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

Don't tell me stuff and nonsense"
Numbered querulOus voice the words
punctuated by heavy thumps on the
board floor. "'Tis a conspiracy to
leave me, and I'm no such fool as to be-
lieve otherwise. Another Of your little
games, Mariel! 1. of all others, am to
be hurried and cuffed and dragged and
hustled and hustled. or left in this con-
founded hole. Oh, my foot! Take
care what you do! Have you no mercy?
I'm Job and Jonah in one."
BY this time the cause Of the hub
bub had hobbled to the door and
brought himself into full view of the
coach. He was an old man. stout and
round-faced, yet not altogether ungen-
ial looking either. though his features
were drawn in places by pain. Indeed,
a glance at his left leg explained all.
1t was bundled and wrapped in cloths
and strings after the fashion of an
Egyptian mummy, and his foot was
slung to his launches by two strong
straps OF black ribbon. Gout, the de-
mon, after CHANGING merrily ut him
from many glass of old port, had left
the cup and fastened on his leg; and
now its talons. stuck deep into his
;iesh, stabbed him with long, sharp
pains. Under his shoulder was stuck
a strong crutch, and his right hand held
heavy stick.
Now, Martha, look alive! Down
this step, and be hanged to it. If ever
they get me into this hole again they
may keep me altogether, and good luck
to them and theirs. Easy now. Have
Il care what you're about"
When he spoke of Martha he referred
to a quiet-looking. middle-aged woman
who, carrying Il hugh bundle of wraps,
stepped outside and assisted him down
the step. But it was not she who drew
the attention of the spectators. For no
sooner had the old gentleman reached
the ground than he said:
Where's Mariel? Trying TO give me
the slip, l suppose. The girl will be the
death of me: know she will Job was
never prosecuted with an ungrateful
niece"
At the mention of her name. tan
girl stepped from the inn and, glancing
neither to left nor right. walked
straight to the coach and took her place.
But even the glimpse thus afforded
was enough to prove her no ordinary
girl. She was 1.-THE and confident; the
pink of her cheeks was pale but heal
thy, and her nose was aquiline wellnigh
to fault. But her most striking fea-
ture, that which dominated the others
and made one look ut her and look
again, was her hair. 1t was red-un-
cOmprOnisingly red. 1t fuzzed and
bristled and seethed around her deter
mined face, and doubled and twisted
and tumbled over the crown of her
head and down her neck, and refused
to be imprisoned, even though all the
subtle arts only woman knows had
been set against it. But she disappear
ed into the coach, and the bystanders'
attention was once more conferred on
the equity gentleman. He was stand
Ing on leg and sticks, glaring fiercely
ut the coach.
Half mile away, Of course" he
said scornfully. I'VE might as well
walk to London when we're about it
as run half the distance after rickety
coach. Why in thunder don't you draw
20 to the door?'
To this demand the whip vOuchsafed
no reply. He treated it with the silent
contempt noted coachman is expected
to show towards mere passenger
But the hostler, whose arms were be-
ing numerically racked by the unruly
mare, made haste to say:
Better 'urry up, sir. Coach waits,
sir"
The old gentleman, who had been
on the point of hobbling towards the
vehicle. halted and bent his scathing
gaze on the speaker.
coach waits. sir! 1t does. ell? l
Suppose you're surprised it isn't on
the gallOp down the highway and me
hullooing after 1t on one leg and q
stump Of tree" Here he fiourished
the crutch In the direction Of the un-
fortunate hostler till the mare caught
sight of it and tried to jump over the
tongue Of the coach Coach waits.
Ell? oh, 1 am sure I'm very much
obliged to the coach"
The old butler with a generous tin
fresh in his mind, whispered confident.
tally to the waiting passengers
"'Orrible sufferer, the old gent Is, but
'earty enough at times, and good.
'earted, too, e is"
This foeman, fairly out of action. and
no new one appearing on the scene. the
equity old gentleman resumed his hob
bling gait towards the coach; and then
after many cautions to his companions
much lifting by the inn servants, ant
grumbling and grooming by the sub
ject Of all their care, the door was slam
med, the hostler set free the Impatient
steed, the horn rang merrily, and q
start was made on the long journey t.
London town.
Turning to the girl in the corner, a,
the coach ratified on, the old man said
II hope you're satisfied, Mariel, nov
that you see me kicked and dragged
about, all because of you and your go
iDgs on"
There was no need for you to dra,
yourself about, SIR" the girl replied
coldly. IL could have returned hom
perfectly well myself, unattended"
ION my soul, Mariel, believe yo,
would have jumped at the chance b
run away with that senlawag Har
wood. Little chance of your reaching
home had we not come with YOU"
The girl said nouhng, but the refer
ence to "goings on and 'sscalawag" 10