The Republican journal., 1898-06-02
\ Top Buggy and Pink Sun-Bonnet.

nameless, and the precise latitude and
longitude of which shall be forever unre-
yealed, there lived an old gentlemen who
possessed a top buggy.
In these latter days, when top buggies
are the rule, this would not be matter
worthy of note; but forty years ago top
buggies were the exception rather than
the rule, and in this case the vehicle in
question was the only one of its kind in
all the country round. AS to its make
and model, as to whether it had drop axles
or axles bowed up in parabola, chroni-
Gle saith not, but it is matter of history
that this buggy was much sought after by
the youth of the neighborhood.
Why it was sought after will appear
There was one gala day in all the year,
when, from uplands and lowlands even to
the remotest and most secluded corners,
the people rose en- masse at the break of
day and Went their ways, over roads that
grew more and more crowded and dusty
at each succeeding mile, TO the county
capital, where they toasted and made
merry. That great day fell on the fourth
day of the seventh month of each sue
ceeding year, and marked Ga fact which
many seem now to have forgotton) the an
niversary of the independence of several
American colonies. On that day each coun-
try swain would sally forth with the best
vehicle he owned, or could hire or borrow,
and take the maiden of his choice to town
to celebrate. ="
Hence the value which the afore- men
toned buggy possessed in the eyes of the
youth of the neighborhood; for he who
could command the only top buggy on the
road for ''The FOURTH could we'll afford
to be fastidious in the choice of lady for
the occasion; for the fair ones, then, as
now, were very susceptible to the intlu-
ence OF a stylish rig. Therefore great was
the strife among the young gallants as to
who should hire "Old Tommy's'' buggy
for The Fourth.
So much for the vehicle itself. All this
was long ago, and if aught yet remains of
the buggy no one knows it. Like the
wonderful one boss shay" it has disap
peared and only the fame of it remains
SO now for the homely romance in which
the famous buggy played an important
part Though only in a passive way how
ever.)
Nell Blanchard was the acknowledged
belle of the district. No one, not even
her dearest girl friend, disputed that fact
She was so merry, SO good humored, so
frank, so obliging, and withal possessed
OF such a 1.-THE and graceful body, and
such a bright and winsome face that to
raise dissenting voice where all sang her
praise would have been sheer folly. The
epvious ones would have been refused a
hearing.
OF course all the boys in the nei ghbor-
hood were or had been at some time, in
love with Nell. The majority of these IN
fortunates contented themselves with a
hopeless worship of the divinity at long
range, which worship consisted of treat
ne vulgar fractions with cold neglect ard
gazing the live-l long afternoon across the
dingy old schooroom to the corner seat of
the girls side, = where Nell sat, in bliss
full unconsciousness OF all this alteration,
calmly studying her old brick colored
Greene S grammar.
Several of the boys, however, more bold
than these dreamerS. cherished hopes,
scarce ever confessed to themselves and
never to Others and sought openly to gain
her favor. Consequently at each noon and
recess of those last days of school life,
Nell was surrounded by a coterie OF hum
bic admirers. To her everlasting honor be
itsad. however, that through her tact and
good nature, when these suitoIs We're to-
gether about her not the most sanguine
of them could detect the least sign of pref
erence Of favorl. SIN.
School days pas 4. Another 'big girl
occupied the corncr seat of honor, and
Nell was young lady. One term of sing
ing school sutficed to eAtinguish the hopes
of all save two of the rivals. The cruel
necessity was accomplished i'll each case
in the most gentle manner possible, and
the disappointed boys went and buried
their hopes reverently and sodded the
graves and planted flowers on them. some
of them are green to this day.
The two lads who would not yield Lope
were Jack Dean and Hank Mason. AT
the time of which l speak both were de-
cidedly sin the running and the other
boys who had dropped out, now watching
the race cooly and critically, unanimous
ly pronounced il a stand off
And so it was to all appearances, Both
boys We're good fellows, both were dead in
earnest, and both had been allowed to pay
some public attention to the lady of their
affections, by taking her to ''hunt sup
per- las Jack had done) or by taking her
to Christmas ball las Hank had done,
or by escorting her home from sing ng
school (as both of them hal donel.
As yet neither felt himself secure.
Though it was but February, each was
revolving in mind a plan for the summer
campaign. a veritable coup de main, that
should settle the matter for once and all.
Both were considering The same plan.
JACK udt ttltlLiluGu 10 take Nell 10 Inc
celebration on the coming Fourth. SO had
Hank. Jack had determined to hire old
Tommy Grangel's top buggy for the oc-
casi0n and trust to it for the victory. SO
also had Hank
1t is but just to say Hank and Jack did
not look upon the powers of the buggy in
the same way Hank trusted implicitly
TO the buggy and feminine weakness. Jack
merely looked upon the buggy as valu-
able and important "ally prospective or
accessory before the act" having too
keen wit and being too chivalric IA lover
to trust to any extent in weakness of any
sort on the part of Nell Blanchard.
Hank made the first move in the cam
paign, being ''forehanded cuss' as even
his enemies reluctantly confessed. For
Hank was stout-hearted and lucky ard
had his enemies. And So long ere the
corn had been planted, while yet tie
woods were destitute of verdure and while
the snowdrifts on the northern slopes were
still white and unsuliied, Hank, resolving
to take time by the fo1elock, by a route
OBSCURE and lone remote from the high
way and the gaze of the curious public