The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-08

thing" swallowed without murmur,
Almiry took him aside and engaged him
in earnest conversation and her gestures
then, for the first time, directed our atten-
ton to the woman.
Our halt was necessarily short and We
were soon back in the COACH the mules
had been changed, and we were ready to
start. But Tommy fingered, and when ut
length he appeared at the door, seemed in
no hurry. lie stood there, slowly drawing
on his gloves and surveying the scene with
a carelessly critical eye and an expression
OF countenance that seemed to indicate
that az for him, II he were 10 be given
the chance, he would make good deal
better world than this one easy In his
mouth was q cigar, tipped up ut such an
angle that the glowing end nearly touched
the wide brim OF his sombrero. The major,
irrcverently inspired, voiced the scnti-
ments OF the party when he remarked in
a drawlng tone:
81 reckon that after bein' the angel Ga
briel, Tor pure glory an SO forth, I'd ruthcr
he driver to n coach than most any
thinp
Just then there appeared in doorway
the lady in black, TO whom Thomas gal
lanty offered his arm, and thus escorted 10
the coach. As they approached, the col.
onel uttered little groln. We're gon'
to have lovely woman along with us, he
said, plaintivoly. CONSERVATION was de-
pc,ed on every face when the coach door
WIS opened, aud Tommy, looking in, re-
marked, authoritatively, "Sorry, genie.
men, but ] shall hev 10 trouble you.
Here's lady goin' to Lcadyllc, an she's
goin' inside. Jump in, marm!' and in the
Young ladyjumpcd, with remarkable light.
ness, and took the vacant seat IN the for.
ward corner.
"Cunncl, youth look after her." said
Tommy, at the door; 'she's in my charge
Widdcr of Smith, she is him that was
killed down tothc Walker mine last month,
but she don't say a word OF English, bcin
French. You mowd Smith, didn't YOU
cunnel2'
"Ics, know'd him well enough. hut I
never know'd hc had widdcr. IN look
after hcr-in English" growlod the col
oncl and the door slammed and the stage
rolled ahead.
As We pulled ont the clouds parted for
an instant, aud bright ray Of sunlight lii
up the coach, striking full upon the dark
veil OF our new companion. II made
briefly visible the outlines OF her face, aud
those Of ms who were fortunate enough to
catch glimpse Of it were convinced that
the lady had great beauty. Indeed the
judge, who had a happy faculty OF express
sion, acquired from long though not
lucrative practice at the bar leaned over
TO the doctor and whispered in tones Of
ieryent admiration:
shes rs pretty rs Clc.op-c.try, by
Jovc. to which the doctor responded with
an asserting nod of much vigor.
Nowhere IN the world is lady more
certain of respectful consideration than in
the Wild west. She IL invariably treated
with chiyalrous gallnntry that is really
magnificent; men hasten 10 do her homage
and are proud 10 be commanded by her.
still, the presence Of Mn. Smith in the
coach acted on the party IN little re-.
straini, which the judge and the colonel
yanly cndcayocd 10 dispcl.
Pond OF travcin', ma'am?" said the
latter In his best oiI.hnnd sivlc. rs lac
leaned toward her aud smiled handsomely.
The lady made no reply, aud the Judge
knocked the cOloncls elbow.
"Sh' colonel" he said, won don't
suppose she understands YOU, when it's rs
much as ! can do 10 untanglc your ideas
rom your words. She speaks frcnch!"
The colonel accepted the rcbukc meckly. !
mi made no further conversational effort. |
The road became more aud more difficult |
ls We advanced, and the fresh mules were |
unuly aud drove very hard Several |
times, in bad places, they had baked, aud |
.hc coach had swung around in a way that |
would have upset q lighter vehicle. vet no |
exclamation OF alarm escaped from the |
ady. Who sat moiipnlcssin the corner
'Iurriblc bal place 20 be held up long |
here, said the major, after an unusually
ung silence, during which the coach had
slowly pounded over huge rock aud then
'lid OIL with an unpleasant scrunch. 81
should hate 10 be stopped here, for have
4 little matter Of 81 200 about me, which
don't care 10 lose. OF course wore all
friends hcrc3' he hastily asked.
We were, and then u came out that each
man was carrying various sums Of money
ranging from 500 a. Si,OOO, the last
amount bcing the property Of the colonel,
who described accurately how he had con.
ccalcd Il In package, scwcd in his cloth.
ing next to his body, where " WIS quito
Inaccessible 10 dishonca, persons.
II reckon itll take q pretty smart chan
10 find that hc remarked complaccntly,
~ lac slapped his hand on the spot where
the treasure was concealed. We could
not deny this. and murmurs NJ admiration
Wcp heard ut his shrrwdncss. An this
time la fact, since We left SIMPSONS the
mysterious Mrs. Smith had not moved or
changed her position She Nill kent her
veil down, and Ia the slowly waning light
her black drrs seemed a. emphasize The
shadows IN the coach
"ludgv, said the major nj length. I'll
must hc Lonesome for her You're con.
sidahlc Of linrnist, couldn't YOU give her
little touch IN the native, just 10 bc per.
lilc7'
The judge looked embarrassed and
scratched his head cuniuscily.
why, mcbhc ! might rack ont some
French lac said, ~ amt much a. do
but 90 whatll ! ay' You got ~ bc
mighty circumspcc' In tllkn' French 20 q
lady ~ terrible free hugWidgc."
Both the military mon wCu Impressed
Wy this, the colonel particularly ~, and for
q moment his face was expressive OF pain.
fol pcrplcNily.
well. just say somcihin' civil" he
said, ~ length, TASK her Il she wants the
windcr mp 'hinl likely she does. but
You might ask her"
"Oh. mo- colonel, " sail the Judge. mot
that. The particular Woul vindcr-in
French '-hcw the judge lowered his voice
10 a whisper. "is cussin', an you'll have
10 excuse m". That's where | draw the
line
well, chin your own way, then" said
The colonel testify, though | rcckcn can
open a windrr iur a lady --in French
without breaking any IT the command.