The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-08

The landlord held up the paper for
the drivers scrutiny.
"UmphI" grunted the low browed
man; seems ter me 1 heard some
thin about tibet cuss breakin' ont o
prison. Good night landlord G'lang
there"
The driver chirruped and urged his
team out into the roadway.
Say, YOU" shouted the landlord:
whats the matter with Shorty
Bender"
The driver paid no attention 10 the
query, and the stage disappeared in
the shadows which lurked in tho high
way before the landlord could repeat
his question.
The boniface turned. with an ex-
clamation of disgust Il don't like the
looks of tibet Teller who has taken
'Shorty's' place for tonight" he NUT
tered. Guess Shorty must a-got
laid off for drinking too much bad city
whisky"
AS the stage swayed and joited MP
the rocky road there was yet enough
light in the sky for the two passengers
who entered the stage at the hotel TO
make out another passenger leaning
back comfortably in a corner Of the
vehicle. The latter person was tall
stylishly-dressed young man. possess
ing keen black eyes. He had strong
white hands, and on the ring finger =
large diamond sparkled-
Excuse me. madam" said the pas
senger with the keen eyes; allow rae
TO offer you my seat, which, l think,
is more comfortable than yours" Aud
he made room for the only lady pas
senger, who was decidedly attractive.
"You are kind. SIR" said the fair
passenger, and she sank into the
courteous strangers seat with little
sigh of contentment These roads
are SO very, very rough that they
really wear one out before one has
Travelled q mile"
In brief time the passenger with
the keen eyes and the lady were en-
gagged in an animated conversation
The former was Boon aware that his
chance acquaintance and the hollow
eyed invalid were man and wife Tho
morning from the manufacturing city.
where the invalid was the principal
owner of q large steel works. and in
tended enjoying a drive as far as Bos-
ton over the old post road which Dan
iel Webster had travelled many times
while on the way from Massachusetts
20 New York But the vehicle broke
down near the lake hotel The driver
returned TO the city for another coach,
and was unaccountably delayed The
invalid became impatient and finally
insisted that the journey be continued
in the stage coach, which ran twenty
miles over the mountains. down 70 the
springs, where the white buildings of
the Shaker settlems mt nestled, and up
TO the little railroad station
THE fatigue of the journey" said
the lady, confidently, els nothing 20
me. But am sorry for poor dear Mr..
Irving, whose strength is hardly sufh-
eient TO sustain such hardshiPs-
The tall man appeared sympathetic,
and the invalid timidly profered the
former n cigar.
Since there are no objections 20
smoking" said the stranger, Il shall
JOIN you, sir.
A glimpse Of several ancient ghostly
headstones in afamily burying ground
was caught while the stage swept
down a hill and rolled easily beneath
the archinE plumcs Of elm and oak
trees A whippoorwill sounded rs
doleful cry on distant hill.
The lady broke the silence % the
last five minutes Everything here 10
30 dark and uncsnny," she murmured,
half-fretfully.
A mounted horsensn swept By and
disappeared in the direction the stage
was pursuing The lady uttered a
startled cry.
Don't get frightened. nv dear"
said the invalid, whose spirits seemed
70 rise. while lis vife's sank proper
t.onateIy. This is a charming even
ing and We shall soon &c out N ths
clearing"
Are YOU not afrEid-afraid 81 high
wa7 men. sir?" asked tae lady nerv-
ousl7. and she placed her l1ttie gloved
hand timidly on TIE arm % tie stran-
ger.
Not in tie least, ny dear madam. -
I'd the tall mans eyes SNAPPED To-u-
ishIy in beam % moonlight which
sifted through the trees \ have
never heard 81 ROAD agents Carrying O.
their business II this part ot tbe
state"
You are drawer than most rsc1,
said the LADY, half EzrcasticaAy, h1s
sdmiringlv. Poor dear E-. Irving
hasn't strength enough 20 sligat from !
this coach unassisted. aud an onlT I
woman 80. you sc. we TOO are quite /
rnorotectea
e. hope DOT, sad -. stranger. Win /
Apparent esruesta go
The LADY looked 49, the tai 3An, ard I
her glance expressed admiration Fer 4
Luminous eyes we're sParx1ing when 4
tn driver chi-rupsd % tie ko-ses. snc /.
10 stage rolled oct into TIE brave 1
Moonlight Can ! irua: y0a.- asIa
the izdg - TIC stranger. after q Few
1zo-uruts 81 si4eue>-
What's ta- trouble. ny Seax7s
asked SIC invalid, gzs<aloEsly, sad
h. h~zradE iuglg prc@srsd tke stranger
-.. r..-s~ ~~user -.