News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-08-28

the country, and if [ would not b
asking too much, | should be somuc]
obliged if you would give me some in
formation about reaching my desti
nation"
He hastened to assure her that. fa
from troubling him, he should esteem
it a great honor to be of any servic,
to her, and begged that she shoult
tell him where she was going.
"Why, to be sure" she replied
"the place is, isl declare | hav,
forgotten the But | have it OF
a card in my pocketbook, which is il
my little bag-no, not that one," a,
he picked up brown travelling case
"the one nearest you. All, thanks
WhyP' she cried, as she opened it
the card is not here after all, | must
have lost it; but | can remember the
name, | guess. Let me see, Bell
Bell-Bellville; that's it, | think Is
there such a plaee2'
Mr.. COddleman said that there was
and told her furthermore that she
must change at the next station, anG
that he himself would put her on the
other train.
Mr.. Coddleman was by nature re
firing, but the lonely position of the
lady and her trustin him inspired him
with the idea that he must make
himself agreeable; in which he sue
eeeded so well that it seemed but q
moment before the junction was
reached.
"Oh, really this is too muchl" she
expostulated, as he loaded himself
with her baggage; " l can't think of
allowing you to carry all of it.
DO not speak of it, madam; it is
nothing at ALL" he painted, from be-
meath his load of bags and shawl
straps.
They had crossed the station and
boarded the other train, when Mr.
Coddleman, happening to turn, saw
his wife standing on the platform OF
the car he had just left, with a hard,
cold look on her face that boded no
good for him.
He was aghast; she had seen part,
but not all, and evidently thought he
was going off with strange woman.
He must hasten back to explain her
mistake. But first he must get rid
of his load and likewise the lady. He
therefore hurried after her, found her
a seat, and excused himselfas quickly
as possible; but before he could leave
the train, it was in motion; and by
the time he reached the platform, it
was moving at good rate of speed.
Mr.. Coddleman was inclined to be
stout, and, moreover, was much fur
ried, and this fact, coupled with an
absolute ignorance of the laws of
moving bodies, may account for his
jumping with both feet together, and
in the opposite direction from which
the train was moving The result of
this manGuvre was a complicated
series of sOmersaults, which landed
him in n heap on the floor of the sta
ton; from which he gathered himself
up just in time to see his own train
in the distance This in
vOlved a three hours wait. during
which he meditated on the events of
the a&eru0on aa.i ,she reception that
awaited him at home.
1t was after ten atnight when he at
last, weary and worn, reached his
house. 1t took him a little while to
summon up courage to enter.
In the parlOr sat his wife, bolt up
right in chair by the table, reading
the family Bible-an ominous sign.
My dear" he faltered in his meek
est tones, Il missed my train, and
have just arrived. | trust you have
not been worrying about me"
Mrs. Coddleman on his entrance
slowly closed the Bible, laid it on the
table, folded her hands before her,
and waited.
Matthias began to get nervous.
" Has-has not your sister come, my
love?" he asked hesitatingly.
Wretch!' y returned his spouse, and
dissolved into tears.
= What is the matter, my angel ?''
he inquired, in a vain attempt to APP
pear at ease.
Monster' she calculated, and
swept by him, out of the room and
up stairs; and this was the extent of
their conversation for that night.
By personal observation he discover
ed that her sister had not vet arrived
but of the circumstances he could
learn nothing.
At breakfast the next morning,
Mrs. Coddleman wore the expression
of a martyr undergoing torture; she
poured the coffee with a Christian
resignation beautiful to see: and the
manner in which she passed her hus-
band the butter would have brought
tears to the eyes of the most hard
hearted. Mr.. Coddleman determined
to make bold break, and summon
ing up all his courage, addressed his
wife;
MY dearP he said. 81 fear you
did not rightly understand the events
ofyesterday; in short, that, that
" No explanation can avail, Mat
thias, | saw it ALL"
Saw all what, my love?''
'Do not attempt to deny it, | saw
you when you passed through the
rear car, though you did not see me
| followed you into the front one to
speak to you. and saw you meet that
odious woman-by appointment, I've
no doubt. | saw you devote yourself
to her. and finally go off with her,
don't know where. 1t was we'll for
her that | was without my glasses
and could not see her to know her,
Or"
Just at this moment a carriage la
den with trunks drove up to the
door.
There is your sister, my love,
said Matthias, For heaven s sake
don't let's have a family row Just a.
she is arriving"
Coward !" replied his wife, and left
the room. Mr.. Coddleman groaned
and awaited results in the dining
room He now heard the voice o.
his sister-in-law in the hall; it sound
ed familiar.
"My darling, what happiness this
is !" she cried. 81 thought | should
never get here, for | could not fine
you at the station, and one of the
stupidest men youever saw offered tC
help me, and put me on the wrong
train, and sent me off ever so far.
got the name of fyour town mixed up
to be sure, and told him wanted tc
90 to Bellville instead of Belmont
but he ought to have known even if
didn't, men are so dull-why, that's
the very mani" she gasped, as sh,
entered the dining-room; "who il
he?"
THAT" replied Mrs. Matthias
smiling for the first time that day-a
smile in which surprise and relief wer,
curiouslv mingled" that is my hus