The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-08-18


tones of poignant disgust
81 don't see the trunk anywhere" she
answered, ignoring the question OF the
strangers imbecility.
oval, snum," said her disconnected
companion, "you must think I'm the gol-
dern-the biggest gump you ever come
acrost There want nothin' in II you want
ed, was they" he asked, as though people
were in the habit Of travelling with baggage
for which they had no earthly use.
"Yes," she admitted 'every thing I have
was in 1t, except what have in this bag"
"Jewhitakerl" exclaimed the other, "ef
you'd only chuck somethin' at me to pay for
bein' such loon, I'd feel better. spose,
though. you hain't got nothin you want to
waste on such fool"
"You sec 1t showed, 80 didn't much ex-
pect ye, though of course I'd hev come Of It
had showed biln' water, an or I'd been
a-waitn' for ye nigh on to three hours
was so consummedly tickled to think you
| come didn't stop to think about nothin'
else. Can you git along without 1t tonight"
30, yes," she answered, II don't care, IL
| 1t isn't lost"
"Then that's all right" he said in greatly
relieved tone, getting in the sleigh beside
her. "Tn get 1t for ye to-morrer OF hev to
overhaul every train in tho State with my
own hands. G'longr'
The horse moved little, but refused to
start.
"Git up!" he called louder, "what ails
yeW Then in different tone he exclaimed: :
'Wal, by gracious! eff amt the biggest
fool thet ever-I don't know what-I amt
unhitched the critter!"
While the crestfallen stranger proceeded
to remove this slight obstacle to their loco
n, b,,N- int h1ygt y; lar ,4oss
II don't blame We none for laughin'," he
said. II shouldn't find no fault Of ye said
you wouldn't ride one step with such a
knownothin' ez be-"
As there was no house in sight, and the
srow was nearly two feet deep and still
falling, no inviting alternative seemed to
present itself, and he got back into the
| sleigh, saying plaintively: ~ amt always
this way, but was so beiiggled at seein' ye
l don't seem to know whether I'm a-foot or
a-horsebacls."
May was too bcwildered and frightened to
make much reply to the strangers self &C
| cusations.
| She supposed that he was the "hiring COM
| mittee" who was to meet her at Hunters
vile, where he lived, and take her to his
home, whore she was to board, but her
natural timidity and morbid fear of doing
from asking any questions.
The night was very dark. A lantern
hanging on the dashboard cast grotesque
shadows Of the horse on the roadsides from
which, now snow drift now an evergreen
loaded with snow, apparently leaned for
ward for an instant, and then drew back
into impenetrable gloom.
A vague sense of horror added itself to
the homesickness of the trembling girl.
Perhaps the man beside her was no COM
mon-place committeeman at all-indeed this
executive stranger was very unlike the ideal
committee to whom she had sent her little
rewritten, re-punctuated letters, fearful
lest his critical eye would discover some un-
pardonable grammatical error which would
make her timid aspirations toward the
dignity of o school ma'am absurd in his
sight.
Perhaps he might be some robber who in
habitated the Businesses of these gloomy
mountains who had left her trunk for some
not very obvious reason of his own, and
who would shortly add the contents of her
bag and purse to his ill-gotten spoils. His
features were not visible in the darkness
and might wear an expression of inconceiv-
able ferocity, but the tones Of his voice we1e
so sensible, kindly and whole-souled that
she felt an unaccountable sense of comfort
and security whenever he spoke, though in
the long intervals of silence that fell upon
them as they journeyed slowly and labori-
ously through the snowdrifts and darkness,
her fears could hardly be controlled.
"You're little thing, amt yer' he finally
| remarked, abruptly.
"Yes," she faltered, feeling that he might
consider this an insurmountable obstacle in
the way of her managing the big boys in
school.
"Would that be any objectionl"
"Land, no." he responded, reassuringly.
II like little women"
May had a dim, underlined feeling that
when school was regulated by the likes
and dislikcs of the committee, there was an
imperative call for civil service reform
somewhere.
A wild and improbable tale she had once
heard of school committee VINO always in
sisted on kissing all the female teachers
flashed across her mind along with vague
fear that this man beside her might resem.
BILE him in this respect, but she blushing;y
dismissed it as an immodest suggestion, un-
worthy of any decorous imagination.
| Presently hor companion, after clearing
his throat several times preparatory to
speaking, but not being able to carry his
conversational attempts further than an
abashed "Gid dap to his horse, began with
a manifest effort and much unaccountable
confusion and embarrassment, which he
tried vanly to conceal by interpolating
various remarks of encouragement to his
horse; 'I've got your letters an you've got
mine-g' 'lnng-an' Pm suited an pleased ez
-ez-gid dap--but, Of you haint, all you've
got to do is just to say-git out Of that-the
word, an shan't find no fault-what yer
doin'-nor blame you none. I'm kind man
do yer want me to hit yer again-ef do
say it-what ails yer.-an' / don't think
you'll ever be sorry, but of you should
wanter-tend to yer bizness-back out, !
wish you'd say so soon's you can conven-
| lent.
May listened to this incoherent harangue
with a deepeningof the confusion and alarm
with which this whole adventure inspired
her. She wished, for not the first time, that
she had never thought Of teaching school,
but she answered bravely: II don't know
why should withdraw now, IL am consid-
cred suitable for the place."
''Thet's the way to talk" responded the
other. with great cheerfulness, ''an' here
we be to home"
The forlorn would-be school ma'am was
again taken In strong arms, carried through
the snow, and this time deposited in q queer
little room, with blazing open fire, pre-
sided over by an awkward boy who was the
only occupant OF the room.
"Here she is," said her host to the boy,
'an' now take the horse-he amt quite tuck.
ered-an' go after the minister quick. he
said he'd come, rain or shine, an he's got