The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-09-27
A FLASH ACQUAINTANCE.
How a Storm Spoiled One Ro-
nance and Started Another.

summers vacation. the one promise
made by the landlords circular which
the guests were able to completely re
allie was, retirement. remOteneSS
from the worlds hustle and care -
That line caught NE. But had more
than IAN elegant suhiciency'-to use
a sailors phrase-of retirement. Lo-
Gated in the mountains, amid the
primeval forests, the De-je-non-dewa-
has only neighbor, within miles
around, was the Royal. u more pre-
tentious and newer hotel The Royals
furniture was finer, its bills-of-fare
were menus" and its prices were
higher, SO it had, or was supposed to
have, more aristocratic patronage than
our older house; but we of the De-je-
etc. knew our able to be the less bad
of the two, and believed we had much
more fun than our neighbors An air
line between the two houses would not
have measured a mile: but by the road
which went up and down, zig-zag
and slanting, so that it seemed to have
been laid ont on the model of a tangled
fish line thrown on a fiaX-hecllle-the
distance was two or three times as
long, and was generally esteemed
more.
There was not much intercourse or
cOmmonality of feeling between the
guests of the rival establishments, but
in one sentiment they united viz: In
disgust with the mail facilities. The
post Office at Doolittle,s store was
three miles from our place, and far
ther yet from the other house: and
though, nOminally, some employee of
each hotel went daily for letters. we
soon learned that if guests wanted
mail their surest way of getting it was
by going for 1t themselves. Thereafter
we took turns at that duty. and found
it rather pleasant than otherwise in
good weather.
One afternoon when a storm was
threatening none of US cared to 90.
The clerk (who was the landlords SOM
said the porter (who was his brother
would mos5t likely be going over for
something tomorrow, and that would
do as WE'LL but the more we thought
we could not get our letters the more
we wanted them. Finally mounted
horse and started for Doolittle's.
The horse and the road were both
against speed, but that did not matter;
was not in haste, the air was invig-
Grating and the scenery magnificent,
so l just sauntered along, if an
equestrian can be said to "saunter, :"
and it was within an hour of dusk
when l reached my destination. The
air was cobl and damp with the breath
I'm and dark clouds
were piling heavily over the mountain
tops toward the northwest.
! found old man Doolittle in an ex-
cited frame of mind.
''Consarn the special delivery stamp"
he was declaiming. Darn the man
who invented it! Confound the post
master general who adopted it! And
double darn the cuss who slapped it
onto letter for this office! Dunn EN-
all.
l understood the situation at once,
of course; but the best of us find
amusement in the little annoyances cf
our fellow creatures, so stirred him
up afresh with the innocent query;
What is the matter?'
letter is what's the matter he re-
sponded, hotly. Its for some chap at
the Royal, good five miles from here
if it's an inch, night nigh at hand, a
storm coming on, me alone in the
store, and it's as much as my place is
worth not to deliver it this night The
government says | must do it, what
ever it costs me, Immediately. If
was to leave it until tomorrow I'd be
bounced, sure, in case the old chap it S
for should make a complaint; and,
from what I've seen of him, that is just
what he would DO. And then Bugaloo
would get the post Office. It's DUN
hard. mister, DUN hard"
Il might ride around by way of the
Royal and deliver it for you | said,
after | had had fun enough with the
old man.
/''It's d good two miles out of your
way, sir" he hesltated, with feigned
reluctance to give me so much trouble.
Yes it is three" | replied, but
that doesn't matter if the storm does
not fall
oh he rejoined, eagerly, that
SIiONt4 lSll COlnlllS uGIc IL Will
blow over. sure. And even at most. it
would only be light bit of summer
shower-just enough to freshen up
growing things"
took the letter and rode away, but
had only gone a couple of miles when
the tempest overlook me; and instead
of being a mere summer shower it was
violent thunderstorm. The deluge of
rain quickly converted the light dust
of the narrow mountain road to thin.
slippery mud. and the darkness was so
intense that | abandoned all attempts
to direct my horse. With the reins
lying loose on his neck he plodded
slowly along, stumbling. shivering at
each crash of thunder, starting in ter
ror at each fash of lightning, the
worst-scared horse ever bestrode
But | was almost as much frightened
as he at one point BY the fierce. in
Simultaneous glare of lightning flash,
I believed saw, standing by the road.
almost within arms length of me- a
female figure, and ! was pretty certain
of hearing, mingled with the succeed
Ing roll of thunder, a shrill scream,
such as the Irish banshee is said to
execute with great effect. My horse