Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-03-10
Crossing
The Divide.
By AXLE AIDYL.
BY AXLE AIDYL.


and out at the north end of the town
A brilliant dash down the steep in
cline to the creek. and he brought the
coach far up the road on the other side
where the mountains rose so suddenly
from the plains. And so began the
climb over the divide.
The three passengers inside the
coach. a young girl and two men. ap'
parently accustomed to this mode OF
| travelling. did not brace themselves t.
resist the pitching and rolling Of the
ponderous vehicle. but allowed them
selves to sway with its every motion
The road was broken ana rough from
| the heavy autumn rains. Once the
coach struck "chuck hole" which al
most brought the Inmates to their fee,
| and caused Il general friendly laugh.
Up to this tin" the girl had paid nc
attention to her fellow travellers. She
had been absorbed with her own home
| sick thoughts To start the druGgery
| of governess' life. miles from NO
where. with no prospect Of returning
home for year. WAS depressing. Oh
well. she must make the best of 1t
She tried to distinguish the mems faces
but it was too dark, and both were
mutfled in heavy Overcoats. AS they
boarded the coach at Redding she had
noticed one was an old man, the other
gray as to hair, broad, strong and
youthful us to shoulders.
The older man sat beside her on the
back seat The two men chatted about
the rich strike" in Deadwood. where
fortunes were being made in a day
She gathered that the young-old man
was mining an old hydraulic property
just beyond Lewiston, and he was on
his way there. Well, she was going
"just beyond Lewiston" also, and she
wondered If this huge person was to
be a neiShbor Of hers.
Their desultory talk gradually died
away, the old man fell asleep, and his
head bobbed and swayed and ducked
about until he seemed In danger of
losing it. but he slept on oblivious OF
such alarming possibilities.
At II o'clock they reached the Half
way House. and while the driver
changed horses the passengers stretch
ed their cramped limbs, pacing the
narrow porch Of the inn. Later they
went into the low, long dining room
where cold lunch and hot coffee were
served them on table spread with a
red and white cloth. The girl saw
that the young-old giant could not be
more than thirty-seven or thirty-eigh1
years old, though his hair was silver
And such blue eyes! They seemed
to belong to a child. so clear and un'
clouded were they.
He supplied her needs at the table
without seeming to do so, and when
the driver called "All aboard!' ht
helped her into the coach in the same
unobtrusive manner.
The fresh horses, only four now, as
the heavy climb was over. pulled the
stage along at livelier pace. and
within a half hour they had reached
the summit Of the divide and com.
menced the descent.
The driver cracked his whip, and
they whirled down the narrow noun
tain road, swinging the horses far out
on the very edge Of the embankment
as they turned the outward curve OF
the mountain and then sweeping rapid,
ly In at the bend-as only stage
driver can and keep his coach in the
middle of the road.
1t was magnificent night. the moon
light making it clear as day. The
girl from her window could see In
Vulnerable lofty peaks Of the great
coast range stretching in what seemed
Il level line.
The passengers were startled by q
sudden jerking of the coach and wild
imprecation from the driver.
Something's wrong" said the giant
and be opened the window on the right
hand side and looked out. In a mo
ment he drew back.
THE of lead has broken the inside
trace and is frightened" he said as he
divested himself of his overcoat. The
driver must have some help. Don't
be nervous"-this to the young girl
Wen fix it all right"
He opened the door and stood on the
step a second. BY this time the terror
Of the runaway was communicated tt
the other horses, and they were fast
getting beyond control. The coach was
rocking and pitching at tremendous
rate.
"Close the door after get on top
he called to the old man, who was
thoroughly awake by this time, and
then, waiting until the coach swung
around the inner curve. he put one
foot halfway up the door on the open
window ledge and, grasping the low
railing above. pulled himself up on tt
the top Of the coach.
The girl had closed the door and
leaning far out. watched him as the
swinging coach permitted step to the
seat of the driver and over the dash
board to the tongue. A terrible lurcl
and he had to pause and hold on for
moment.
Pull hard on the wheelers," he SAID
to the driver. "I'll look after the
others"
Slowly he began moving along the
tongue Of the wagon, and the girl fell
sure he was talking to and reassurinl
the horses. for his presence did moi
seem to further alarm the poor fright
ened brutes.
The girls hands suddenly grasped
the sides Of the window rs she saw
him near the end Of the narrowing
tongue and realized what he purposet
doing. For moment he paused to pa
| the neck Of the wheeler; then. stand
ing with one foot OIL the swinging sin
gletree. he gave a tremendous LEAF
and sprang to the back Of the mad
dened leader. He drew himself aloni
over the foaming creatures shoulder
and. reaching forward. succeeded II
freeing the bit from its clinched teeth
then, talking softly and gently pattini
its neck. gradually quieted the poo
animal. which now. responding to thu
saving Of the reins. came to stand
still halfway down the mountain side.
.1'he man sprang to the ground. as
did the driver, and together they mend
ed the trace and looked over the entire
harness The horses. steaming ant
trembling. were now doclle as lambs
you'll have no further trouble to