The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-20
THERE were dozen souls upon tn,

thing Templeton was cut out Tor IL was
to be host on just such an occasion. lie
was not the owner of the boat-nat-
urally; for bachelor, fond of good
living and of ease, has very little use
for craft of that nature; but he was
the sole lessee for the period of one
week, during which time he and his
seven guests, his cook, his coachman,
his butler and his man of all work
late captain of the Norah J.-cruised
along the Erie canal and enjoyed life.
He had chartered the boat from the
captain for the purpose of taking his
friends off for novel outing, and they
had unanimously accepted the invita-
ton; and in order to add to the novelty
of the occasion Templeton had i'm
pressed his own coachman into the
service to do the driving. The captain
went along to help them over such diff
ficulties as might arise, as well as to
use language suited to their surround
ings when language became necessary.
1t was also to be the captains duty to
look after the boat and to see that
everything pertaining to the apart
ments therein was kept in shipshape
order.
At first Capt. Jack was 10th to char
ter his vessel; but he was influenced to
change his mind by two considera-
tions. The first was that his craft was
a new one and was as yet unpaid for,
and the second was a check with Tenn
pleton's name signed to it which would
make that payment matter OF COM
parative ease. This, added to the fact
that Templeton wanted him to go
along and keep an eye upon his be-
loved craft, induced him to consent,
although he demurred slightly when
Templeton announced his intention of
taking his driver along.
whats the use O. him? asked Capt.
Jack. "He amt had no experience
drivin' canalboats, have hep"
NO." said Templeton. "But he has
driven my brougham about New York
for two years running, and hasn't met
with an accident yet. | guess man
who can manage team on Broadway
can get along on the Erie canal"
But don't see"-the captain be-
gan.
"Well. you needn't see, said Temple
ton. Il don't ask you to see. I'm go
ing to have him whether you see or
not. He's a good driver, and have
confidence in him. I'm not going to
trust my life and the lives of my guests
to the hands of an utterly unknown
Jehu."
But what are you afraid Off" per-
sisted the captain.
What am ! afraid OFF, retorted
Templeton. "Do you suppose I'm 60
ing to take the chance of being run
away with on a canalboat?"
The captains laughter could have
been heard for mile when TempletoI
said this.
"All right" he said; "let him go. I'll
rig up seat for him on the bow il
regular tally-bo style"
The captain was as good as his word
and when we stepped aboard of the
Norah j. there was comfortable
place for us all, with the promised
coachman's seat on the bow.
The saloon passengers upon this voy
age consisted Of Templeton, Barlow
Parker and myself; of Miss Hawkins
of Pittsburgh, Miss Bronson and Miss
Remington, of New York, and tt
chaperon the party, the demure little
widow of our old friend Horace Tis
sington.
Mrs. Tissington was the ideal chap
eron. In the first place she was no
more than 80 years of age. She wa
pretty, and of sweet, sunny DISPOSE
on-though somewhat severe whei
her lot was cast in such places as sh
now found herself. She was nevel
under any circumstances disagree
able; but she gave everyone to under
stand by her superior manner that sh
realized to the full the responsibilitie
which had devolved upon her; and sh
exacted from all that recognition o
her authority without which her influ
ence as lady superior" would hav
been absolutely nil.
In terms she never expressed disap
proval Of our acts, nor did she hav
much occasion so to do; but frequent
ly we could tell from her demeano
that she would prefer that we com
ported ourselves with greater dig
nifty, and our regard for her was sucl
that nothing further was necessary
We reformed on the instant, though
must be confessed our reformation
was usually merely temporary.
Caddy Barlow, more often than an
of the rest of us, came beneath the ba
of her displeasure, and that was be
cause he was of the irrepressible orde
of mankind. He would sing conf
songs on unlooked-for and inappro
pirate occasions, and he had also
penchant for unhitching the little row
boat attached to the stern of tn
Norah j., and, in company with Mis-
Hawkins, taking run up the canal
mile or two ahead of us, until reach
ing some hamlet on the line of the sci
pentine stream, he and his fair con
panion would buy up all the roc
candy, peanuts and all the similar il
edibles they could find.
Upon these occasions Mrs. Kissing
ton was always properly disturbed. Q
course it was all right that Barlow an
Miss Hawkins should go rowing upo
the canal, and, personally, Mrs. Ii.
sington had no objection to their doin
so; but in her official capacity