The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-06-05

IDENTIFY Naglc was the business man of
the two,-cautious, long-headed, per-
sistent. not without shrewd humor of
his own, or enjoyment of the humors
of others: while his partner was far
quicker-witted, sanguinc, Of ready,
well-whetted tongue, and full ofschemes
for charging their operations, which
made old Nagle laugh. SO they trav-
elled on, arguing. weighing, interroga
ting, throwing in one word here, and
one a word there, setting off and Off
setting each others little peculiarities,
and looking to a future as we'll as a
past fund of common experience; while
the wheels grew heavier and the yellow
splas'lcs more plentiful on the horse,
the wagon, and the worn buffalo-robe
drawn over their knees.
II hope twill be better going when
we get on the old turnpike, said Died
riect at last.
II don't know as to that" respond
cd Nagle, in subducd voice, "the turn
pixies apt to he kind O bad when it
breaks up"
And now they entered with due
solemnity upon the stretch of hi ighway
so designated. Deep, but unstable,
snow-drifts on either side, whose white
ness had given place to nondescript
umber tint, were oozing into river of
icy water under the force of the spring
wind Whethe the earth was freezing
or thawing it would have been hard to
say: George, the sorrowful horse, sink
ing over his fetlocks in grni'o ten
inches deep, brought up his hoofs with
Il hollow gurgling from mud,juts be-
meath, and as they churned their way
| onward, their course was marked by
little subsiding rings of yellowish froth
The wagon, rocking on its springs like
Il s}asick boat, and ploughing its course
gave vent to hollow groans. Such was
the famous Clay Turnpike in the
month of March, 1892.
| The inevitable soon took place A
gully, or quagmire, or pit. a little, very
little, deeper than usual, received first
| the hoursc and then his load; and,
| though George tugged and strained,
and the veins and muscles stared out
on him like ropes, only his ears and
tail moved-his hoofs were stationary.
"Wc'd better light, observed Naglc.
He lighted accordingly; then, lifting
his companion over the wheel, buried
almost to its hub. he set her gently
down on the nearest promontory that
seemed to offer fOothold; for the acute
reader may have detected already that
Diedriect was a woman
\ woman of too adventurous spirit
was Sally Dicdrect to he alarmed or
discomposcd by the present emergency
She accepted the situation with the
ready philosophy with which she accept
ed bay debts or the fluctuations of trade.
Holding up her dress, she called out
suggestion or two as to the tightening
of Georges cargo, and did not even
protest when Naglc made use of the
horsewhip,- he was as kind-heart-
ed man as ever breathed. BY dint
of much urginoa persuasion, and friend
ly encouragement, and helping
shoulder behind. the team was started
at last; but it started with SO desper-
ate final heave-ho, as of some water
logged mass dragged up from the sea,
that, alas, the whilfie-tree snapped
short in the middle, and with the
whiffie-tree the harness magically flew
apart to snch an extent that any horse
but George, on any road but the Clay
Turnpike. in any month but March,
would have been the hero offs thrilling
runaway.
George, however. paused; and Died
riect and Na@lc stood and looked at
each other.
"It's two miles to house either
way. and we'll have to get help" Oh
served Nagle ut length, speaking as
mildly as possible. Twill you stay
here, i'm the wagon, or. would you rath-
er walk on and she surveyed his part
ncr and her pctticoats with suppressed
compassion.
"Oh, I'll walk on" and Sally Died
rirct pinned up the cncumhrance, while
he uni:,stcnrd the horse and led him
out of the shafts. Ten minutes of Ia.
borious progress brought them to Il
piece of oak and chestnut timber known
as Libine's Woods. As they approach
ed. small plume of smoke was seen
curling up am ong the trees; three or
four women making preparations for
dinner: three or four horses. discon-
tentedIy pulling at bags of coarse hay;
a dingy-ribbed emigrant wagon, Il
skulky dog, Il few blankets, 4 few
bundles, little straw, an iron kettle
or two, and in short they found them
selves nei ,hbors to a party. of vaga-
bond gypsies'.
why, here's our chance, and a
rare good one exclaimed Nagle, and
set forth their predicament to the first
fellow who lounged sulkily forward.
The men proved ready enough to be
shelpful, and, after Il consultation, and
some choosing of oak sticks and hasty
collecting of tools, turned back with