Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-04-07

A stagecoach numbered up zigzag
road In the Rocky mountains. On the
outside seat behind tho driver sat a
gentleman whose eminently respectable
travelling suit and his clean cut eea-
lures Indicated that he. was 10 tho
manner born Beside him sat young
man In the costume OF the country.
His skirt was tiannel his hat was a
sombrero.
On the next seat back sat lady,
the aristocratie gentleman's wife, and
beside her 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 reins He was awakened by
the shouts Of the passengers behind
him, who saw a terrible death staring
them in the face. The horses. un.
checked. started down the slope and
were soon going ut 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
himself down over the footboard on to
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 a
standstill. The first sensation that
came to him after 1t was ali 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,
quickP'
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
Il would as soon have expected to
see Mississippi pilot"
Bart has been a stage driver"
Hell tell everybody here all about
our antecedents"
He won't know any one to tell"
1T seems hard to cut him after that
affair you had with him"
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
time we've had to even get In ON
the outer circle. How can Bart Keith
with no money get ia at alp
He may be prosperous; he's well
enough dressed"
That night there was a grand func-
tlOn ut one OF the cottages" and the
next morning Mary Murphy ran to her
mother with II newspaper In her hand
and her eyes wide open.
For lands sake. mother, listen TO
this: Among those present at Mrs.
Athertons last night was Mr.. Barton
Keith
You don't mean itp'
How In The name Of conscience do
you suppose he got In thereT'
II cant Imagine. | know we couldn't
get bid
He must have pull somewhere"
Your father had pull, but 1t didn't
work. He offered Peter Jones q tip
on the stock OF our road II he'd get
him an invitation to the Athertons'.
But Pete said they were OF the old
New York blue blood and rich besides.
These people who have both blood and
money are the hardest OF all 10 move"
"Oho! Here's the expianationp and
she read q social item:
Mr.. Barton Keith is visiting Mr.. ana
Mrs Emerson Forbes.
"Oh. my goodness gracious" exclaini-
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,"
80 we hive"
1--WE must ind way to take back
track"
80 we must"
But were entirely ignorant of the
key to the position"
What do you mean by thatT
I'VE don't know what reason the
Forbes have for taking In Bart"
do you suppose they know what
he's beenY'
"Of course they do. Bart coulrn't
keep II II he wished. That's the sin.
gular pnrt Of H. The Forbes have
been prominent In New York ana New
port society for hundred years. But
one thing have noticed in these old
families they're more Independent
about whoni they take up than any