Ferguson Oh, you dar=
ling, am so glad to see you'll cried
the stranger. ''But where on earth
did you come from:''
The two girls had graduated year
ago from Madame De Tournaire' s
fashionable boarding school in New
York, and had not seen each other
since.
Just at this moment, however,
there was no time for explanations.
The ponderous stage, relic of for
gotten generation, rolled up, with a
creak of leathern curtains, tramp of
horses, and q 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, a man, who lean
ed back in the far corner, with the
top Of his face partially hidden by a
large, wide brimmed hat, and it's low
er part wrapped In the folds of a
Persian silk pocket-handkerchief.
He inclined his head courteously as
they entered, and moved handsome
travelling case which lay on the mid
die seat, as if to make room for them.
''Is there another passenger
said Miss Morton with little ner-
vous start.
''It's only deafapd-dumb gentle
man." Lillian explained, her eyes full
of pity. 1.-THE landlady told me
about him."
''What nuisance?" cried Eulalie.
81 had hoped we should have the
whole stage to ourselves. But now,
dear" as she settled herself in the
most comfortable corner, ssteli me
what this unexpected encounter
|
means"
s'It means," said Lillian, with a
smile, "that | am going to be nurse
ry governess at Chessington Hall, up
among the Adirondacks is, if !
give satisfaction. | was engaged by
q letter from the Educational Bureau,
a week ago?"
"What singular coincidence p
said Miss Morton, shaking her cherry
colored bonnet strings. 81 am going
to be companion to old. Mrs. Grove.
of Grove Rookery, the very next
place to Chessington Hall. How ]
do envy you Lillian !"
Envy nae, Eulalie?"
Eyes. Havn't you heard about
it?' said the brunette. 1.-The Chess.
, ington children, your future charges
! are motherless, don't you know ?
j They are under the care of an aunt
n SO Mrs. Grove told me and there il
a handsome young wldower and al
interesting young bachelor at Chess
ington Hail."
r II L al