The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-08-06
A NIGHT ADVENTURE.

During the year 1869 I was employed
by the Bank of Raybury to exchange
money between it and the Bank of Mu-
tual Redemption, with which they did
business in the city. It was not very
interesting employment, and one
which gave me but a small salary, but
Just then times were dull and work
scarce, so I was glad to get anything
to do, especially as l had an aged
mother depending upon me for support.
One dark. drizzly November night
and nearly all November nights are
dark-the stage for Raybury broke
down hopelessly, fifteen miles from its
destination. OF course, the accident
happened in just the worst part of the
road, where it was next to impossible
to get a carriage of any kind, and
where the only place of entertainment
was rude log-house, dignitied by the
name of the Jefferson inn.
Mr.. Griggs, the landlord of the tav-
ern, was soon on the spot, and gave it
as his opinion that the passengers had
better go to his house for the night,
but as some half-dozen of them were
determined to 90 on, there was no al
tentative but to get out an old express
wagon, which was stacked awav in a
remote shed, and dispatched them on
their way. The stage horses were
with selfish haste; and long before
could get my valise out of the ruins of
the stage and reach the wagon, it had
rumbled off, and left me, with a half
dozen more, behind.
r. oh Eo11
should be in Raybury that night, else l
should cause serious Inconvenience at
the bank the next morning. And as 1
had been so often congratulated on
my promptitude in my business, felt
very 10th to be behindhand now. I
spoke to Mr.. Griggs about it, and asked
if it were not possible for him to let me
have horse for Raybury. l would
pay him literally, and return the an
imal in good condition the next day.
But he only shook his head. He had
only one horse in his stable, he said,
and Mrs. Griggs was subject to dread
full spells of the collie, and might be
taken at any hour, and he made it
rule of his life meyer to let Digby go
out of the stable for fear Mrs. Griggs
might be seized, and die before the
doctor could be brought.
Under the circumstances. of course I
could not urge my request for the use
of Digby, and there was no chance for
me to get to Raybury until the II
o'clock stage next day, unless | footed
it, and that I should not for moment
have hesitated to do, had it not been
for the fact that the road to Raybury
was the vilest in the country. | always
felt like swearing when rode over it,
and doubtless l should have yielded
entirely to the sin of profanity If L had
attempted to walk it.
go to my house and stay tonight,
Mr.. Marsh said the landlord. 81 can
give you some venison pie and a pot OF
beer for your supper, and nice shake
down before the Kitchen fire.
Pray, sir,n said sweet voice at
Griggs' elbow, lis there no way to go
on to Raybury."
"Not tonight, my dear" said Griggs,
softening, as the light of his lantern
shone over the pretty face of a young
girl whom had scarcely seen before,
she having been an inside passenger
Il guess you'll have to take up with
such accommodation as my house of
fers. l shouldn't wonder if Sally
that's my darter. miss-will let yor
have half of her bed, seeing as you've
been unfortunate,
II must 90 on,n she said, earnestly
81 have been some months from home
and have been summoned thither by
the illness of my father. Indeed, sir
I can not delay here, for the dispatcl
said my father was dying"
There were tears in her voice, but i
was too dark to see whether they dim
med her eyes.
Its too bad!" said Griggs; "but
couldn't let Digby go on any account
because, you see, if Mrs. Griggs shoult
be took, she'd die afore we could gi
DR.. Lumston here on foot. You see
when she has these spells she's awful
| Hello! Who's coming now?"
A close carriage drawn by two darl
horses had come up and halted by sid
| of the overturned coach. 1t was jus
| light enough to show me that ther
were two men in the carriage, and tina
they wore caps with the visors wei
| down and were muffied well about tn
throat, but it was chilly, raw evening
and one needed to be muffled.
"What's the difficulty?" asked one 0
the men, in q hoarse voice"
s'Stage upset." said the landlord
"axletree broke, and everything wen
to thunder"
| 'Wen, you'll get your house file
| tonight, if you're the landlord of tn
place back yonder," said the stranger
ANY gentleman here that would lik
to go on to Raybury? We would tax
one down"
stepped quickly toward, and said
should be greatly indebted if the
would give me a seat. And then [ il
tSoduced myself-Henry Marsh.
land here's young woman as
Going, too," said the landlord; she
9a's rich, and she must go there. an
/ wouldn't think of having Digby OF
on account of Mrs. Griggs' uncertai
health. Miss - Miss - what's you
! name, my dear?'
s.Axteil," said the girl, ':Madelin
Axtell. My father is Howard Axtell {
the Raybury bank.
The president of the bank for whic
I worked. l knew Judge AXtelf yer
well. and was able to tell Miss Madelir
that his illness was not considefe
| dangerous. But still she insisted upo
Going on, and at last, after some col
Siderable conversation between the tW
strangers, inaudible to US, they col
sented to take us both.
| assisted Miss Axtell into the ca
J riaoe and took with her the back sea