Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-09-24


road in the Rocky mountains. On the
outside seat behind the driver sat
gentleman whose eminently respectable
travelling suit and his clean cut fea-
lures indicated that he was to the
manner born. Beside him sat a young
man In the costume of the country.
His skirt was flannel; his hat was a
Bombrero.
On the next seat back sat a lady,
the aristocratic gentleman's wife, and
beside her a girl of nineteen. their
daughter. The man In the sombrero
was telling them about the mountains
and its people and pointing out the
more prominent peaks. to which the
travellers listened with great interest.
The sun was hot, the pace was slow,
and the two combined tended to make
the driver drowsy. When the coach
reached an eminence and started down
an incline, instead of being wide
awake to the dangers of mountain
travel, he was nodding. He not only
failed to put on the brake. but drop
ped the reips. He was awakened by
the shouts of the passengers behind
him, who saw terrible death staring
them In the face. The horses, un-
checked, started down the slope and
were soon going at breakneck pace.
The driver basely abandoned his
post and, putting his foot on the iron
step beside him, swung himself to the
ground. The young man who had been
pointing out objects of interest let
hty,1oalR g. a
the tongue, gathered up the reins,
quickly remounted to the box, put on
the brake and managed to reduce the
pace sufficiently to enable the coach
to turn a curve without going over a
precipice. Then after a further short
descent he brought the horses to
standstill. The first sensation that
came to him after 1t was all over was
feeling the arms of the aristocratic
gentleman about his neck
One day couple of years after this
episode Mrs. Murphy and her daugh-
ter, while bowling along Ocean avenue
at Newport. received terrible shock.
"Oh, heavens, mother, there's Bar
ton Keith Look the other way,
quick"
Miss Murphy, pretending to see some
thing to which she desired to call her
mothers attention, pointed in the OPP
posite direction from the young man,
the carriage rolled by. and the women
began to discuss the situation.
What in the world could have
brought him hereT exclaimed the
mother.
II would as soon have expected to
see Mississippi pilot"
Bart has been stage driver"
He'll tell everybody here all about
our antecedents."
He won't know any one to TELL"
ut seems hard to cut him after that
affair you had with him.s
There have been changes since then.
At that time father was building his
little branch railroad; he hadn't got on
to the main line''
We'll, don't think there's much
danger. considering that he can't have
any entree here. Heaven knows what
a time We've had to even get In on
the outer circle. How can Bart Keith
with no money get in at ALP
He may be prosperous; he's well
enough dressed"
That night there was a grand func-
ton at one of the cottages" and the
next morning Mary Murphy ran to her
mother with newspaper in her hand
and her eyes wide open.
For lands sake, mother, listen to
this: Among those present at Mrs.
Atherton's last night was Mr.. Barton
Keith"
You don't mean itp'
How in the name Of conscience do
you suppose he got in thereT
Il can't imagine. / know we couldn'ti
get bid"
He must have pull somewhere" ]
Your father had pull, but It didn't
work. He offered Peter Jones a tin
on the stock Of our road If he'd get.
him an invitation to the Athertons': I,
But Pete said they were of the old
New York blue blood and rich besides. 4
These people who have both blood and
money are the hardest Of all to move. u
"Oho! Here's the explanation" and
she read social item:
Mr.. Barton Keith is visiting Mr.. and
Mrs. Emerson Forbes.
On, my goodness gracious" exclafm-
ed the mother, "how in the world did
he ever get in with themT
There was a silence between the two
which Mary ended by saying:
Mother, we've gone and done it"
$50 we have" II
we must find way to take back
track"
$50 we must"
But we're entirely ignorant of tile
key to the position"
what do you mean by that7'
I'VE don't know what reason the
Forbes have for taking in Bart
do you suppose they know what
he's beenT 49,
'of course they do. Bart couldn't |
keep It II he wishedrsl That's the sim
yular part Of IL. The Forbes have
been prominent In New York and New
port society for hundred years. But
one thing have noticed in these old |
= they're more Independent |
about whom they take up than any