The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-09-19

year. Maybe ye might hev' them az
! passengers, Sile?'
There was flutter at the stage win
dow. and feminine face peeped out
Jack saw it and sprang forward in an in.
stant.
"Em and you, too, Millie! How is
mother?'
"oh, Jack! And we all thought you
was dead! Jack! Dear Jack!'
And the door was opened and the fair
girl was clasped iii her brothers strong
arms. Another, slenderer and taller,
followed.
"Millie, dear (kiss), how is mother!
Tell me how you left her?"
"Why, Jack, we were told you had
oh, it was terrible, Jack. And DOOR
uamma! She took on so about YOU,
TO think you were dead, all alone here,
out in this dreadful place Oh! how
+ glad she will be to find that it isn't truer'
"Of course it isn't, Millie," said her
brother. But We'll talk about that
later. Mother was misled by some scamp
who wished to do me an injury and
didn't care how he did it; that's all.
Meanwhile let me introduce you to these
gentlemen. Here, you know Lispenard
already, as the latter came forward
and greeted the new arrivals warmly.
The others who had dismounted stood
by in group little way off, the major
with red handkerchief to his eyes, and
evidently deeply affected by what he had
just witnessed. Introduced, seriatim,
they paid their several respects. Then
the ladies re-entered the stage, and the
cavalcade wheeled about in the direction
of the Springs.
"Well, I'm blowed," muttered Sile
Bagley, the driver, as he remounted his
box and gathered up the lines. ''This is
queer party as I've got aboard, just as
l suspicioned from the fust. Whatever
brought them gals out here beats me all
to pieces"
And he tried to engage the major i'll
conversation, but he might as well have
essayed to talk to his coach wheels. The
major had taken up his post, like gal
liant escort, at the off side of the stage.
and was fast breaking ground with Miss
Millie, the elder of the sisters. Jack and
Lispenard were keeping up brisk fire
on the opposite side with EN-, who was
apparently rallying rapidly from her de-
preston, after discovering that her
brother was still in the flesh and not
spook. haunting the shadowy passes of
these wild hills.
YES, Miss Millie; you see the boys
took a holiday, as l said, and they kind
o deputized us to come down an meet
We an break the news, gentle like. We
didn't want young ladies to pop in 'mong
us rough miners, who isn't accustomed
to wimmin' folks, seein' as how some on
us haven't seen the sign of a pctticoat
i'll years, and as none was ever seen in
Redrock yet"
Miss Millie held up her hands with Il
frightened little gesture.
''No women at all. major! Dear me!
Why you must be lot of barbarians.
I'm afraid we will be troublesome in
truders"-
"Bless your heart, Miss Millie, if you
only knowed how the boys hev looked
forward to this day for nigh onto two
weeks, you wouldn't say SO. They hev
jest laid out to Go their very best, miss,
to please you and yer sister. And l,
bein' as I'm their humt.e representative.
can only say as I'm glad ye come, both of
ye."
A merry laugh from the other side, at
some of Lispenards sallies. told them
that the spirits of the party were rising.
Jim Gillip rode on ahead, to notify the
gathering at the hotel. Fifteen minutes
later the stage and its escort were seen
rounding the familiar curve on the rise.
west of Redrock. AS they drew up in
front of the majors hostelry ringing
cheer burst from the assembled miners,
which surprised the ladies. Sile made
his horses describe an extra half turn be-
fore halting, appreciating the fact that
some unusual display was in order. Cy
Whipple helped the sisters to alight, and
as they assembled the steps of the hotel
they were captured by the major, who,
taking hand of each, led them gallant
ly to the piazza. The poor girls-half
pleased, yet half afraid-were trembling
at the unwonted demonstration. There
was the whole settlement-two hundred
miners, at least-facing them; and, had
it not been for the smiling assurances of
Jack and Lispenard, they would surely
have tainted.
"Ladies-and gentlemen" said the
major, after clearing his throat, II have
the honor-and the pleasure-of welcom-
ing two distinguished guests to our rude
but humble home. Now boys (as an i'm
pending cheer showed signs of interrupt
ing his remarks), will yer hear me first
and then shout all yer want afterwards?
Ladies, you are welcome, for yours is the
first wimmin's faces as has ever bin seen
in this valley, as long as most on us has
bin here--exceptin' prob'ly some poor
lnjun squaw, as kin never awake the
admiration or respeck of men as has bin
used to the society of ladies. We want
to make yer stay here as pleasant as we
kin, and we're bound to do our best
towards ye both. Everything is free to
We while yer here-understand that!
An it don't matter whether We stop a
week or year, it'll be the same. You
idiot! Eff ye don't handle |
that more carefully I'll break every bone
in yer yellow hidew
This emphatic depression was for the |
benefit of the Celestial who, in helping
Sile Bagley to uustrap the girls boxes
from the coach, happened to drop the
end of one of them on the ground. The
listers looked in dismay in the direction
Of the culprit and then turned to the
major, who, observing their interest, ex-