The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-10-14
was consequently in the happy position
OF being able to make my journey al
most unancumh ared.


bit fidgety when he was responsible for
other peoples doings. ut feels very
like thunder; and a hanson is not the
most desirable place in heavy storm.
its not very far to co." said l.
Far enough to give time for storm
to gather and break, said Shaw.
On the point of departure was con-
scious of sort of regret, and almost
repented of the eagerness with which I
had looked forward to my release. But
any thoughts of this sort were cut short
by the sound of wheels, and the an
nouncement that my cab was at the
door.
DR.. Shaw took me to the cab, and
saw me safely settled.
"Good-bye!'' he said. Don't for
get to come and see me when you can. !"
IL will certainly come" said l, and
I fully resolved that l would.
"Where to, sirp" asked Toplis, the
cabman, a trustworthy functionary,
who was generally employed by Shaw.
''Mr. Beaufoy's Hanover Lodge, MILL
wood-road, Frognal.''
VERY good, sir"
''You won't get thore before the
rain comes on. I'm afraid. Toplise''
''That won't come on yet, SIR" said
Top]is in the voice of a man who was
accustomed to take reassuring views of
things in general, especially the catch
ing OF trains for the encouragement of
fidgety spinsters.
With another cordial "Good-bye,"
left the peaceful precincts ofSt. Bar
limcus's, and, under the care of the
skillful charioteer Toplis, was
soon bowling along the Edg-
waro-road, en- route to Hanover
Lodge.
For time my busy thoughts and an
ticipati0ns were accompanied by the
noise of the traffic, but after going
some distance we turned off to the loft,
and then, the farther we went, the
quieter it became, and I noticed more
than ever the deep stiffness of the air.
from which all the life of sound seemed
to have been sucked up by the prevail.
ing electricity. felt it in every nerve;
| fairly tingled with it; and under the
oppression of the atmosphere I grad
ually lost the buoyancy of expectation,
and began to look forward with some
degree of anxiety to the unknown life
that lay before me. More and more
oppressive became the stiffness. The
sudden rush of distant train made me
finch; the roll of approaching wheels,
mistaken for the inevitable thunder,
left mo with my nervous anxiety
disappointed and increased. After
what seemed to me very
long drive, we turned on to q road
which seemed much less frequented
than those we had previously traversed
The wheels jolted unevenly now anC
then, and their noise and the fall of the
horses hoofs were deadened, as if We
were going along a partially grass
grown way. After a little while oul
speed slackened, and wcpulled up.
"Gate!' shouted Toplis.
'Where are We, Toplis?" called.
''This here's Hanover Lodge, sir.
Leastways it's the gate, but it ain't
open: Gate" he shouted again.
"All right!' called a gruff voice.
/ "All right!' said Toplis. 1T aim
| all right, with the rain waiting to
come down.
Leard the click of a latch, and then
the cab-doors were thrown open.
''Ketch hold of my arm, sir" said
the man with the gruff voice. ''You
must get down here.'
"Why don't you open the gate, and
I can drive the gentleman up to the
'ouse?" said Toplis wrathfully.
''You can drive the gentleman where
you please outside" said the gruff in
dividual. .'But the guv'nor don't
choose to hev his gravel cut up by q
lot of 'ansom cab 'orscs."
''All right, Toplis," said I. 'Here,
take the portmanteau."
A hand took my bag from me; with
a hearty "Good afternoon" from thu
worthy cabman, committed myself tt
the guidance of the strange man.
He took me through a small gate
at least, so judged from the fact tina
he seemed to slide through in front o
me, and that touched the post some
what roughly in passing.
''Is it far to the house?'' asked, fol
I felt drop of rain fall on my hand.
"Some bit of way" he answered
surlily.
So said no more. This was rathe
disappointing. There was disagree
able want of Consideration in sacriticin
a strangers convenience to the appea,
ance of the gravel, which struck me a
ludicrous, but, being unable to see,
felt it the more inexcuseable.
We walked on in silence for som
distance. began to have consider
able respect for the size of Mr.. Beau
toys grounds.
''This is a large placer" remarked
for the silence was oppressive.
My guide gave an affirmative grun
Just then I heard train come rus]
ing on, as it seemed under our feet.
':Whats that?" l exclaimed.
''This 'erc's bridge. The line rur
through the grounds" he replied, an
I we relapsed into silence.
A short abrupt peal of thunder brol
!, the silence, and then it rolled majesti
ally and long over the sky.
''We'd best hurry" said my guild
quickening his pace.
> Twas walking close to him, havir
. refused his arm, cautioning him to
, me know if any obstacles should occ,
T in our path; but did not care to r,
without some surer knowledge of n
guide. So kept him down to a quiz
walk. Big raindrops began to patti
- on my hat and break on my hands, al
to rustic continuously on leaves .
8 about us.
o The man swore to himself, and
!. wondered the more at the kind
i gardener Or lodge.keeper that such
d man as Mr.. Beaufoy employed.
Again the clouds gave tongue, Al
y the cry was wrathfully taken up
about the vault of heaven.
Q "Come on, sir; there's the house
: said my guide.
;, ''How far?"