The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-02-04

Wncu SutlutH btIuOS picflc cudbBCs
made most of the Kingsboro people
bilious; otherw ise the bitterness with
which the conversation finally came to
be characterize d would have been in
explicable Squire Ripson so forgot his
years and dignity of character as to
call Bill Burth, his temporary host, a
fool for holding that Jo ceuld be moth
ing worse than a well-to-do young man
enjoying himself, while Bill, notwith-
standing the kindliness of spirit which
was proper to man who was Metho-
dist class leader, called the squire a
liar. Both men were on their feet, in
clining slightly forward toward each
other and looking words which should
never be spoken, when suddenly the
mail stage drew up with q crash at the
door.
The postmaster threw a last parting
glare ut the squire, and carried out the
mail bags, while the whole party fol-
lowed to see who might be in the
stage. The light streamed through
the open door into the stage, and the
villagers saw inside single passenger
whom they recognized as Cincinnati
salesman through whom some of the
OSCtSlOhbllf puA-
chased goods. rhey were about to
turn away in mingled disappointment
and resignation when suddenly Jo
Madison, who had just arrived at the
Office, sprang into the stage and threw
himself upon the passenger, while the
stage turned quickly, the driver
whipped up furiously and started for
the hotel
The stares which passed around the
party of spectators were simply appall-
! ing in their blankness At last Sqnire
Ripson recovered breath enough to
| gasp:
"Detective!'
"No such thingr' shouted Bill Burth
through the delivery window. ..'It's
probably the poor little fellows
brother, and he's been waiting for him
| wee ks longer than he expected to-"
A derisive smileo played over the
hills and valleys Of the squire's
face, and he was about to say some
thing when the reader of the New
York Romancer abandoned his theory
of the disguised prince and suggested
that Jo was highwayman; that he
knew travelling statesmen carried lots
| VI Ghdt lAC "dS AoOOluR UIc
salesman; the driver was in league
with him, and like enough they were
mile from town by this time instead
of going to the hotel "Jack Sheppard
was little fellow" said the theorist
in evidence.
"I'm going to the hotel" said the
squire, starting for the door and fol-
lowed by the whole party. A moment
later the door Of the postmasters inner
sanctum was heard to slam and Bill
Burth came running to join the crowd.
Sol Turner, who carried crutches and
was soon left behind, shouted appeal
ingly to them to do nothing until he
got there to see, but no encouraging
answer was waited back to him.
The hotel was gained and the stage
stood before the door, but the conse-
quent failure Of the theory of the Ro-
mancer's reader could not stop the inn
petuous rush of the villagers. They
hotel, but neither 10 nor the stranger
was there In moment, however, a
door opened and good Mrs. Butler, the
landlady, appeared with smile on her
face and tear in each eye.
II know what you men are after,''
she said. "Don't ever talk about wom-
ans curiosity again. The whole story
Is this: Jo Madison is a woman and
Mr.. Brown was her lover. They had
some sort of lovers quarrel and
parted angry. She made up her mind
she was in the wrong, but by that
time he had started on another trip.
She didn't know where to write to
,, him, but she once heard him say he
: never missed going to Kings boro, sc
she came here in suit of her broth
er's clothes and has been waiting for
him ever since, poor girl. And they've
made up and are ever SO happy and are
going to be married tomorrow. AND
I've known about it all the time ant
l I'd have done just what she did if I't
have been her."
!, This last clause of Mrs. Butler
q speech was enough to set 10 Mallisol
;. right in everyone's eyes, for Mrs. But
Ter was one of those women who ar
: trusted by everyone on questions O
propriety. But it is doubtful whethe
I her hearers on this particular occasion
! remembered this portion of Mrs. But
= ler's wonderful address until it was re
= called by some sighting remark mad
y by persons to whom the story was toll
at secondhand. The men said nothin
to each other for several moments
Q Then Bill Burth went meekly up t
y Squire Ripson and whispered:
. 81 was fool, squire"
II was another" whispered tn
9 squire.
d The interested parties had deter
y mined to have the wedding ceremon,
u performed with the greatest privacy
Z but some one learned from Parson Fis
the hour at which the service was t
y be performed and the news spread rar
y idly, and the Kingsboro people tool
Q the matter in their own hands The,
q dressed in their best and besieged tn
Vt hotel, and when the bride saw ther
q through the states of her windoy
y blinds her sense of fun moved her t