Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-01-16

comported herself as uprightly In her
seat as In her walk. Obviously there
was love story here, more or less
romantic one, too, 1t seemed, with a
scalawag In It and IN independent
young woman: and this good news and
the hope OF further developments STIR
red the passengers, especially the fe-
male members, into something like AMI
nation. Could 1t be young HARDWOOD,
OF Rodmcr Hall, whose estate lay to the
London side OF the great Moorf He
was something OF wild youth, to be
sure, as more than one of the passen-
gers knew by hearsay.
"Well for the young scamp L am a
helpless invalid or, egad, I'd ha' kicked
him out of my house." exclaimed the
equity party, savagely. And to think
of the confidence of him TO ride to your
fathers house. Ha. ha! egad, he soon
got the right-about-face there, ha! ha!
Oh, whew-w. cOnfound that leg! I'll
have 1t cut Off and be done with II. Sit
over, Martha, and give me a bit of
room. Job never had the govt, that I'll
swear"
1t was O'clock when the coach rolled
from the door of the Horse and Hounds
on it's way to the Jolly Gardener, eight
miles distance. OH the edge Of the moor;
and from the jolly Gardener to the next
was across twenty-mile
stretch of bleakness. From time inn
memorial 1t had been the custom OF
travellers by the coach to stop for hot
dinner at the jolly Gardener, prepara-
tory to the long, trying stage in front
of them.
At the Horse and Hounds the inquisi-
tive passenger noted that snow was
falling fast and that biting north
wind was springing up, which cheerful
information he lost no time in convey
ing to his fellow-passengers. But
thoughts of warm cheer soon to be
theirs prevented a too protracted con-
temptation of the gloomy side of tho
picture. Conversation for the first
time during the journey waxed general
man in the corner did not cry when 1t
awakened amid unwonted surround
ings. The CHEEKY prospects affected
even the equity gentleman. He looked
around with more satisfaction on his
than might have been ex-
pected. Turning to the girl at his side,
he observed:
well, Mariel, my lass, let's cry quits.
Wen say no more about it. In a few
hours I'll hand you into the keeping Of
your father-egad, how I'd like to help
him to finish his bottle of port, but no
more for me! I'm taking you home
and, though you know, Mariel, my lass,
| can scarcely overlook"
Please say no more" the girl inter-
rupted haughtily.
word, not Il word" the old fellow broke
out, gingerly running the tips Of his
fingers along the coverings of his in.
valid leg and making WY faces the
while. Pm surprised ut my own re-
ticence, indeed l am. Here, your
father and / have settled for years,
ever since you was puss so high.
that you should marry"
Please, SIR" exclaimed Mariel, in n
voice, do not say any more
about it. l do not ask this for myself.
but for the comfort of our fellOw-travel-
ers, who, l am sure, would rather we
discuss our private affairs in private.
(This was mistaken consideration on
Mariers part) My fathers plans must
sure i'm part conform to his daughters
Ere the old gentleman could reply to
this astonishing bit Of treason the alb
rupt stoppage of the coach threw all
inside into confusion. The vehicle had
been slowly climbing hill, and the in
ouisitive passenger had merely time to
pull aside the curtain and to note a
peculiar blurr of far-off light through
the snow when his head was knocked
against the window edge by the coach
starting ut breakneck speed down the
hill. On the vehicle tore, each passen-
ger gripping aught that would help him
or her to retain the seat, and even the
gouty-stricken abandoned care Of his
leg to clutch the cushions with both
hands.
Luckily for those inside, the trip was
as short as violent, but unluckily the
halt came as suddenly as the start,
When the passengers picked them
selves up and threw open the doors to
know the cause of the unseemly speed
q, I,,,.;1 c,,acto cla mot THAR Uoza Tho
crumbling walls of the Jolly Gardener,
open as a woven basket, held their fill
of glowing GOALS and, from the top, the
flame, great broom Of fire, swept the
sky. Near the stable which adjoined
the doomed inn, some men were strug-
Cling with insane horses bent on rush
ing into the flames, while others were
working tooth and nail to Quench the
little tongues of fire that sprang from
all parts of the thatch.
1t was fortunate that the wind blew
the flames in the opposite direction and
that the straw was covered with snow
The passengers sat dumfounded. Stir
with cold and gaunt with hunger, they
sat looking pathetically at the wild
scene.
'Egad. our dinners well done by this
time" the old gentleman said sarcas
tically. Turning in wrath to Martha
he continued: Nothing to eat with
you, suppose"
You said was not to bring you any
thing" answered the woman, meekly
~ said' It's always Il saidv Or
my soul. you would think was always
gabbllng. How many tongues have
to said things with, I'd like to know
Egad, I'll soon be passed saying any