Middletown transcript., 1892-01-28
of hislcamlst cloak in way to snub
a much brayer lad than Charley.

Well, we jolted weary mile after
weary mile, with nothing to break in
upon the dullness of the still, white
road. We would toll heavily up
hill, stop to breathe the horses, and
slip down the other side almost as
heavily, the wheels being held by
stout brakes. Once in a while we
would whirl up with great flourish
and racket to the tavern, and if the
hour suited. we stopped for dinner or
whatever meal was due. Sometimes
we accepted the drivers advice to
get cut and stretch your legs'-coun-
sci that poor little Charley would
gladly have realized in person.
au "It was on our third days ride,
while taking a brisk walk back and
forth on the road, that I got to talking
more freely. with the pretty girls
father, and learned that his name
was Gardiner; that he was from
Baltimore that he was travelling for
bis health; that he was now on his
way to Newburgh to visit married
daughter. In return, I told him my
name, the same as my fathers; where
| I lived; where I was going, and in
| the free and easy confidence Of youth
was making long story of it, when
| it was checked by his telling me that
| father and he were old friends and
classmates, and without having seen
each other for thirty years, be had no
doubt Morris Cooper remembered
him we'll.
"Then we were thrown into the
depths of despair by being told that
they expected to reach Newburgh by
nine o'clock that evening. I was
pretty nearly frantic, with all sorts of
desperate thoughts going through my
head. Should I GO into the house
and order mulled wine for the party,
giving hint to have one made very
strong, and given in the hope that it
might make her watchful sentinel
sleep on post? had once heard of its
being tried with success, but lacked
courage for it. And this was to be
the end-to shake hands, say good-by
and go our ways! You will laugh if ]
talk about my three-days-old love
though believed it had really come
to that. How hoped that an acci.
dent might happen, that we might
collide with something, though il
wasn't the fashion then to collide
and if horse had gone lame or the
coach tipped over, / should have re
garded it as a special and timely
blessing.
But fate sometimes will bring vi
our desires in matter.of.course way
so natural and simple that we over
look it in our high-strung moods and
so came my deliverance. I had
noticed that Mr.. Gardiner seemed un
easy and nervous about something
had loosened the mighty brass clasI
that fastened his cloak, and had made
vain attempts to unbutton the leather
curtain at the side that he nigh
admit the air. Both failing, he lean
ed acress to me. and whispered,
Would you object to changing
seats with mei 1t disagrees with mt
to ride backward, and feel quite i'll.
"Object couldn't believe my
ears, and in my eager delight ant
haste sprang to my feet, fearing h'
might change his mind and cheat mt
of my blissful chance. I tried tt
steady my voice and take q little o
the evident joy out of il before say
ing,
Certainly. / am sorry you die
not speak before And with the mos
considerate and hypocritical careful
ness helped him to my place, hoping
from my heart that the air would re-
vive him sufficiently to relieve hi
illness, but not enough to maxi
another change of seats possible.
"We changed just as the day be-
gan to fade, and she was to leave th'
coach in few hours, and shoult
never see her again You can i'm
agine my desperation, SO will spar
you the recital, only waiting to sa.
that if you think it an exaggerated
state of feeling. you must remembe
that in those days young people die
not, as now take these matters int
their own hands. They did not maxi
acquaintance on the street, nor dit
they, as you callit, flirt by an un
derstood code of signals. Youni
girls we're surrounded by many prin
formalities that would be laughed a
now but I've never lost my admira
ton for fair blossom of a girl, having
many of the sweet ways of the violet
especially its quality cf shyness. Il
short, just such girls as present com.
pany.
81 was happy enough at first ii
merely sitting beside the charming
, girl and watching in the halfligh
her sweet comforting face, anxiet.
for her father being uppermost in