Charlevoix county herald., 1908-01-25

dnuttered tune as she walked down
to the village with her Cousin Marie.
"Oh!" sighed she, her eyes lifted to
the hills that climbed to meet the
breezy blue of the horizon beyond the
river, II do wish we were going some
where to-day"
I'VE are going somewhere-to the
post office, after the mail, and the
irug store, after some candy and writ
.ng paper" practically returned Marie,
TO whom the incongruities Of certain
village stores were an unfailing source
Of amusement.
The two girls had come to Screm-
bling Kill a few weeks before from Il
thriving western city, on long
promised visit to a couple of elderly
cousins, the Misses Loretta and Lavi-
nia Vechten.
The mail was being distributed
when they reached the post office. Nan
waited for the home letters which
they saw tantalizingly near, yet far,
behind the glass front Of the Van
Vechten box. while Marie went on to
do her shopping. AS she returned,
however, she met her cousin coming
in quest of her.
Marie she solemnly began. "let
us elope. The stage is waiting for us,
so hurry up.
Instead Of hurrying, Mrs. Powell
stood still in not unnatural surprise
The stage?" questioned she.
THE stage to Sharon Springs" cX-
planned Nan. You know We heard
that one takes mail and passengers
there from here in the morning, and
comes back in the afternoon. l never
saw it till to-day, but it is standing
before the post Office this moment. 1t
drove up while | was there, and one of
the men about asked the driver if he
was starting for Sharon, and he said
he was only waiting till the mail was
sorted for him, so l came after you at
once. Do let's take passage! We
can get Dime. at the Pavilion at
Sharon, and cone back b. tea time.
Think what a ten-mile ride will be
such morning as this"
Think also what our cousins would
TO them, along with q strange driver
objected Marie, though even as she
spoke thought of the trip came
temptingly to her in contrast to the
over-quiet morning and long, dull,
doZy afternoon that would otherwise
be her portion.
The driver looks very gentlemanly,
Nj fn hN-
( boy 10 say where we've gone, and for
/ the rest-can YOU not always chap
erone me?'
This small joke was a standing one
between the two. Nan was % and
tall and digniied and gravely sweet
of aspect: Marie was 10 and small and
gay and an innocently audacious fiirt.
Nan had gained knowledge Of the
world by having had to face it alone
ever since she began teaching at II,
and Marie had gone straight from an
induleent fathers home 10 that Of an
equally indulgent husband-but Marie
was married, and Nan was not, and
hence the Boston aunt whom they had
first visited had expressed her ap.
| q
cause Marie could always chaperone
Nan" q remark which had struck
deep into their western sense of the
absurd
The chaperon now permitted her
self TO be drawn rather briskly along
the street by the chaperoned.
The people waiting at the post Office
] G., ,ail Il tnd hrt+
hicle still stood before the building
a stoutly.built. open vehicle, with a
canopy and broad. empty, inviting
seats; a very attractive stage to those
used 10 seeing everything from n new
/ four-inhand 10 an old farm wagon
dubbed with that name. The driver, a
| dark haired young man in a rather
habby flannel suit. was just gathering
up his reins to start. Nan, who was
generally spokeswoman in the two
cousins travels. hurriediy advanced.
You're going to Sharon this morn
ing. and coming back before night
aren't you?" she inquired, to make
sure.
Yes" replied the young man, po-
the sound Of hcr voice and regarding
/ her with a pair Of somewhat startled
and intensely blue eyes-true Irish
eyes of mingled fun and fire.
Then said Nan. with graceful dig
nifty. intensified by the knowledge that
Marie was considering the proposed
trip particularly Jolly lark, then we
/ Will Will 10 hn
stage fare?"
II believe it's a dollar, miss"
hesitatcd the man You see" he be-
gan 20 explain, I'm not the regular
driver, but"
His substitute, ! suppose put Ia
/ Marie. who thought it about time she
had q share of the conversation.
"Yes'm. substitute" agreed the
young man. as he alighted to help his
/ naSSpngprS in