The free press., 1892-10-13

and the major was to go on the box,
storm and all.
eff it was raining pitchforl1s and pork
barrels Id go all the same!" said the
major. ~ can't afford to run any more
risks-eh9 Are we all readya Are YOU
comfortable, my dear?"
But Miss Gertrude never answered him
word. She sat silent and dropping.
care you crowded there2" pursued he.
"rime's up, 81 3 said the stage-driver,
looking at his big silver watch.
"Sulking, eh?" said the major. Well,
keep on if it amuses you! Yes, coachy,
I'm all right"
And he scrambled up to the box seat
with a good deal more activity than I'd
supposed him to be capable of.
"Good-by, Miss Gertrudsp shrilly
called Trippy.
But the wheels and the thunder to-
gether made such noise that we couldn't
catch the answer.
"Don't cry, Trippy," soothed I.
"Take my arm back to the house-the
lantern has blown out, and the wind is
fit to take you off your feet. I'll leave
the barrow here until tomorrow morn
ing. Don't cry, Trippy! It's shame,
SO it is; but"
She jerked her arm away from me.
"Sam," she said, in cholzed voice,
Ego for the minister at once"
"The which?" said /.
"The minister, 1 say Are you deaf?'
"Who's sicK?" said I. with nv mouth
wide open. "Is it Mrs Mobbsa"
t'Don't stop to ask idiotic questions!"
said Trippy, stamping her feet.
"Quiclz! Run! 1t may be too late!"
When Trippy got one of those breezy
ways with her, it was no use opposing
her will. The only thing was to obey;
and ran down the short-c through
the woods as fast as ever l could, after
the Reverend Mr.. Doty.
He was just shutting up his house for
the night, but he put on his water. proof
coat and came with me. when | repre-
sented the urgency of Trippy's message.
cit must be Mrs. Mobbs," said he.
"She has been anxious about her soul
this long time. My sermons have done
some good, it would appear. Continual
dropping wears the hardest stone!'
1t was raining now harder than ever,
but we managed to reach toe old Hall.
Trippy was waiting for us at the door.
"Come inl" she cried. ''Qulck!"
''Is it Mrs. Mobbs?" said the minister.
''Is she under conviction2"
The next minute Trippy flung open
the library door. 1t was blaze OF wax
lights there, and the mantle was all dec
grated with my water-lily buds.
There, before our eyes, stood Miss
Gertrude dressed in white, with Mr..
Warrington at her side.
awe wish to be married, sir" said
he. ''We are both fully of age, and
there is no possible objection. Please
proceed at once"
And then and there they were married.
Not until they had driven off in the
hack that was waiting at the back en-
trance gate did 1 collect my senses
sufficiently to ask Trippy:
'But vino was it that went in the
stage coach with Major JugglefordG Eh,
Trippy" =,
ooh, Sam, you dreadful goose2" said
Trlppy. ''It was the lay figure"
"Whatp said /.
"Didn't you see me lifting 1t alongs
Didn't you suspect anything? Sam,
Sam, 1 declare you grow more stupid
every day. Yes, it was the lay figure In
the new travelling suit, and all the time
Miss Gertrude was pHtting On white
dress and her dear mothers own Brus-
sells veil at home, bless her heartl And
what will the major say when the stage
stops at Callentown, and he goes to help
the traveller out? And there's no return
stage till to morrow morning at nine
o'clock.
,"Trippy," said I, after a long silence.
"Well2" retorted Trippy.
'I'm almost sorry, Trippy," said l,
"that while the minister was here, and
as it seems so easy to be married, that
you and l didn't get married tool"
"Don't be fool, SAM" said Trippy.
But she didn't seem so very angry, af-
ter all, and some day-who knowsY
Yes, sir, that's exactly how it hap
pened. 1 wasn't to blame at all; but
the Major discharged the whole house
full of us. Trippy is with Mrs. Warning
ton now, Mrs. Mobbs is matron IN hos
pital, and Pm very well pleased here,
sir. Did you say the wagonette, sir, and
the dapple gray team2-Saturday Night.
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