Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 2, Number 46, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 11 May 1872 — Page 6

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SALVATION THROUGH POVEBTY.

Dying alone BeoaDMe he is poor,

Going through the tnvlslbletloor S To the nnknovn, All unattended-

Qood-bjre to the apirft departing to-day

He died alone, Because he was poor

None lingered or watched at the sad earthly door, For hearts are stone

None at bis head Have Invisible dead—

Who come In oar places to watch, It Is said— Because he wau poor.

I see how It tallow It wee iris to me,

lie treads the bright doors, which I barely

-5 And the Heavens are his His sickness, health— His penury, wealth—

And bliss insupportable wnes,as by htealth From endless skies,. This 1* the prize

Of one who tiles

Unsunned in the warmth of our human 14

e8

The passengers had taken their seats —the one lauy on the box—and S im Rico stood, chronometer held daintily between thumb and linger, waiting for the second hand to come round the quarter of a mlnut*, while the grooms slipped the last strap of the harness into its buckle. At tho expiration of the quarter of a minute, as Sam stuck an unlighted cigar between his lips and took hold of the box to pull himself up to his seat, the good-natured landlady ol Piney woods Station callcd out with some otllciouHiiess:

ti

l" Mr. Kice, don't you want a match?" "That's Just what I've been looking for these ten years," responded Sum and at that Instant his eyes were on a level with the ladv's on tho box, so that ho could not help seeing the roguish

fhe

•f

Ji

lint of thom, which so far disconcerted usually self-possessed prolessor of tho whip that ho heard not the landlady's laugh, but gathered up the reins in such a hasty and carelesss manner as to cause Demon,the nigh leader,to go oir with a bound that nearly throw the owner of tho eyes out of her place. The little flattery gave opportunity for Mrs. Diily Page—that was the lady's UHiiio—to drop her veil over her face, and for Sam Rico to show his genteel handling ol the ribbons, and conquer the unacoountable disturbance of his pulses.

Sam had looked at tho way bill, not ten minutes before, to ascertain the name of the pretty, black-eyed woman seated at

his

get

All unix-frlended— •»,,

Uoone to seeJt all ovftAJid ended,. Priestly or tayi ., No one to pray,

ss

No one to say

:i

Because be is poor.,

Open yoor doors, Ye angels that take r:

Unfrltnded mortals for charity's sake Up to your floore «, Bay, have ye places

Where Love's lighted feces

Shall welcome him freed from the earth's bold embrace. Where he was torn S #HN By tfllons of sc6rn—

Manfully borne

All night through, though evermore crying f.r more— Because he was poor?

Because he is poor.

fe

IT

rKrorn the Overland Monthly.]

Sam Rice's Romance.

The coach of WOIIH, Fargo A Co. stood at the door of Piney-woods Station,and Sam Rice, the driver, was drawing on his lemon-colored gloves with an air, for Sain was the pink of stage drivers, from his high white hat to bis faultless French boots. Sad will it be when his profession shall have been altogether superceded and the coach ana six, with its gracious and graceful "whip" shall have been supplanted on all the principal liues ot travel, by the ironhorse with its grimy "driver" and train of thundering carriages.

left hand and the con-

srlousnesa of so great a curiosity gratitied may havo augmented his unaccustomed embarrassment. Certain it is, Sam Rice had driven six horses on a ticklish mountain road, for four years, without missing a trip and had inore than once encountered the "road agonts." without ever delivering them an express box had had old and young ladies, plain and beautiful

ones,

to sit

beside hiin, hundreds of times, yet this was the first time ho had cousulted the way bill, on his own account, to find a ladv's name. This one time, too, it had a Ntrs. before It, which prefix gavo him a pang he was very unwilling to own. On the other hand, Mrs. Dolly Page was olad In extremely deep black, could she be mourning for Mr. Page? If Demon had an unusual number of starting tits that afternoon, his driver was not altogether guiltless in the mattor for what horse, so sensitive as he, would have iWt the magnetism of something wrong behind him?

Hut as the mocking eyes kept hidden behind a voil, and the rich musical voice uttered not a word through a whole half hour, which seemed an age to Sain, ho finally recovered himself so far as to say he believed he would not smoke alter all and thereupon returned the cigar unlighted to his pocket.

I hope you do not deprive yourself of a luxury on niy account murmured the soft voice. "I guess the dust and sunshine is enough lor alady to stand, without any •tuoklu' In ber face," rHttrnedSaui, politely, and ulanoing at the veil.

Still I beg you will smoke, If you lire accustomed," persisted the cooing TO Ice behind it. Bat Sain, to his praise be Is spoken, refused to add anything (o the discomforts of •summer day's ride aiTose the mountain*. His chivalry had its reward for the lady Uua favored, teeling constrained to make somo return for such consideration, began to talk, in ft rein that delighted her auditor, about horses—their point*, and their traits, and lastly about their drivers.

I have always fancied," said Mrs. Dolly Page, "that if I were a man I should talte to stage driving as a profession. It seems to me a free and manly calling, one that develops some of (he beet qualities ot a man. Of course it has its drawbacks. One cannot choose one's society on a stage, and there are storms, and upsets and all that sort of thin*. I've often thought," continued Mrs. Dolly, "that we do sot consider enough the hardships of driitem, nor whet we owe them. You've read that poem—the Post-boy's Song: S **Llk« RshutU«thrMri»hy tbebandofFat*,

4x

Forward and back I got'" Well, it is Just so. They do bring us ,i our setters, tail of good and ill news, helping to weave the web of Fate tor as yet not to blame tor what tidings they bring, and always faithful to UMtr duties, in atom, or shine." "fsnall like my profession better after what you have said of it," answered Sam. tprtag whip a «url so as to make It toMh the *£-leader's right ear. •Tve done any duty mostly and not complained or the hardship*, though once

off tbe box at the end of.my drivej ut that was in a long spell df baa weather,when the roada were just awful and the rain as cold as snow."

Would you miod letting me hold the lines awhile T" asked the cooing voice at last. I've driven a six-in-hand before."

Though decidedly startled and averse to trusting his team to such a pair of bands, Sam was compelled by the psychic iorce of the little woman, to yield up the reins. It was with tear and trembling that he watched her handling of them tor the first mile but as she really seemed to know "bat

sure

r-

Not one to ache For his pitiful sake—

Ah! well that the morning was only to break— There by his bed

8"®

was about his confidence increased,and he watched her with admiration. Her veil was now up, her eyes

were

spark­

ling. and cheeks glowing. She did not speak often, but when she did. it was always piquant and graceful that she uttered. At last, just as the station was in sight

she

yielded up the lines

with a deep-drawn sigh of satisfaction, apologizing for it by saymg that her bEms not being used to, it were tired. "I'm not

she added, "but I shall

take to the tox at last, as a steady thinir If you do," responded Sam, gallantly "I hope you will drive on my line."

There was then a halt, a supply ot fresh horses, and a prompt and lively

wtart.

But the afternoon was intensely

hot, and the team soon sobered down. Mrs. Page did not offer again to take the lines. She was overwarm and weary, perhaps quiet and a little sad at any rate. Mr. Rice was quiet, too, and thoughtful. The passengers inside were aleep. Tho coach rattled along at a steady pace with the dust so deep under the wheels as to still their rumble. At intervals a freight-wagon was passed, drawn to one side, at a "turn ont," or a rabbit skipped across the r»ad, or a solitary horseman suggested alternately a "road-agent," or one of James' heroes. Grand views presented themselves of wooded cliffs and wild ravines. Tall pines threw lengthening shadows across the open spaces in the mountain sides. And so the afternoon wore away and wheu the sun was setting, the passengers alighted for their supper at the principal hotel in Lucky-dog—a mining cainp, pretty well up in the Sierras. "We both stop here." said Sam as he helped the lady down from her high position letting her know by this remark, that her destination was known to him. "I'm rather glad of that," she answered frankly, with a little snqile and oonsidiring all that transpired on that long drive, Sam was certainly pardonable If he felt almost sure that her reason for being glad

was

identical with

his own. Lucky-dog is one of those shambling, new camps, where one street serves for a string on which two or three dozen ill-assorted tenements are strung, every fifth one being a place intended for the relief of the universal American thirst, though the liquids dispensed at these benificent institutions were observed rather to provoke than to abate the drynessof tneirpatrons. Eating-houses were even more frequent than those which dispensed moisture to parched throats so that, taking a cursory view of the windows fronting on the street, the impression was inevitably c»nveyed of an expected rush of-famished armies whose wants this charitable community were only too willing to supply,for a sufficient consideration. The houses that were noteating and drinking houses were hotels, if we except occasional grocery and general merchandise estabishments. Into what out-of-the-way corners the inhabitants were stowed, It was impossible to conjecture, until it was discovered that the men lived at the places already Inventoried, and that women abode not at all in Luckydog—or, if there were any, not more than half a dozen of them, and they lived in unaccustomed places.

The adveut of Mrs. Page at the Silver Brick Hotel naturally made a sensation. An assemblage of not less than tifty gentlemen of leisure crowded about tho entrance, each more Intent than the other on getting a look at the arrivals, and especially this one arrival whose age, looks, name, business, and intentions in coming to Luckydog were discussed with the greatest treodom. Sain Rico was closoly questioned, but proved reticent and noncommittal. The landlord was besieged with inquiries—the landlady, too—and all without anybody being made much the wiser. There was the way-bill, and there was the lady herself, put that and that together and make what you could of It.

Mrs. Dolly Pago did not seem discomposed in the least by the evident interest she Inspired. With her bj140'1 ourls smoothly brushed, her black rotMM Immaculately neat, with a pretty color in her round cheeks, and a quietly absorbed expression in her whole bearing, she endured the concentrated gaae or fifty pairs pairs of eyes during the whole dinner, without so much as an awkward movement or the dropping of a tork or tea-spoon. So it was plain that tho curious would have to await Mrs. Page's own time for developments.

But the developments did not seem likely to come overwhelmingly. Mr*. Page mudo a fast friend ot the landlady of the Silver Brick by means of little household arts peculiarly her own, and before a fortnight was gone, had become as indispensable to all the boarders as she was to. Mrs. Shaughnessy herself. If she had a history she kept It carefully trom curious ears. Mrs. Shaughnessv was evidently satisfied,, and quite challenged criticism of her favorite. Indeed, there was nothing to criticise. It was generally understood that she was a widow, who had to get on in the world as beet sh^could, snd thus the public sympathy was secured, and an embargo laid upon gossip. To be sure there were certain men in I*ocky-dog, of a class which has its representatives everywhere who regarded all unappropriated women especially pretty women, very much as the hunter regards game, and the more difficult the approach the more exciting the chaa*. But these moral Nimrods had not h«lt the chance with self-possessed Mrs. Dolly Page that they would have had with a different style of woman. The groeter sort got a sadden conge and with Ute more refined sportsmen she coquetted Just enough to show them that two coula play at "make believe," and then sent them off with a lofty scorn edifying to behold—to the mingled admiration and amusement of Mrs. Shaughnessy.

The only affair which

Cr*.

or twtoe Pre been top beat out to

seemed

to have

a kernel or seriousness it, was that of Mr. Samuel Rice. Regularly, when the stage

Vas

in on Sam's night, he

id hi» wlpects to Mrs. Page. And Page always received him with a graceful friendliness, asking after the horses, and even sometimes going so far as to accompany him to their stables. On these occasions she never failed to oarry several lamps of sagar in her pocket, whioh she fed to the handsome brutes off her own pink pnlm, until there was not one of them she oould not handle at her will.

Thas pass«d many weeks, until summar was drawing to a dose. Two or three times the had pone down to Pinywoods Station and back on Sam's

TERKB-HAUTE SATTIHDAY EVENING MAIL. MAY 11. 1872.

ooach, and always sat on the box, drove part of the w*y, buf nowhere her driving would excite reOnarv. It is superfluous to state, that on tneee occasions there wss a happy heart beneath Sam'a linen duster, or that the bantering remarks of his brother drivers were borne with smiling equanimity, not to say pride for Sam was well aware that Mrs. Dolly Pages brunette fcesuty and his blonde-bearded style, together furnished a not unpleasing tableaux of personal charms. Besides, Sam's motto was, "Let those laugh who win and he seemed to himself to be on the road to heights of happiness beyond the*ken of ordinary mortals—especially ordinary stage drivers.

I don't calkelate to drive stage more than a year or two longer," Sam said to Mrs. Page confidentially on the return from their last trip together to Pineywoods Station. "I've got a little place down in Amador, and an interest In the Nip-and-tuck gold mine, besides a few hundreds in bank. I've a notion to settle down some dav, in a cottage with vines over the porch, with a little woman to tend the flowers in the front garden."

As it Sam's heightened color and shining eyes had not sufficiently pointed this confession of his desire, it chanced that at this moment the eyes ot both were attracted to a way-side picture a cottage, a flower-bordered walk, a fair young woman standing at the gate with a crowing babe in her arms lifting its little white arms to the sun-browned face of a stalwart young farmer who was

smiling

proudly on the

two. At this sudden apparition of his inmost thoughts Sam's heart gave a great bound and there was a^ simultaneous ringing in his ears. His first instinctive act was to crack his whip so fiercely as to set the leaders off prancing and when, by this diversion he had partly recovered self-possession to glance at the face of his companion. A new embarrassment seized him when he discovered two little rivers of tedts running over the crimsoned cheeks. But a coach-box is not a convenient place for sentiment to display itself and though the temptation was great to inquire into the cause of the tears,with a view of offering consolation,Sam prudently looked the other way, and maintained silence. The reader, however, knows that those tears sank into the beholder's soul, and caused to germinate countless tender thoughts and emotions, which were, on some fi'tue occasion, to be laid upon the altar ot bis devotion to Mrs. Dolly Page. -And none the less, that, in a few minutes, •the eyes which shed them resumed their roguish brightness, and the lady was totally unconscious of having heard, orjseen, or felt any embarrassment. Sentiment between them was successfully tabooed, so far as utterance was concerned, for that time. And so Sam found, somewhat to his disappointment, it continued to fall out,that, whenever he got upon delicate ground, the lady was off like a burning bird, darting hither and yon, so that it was impossible to put a finger upon her or get so much as a look at her brilliant and restless wings. And nobody ever tired of trying to find a humming bird at rest and so Sam never gave up looking for the the opportune moment of speaking his mind.

Meanwhile, Lucky-dog Camp was having a fresh sensation. An organized band of gamblers, robbers, ana "road agents" had made swoop upon its property, of various kinds, and had succeeded in making off with it. The very night after the ride just mentioned, the best horses in Sam Rice's team were stolen, making it necessary to substitute what Sam called "a pa'r ornery cayuses." To put the climax to his misfortunes, the road agents" attacked him next morning, when, the "ornery caynses" becoming unmanageable Sam was forced to surrender the treas-ure-box, and the passengers their bullion. The excitement in Lucky-dog was intense. A Vigilance Committee, secretly organized, lay in waiting for the otlenders, and, after a week or two, made a capture of a well-known sporting man, whose presence In camp had for some time been regarded with suspicion. Short shrift was afforded him. The same afternoon his gentlemanly person swung dangling from a gnarled pine tree limb, and his frightened soul had fled Into outer darkness.

When this event became known to Mrs. Dolly Page, she turned ghostly white, and then fainted dead away. Mrs. Shaughnessy was very much concerned for her friend berating, in round terms, the brutishness of people who could talk of such things before a ten-der-hearted lady like that. To Mr. Rice, particularly, she expatiated upon the coarseness of certain people, and the refined sensitiveness or others and Sam was much Incllued to agree with her, so far as her remarks applied to her triend, who was not yet recovered sufficiently to be visible for so many days, that Sam's soul began to long for her with a mighty longing. At length, she made her appearance, considerably paler and thinner than was her wont but doubly interesting and lovely to the eyes of so partial an observer as Sam, who would willingly have sheltered her weakness in his strong, manly arms. Sam, naturally enough, would never have hinted at the event which so distressed her but she relieved him of all embarrassment on that subject, by saying to him at once: "Mr. Rice, I am told they have not buried the man they hung, so shockingly, the other day. They certainly will not leave him there ?"—she added, with a shudder.

I don't know—I suppose." stammered Sim,

uit

is the way, with them

fellows. I could'nt prevent them," said Sam, quite humbly. "Mr. Rice, and her voice was at onoe a command and an entreaty, "you can and unu*t prevent it. You are not afraid? I will go with you this very night, and will help you. Don't say you will not for I can not sleep until It is done. I have not alept for a week."

She looked so white and so wild, as she uttered this confession that Sam would have been the wretch he was not, to refuse her. So he said

Don't you fret. I'll bury blm, if it troubles you so. But you needn't go along. You couldn't, it's too far, and you're too weak,"—seeing how she irembled. "I sm not weak, only nervous. I prefer to go along. But we must be secret, I suppose Oh!" with a start that was indeed "nervous."

Yes, we must be secret," said Sam and he looked as if be did not halt like the business, but he did not refuse.

You area good man, Mr. Rice, and I thank you." And with that Mrs. Dolly Page caught up one of bis hsnds, snd kiseittg it hastily, began to cry, as she walked quickly away. "Dont cry, and don't go until I have promised to do whatever you ask. If it will make you well again," Sam said, following her to the door. "Then call for me to take a walk with yoa to-night. The moon is fnll, but no ons* will observe ua. They would not think of onr going there*'—with another shudder—and she slipped away from his detaining band.

That evening Mr. Samuel Rice and Mrs. Page took a walk by moonlight.

their fashion :a'nd disagreeable gossips that they came borne very late, after their fashion. But nobody,

remarked

they believed, saw where they went, or what they did. Yet those two came from performing an act of Christian charity, each with a sense ot guilt and unworthiness very irritating to endure, albeit from vety different causes. One, because an unwelcome suspicion had thrust itself into his mind and the other—

The ground of Sam's suspicion wss a photograph, which, in handling the gambler's body, somewhat awkwardly, by reason of its weight—Mrs. Page had round at last, she could not render any assistance—had slipped from soiue receptacle in its clothing. A hasty, glance nnder the full light of the moon, had shown him the features of the lady who sat twelve paces away, with her hands over her nice. It is not always those that sin who suffer most from the consciousness of sin and Sam, perhaps, with that hint of possible, nay, certain—wickedness in his breast-pock-et, wts more burdened by the weight ot it than fiiany a criminal about to suffer all the terrors of the law tor the woman that he loved.stood accused, if not convicted, before his conscience and her own, and he could not condemn, because his heart refused to judge her.

When the two stood together under the light of the lamp in the deserted parlor of the Silver Brick Hotel, the long silence by which her quick perceptions had been recognized as accusing, ber, upon what evidence" she did not yet know, was at length broken by Sam's voice, husky with agitation. "Mrs. Page," he said, assuming an unconscious dignity of mien aud sternness of countenance, "I shall ask you some questions, sometimes, which you may not think quite polite. And you must answer me you understand. I'm bound to know the truth about this man." "About this man J" Then he suspected of her connection with the wretched criminal whose body had only just now beeu hidden from mocking eyes? How much did he suspect How much did he know Her pale face and frightened eyes seemed to asked these questions of him but not a sound escaped her lips. The imploring look, so strange upon her usually bright face, touched all that was tender in Sam's romantic nature. In another moment he would have recalled his domand, and trusted her infinitely but in that critical moment she fainted quite away and Mrs. Shaughnessy being summoned, Sam received a wordy reprimand tor having no more sense than to keep a sick wo man up half of the night—smarting under which underserved censure, he retired, to think over the events of the evening.

The hour of departure from Luckydog, for $am's coach, was four o'clock in the morning and its driver was not a little surprised, when about to mount the box, to discover Mrs. Page waiting to take a seat beside him. After the adventure.of the previous night, it was with some restraint that he addressed her and there wa« wanting, also, some of his cheerful alacrity ot manner, when he requested the stranger who bad taken the box seat to yield it to the lady. The stranger's mood seemed uncongenial, for he declined to abdicate, intimating that there was room between himself and the driver, if she insisted upon an outside seat.

But Mrs. Page did not insist she whispered to Sam to open the coachdoor, and quietly took a seat inside: and Sam, with a sense of irritation very unusual with him, climbed reluctantly to his place, giving the "cayuses" a lash in a way that set them off on a keen run. By the time he had gotten his team cooled down, the unusual mood had passed, and the longing returned to hear the sweet voice and watch the bright eyes that made bis hanpinees on former occasions. Puzzlea as ho was, and pained by the evdence he possessed of her connection, in some way, with the victim of lynch-law, that seemed like a dream in the clear, sunny air of morning, while the more blissful past asserted its claim to be considered reality. Not a lark, warbling its flute-notes by the wayside, not a pretty bit of the familiar landscape, nor glimpse ot brook, that leaped sparkling down the mountain, but recalled some charming utterance of Mrs. Dolly Page, as he first knew her—as he could not now recognize her in the pale, nervous, and evidently suffering woman, sitting closely veiled, inside tne coach.

Occupied with these thoughts, Sam felt a disagreeable shock when the outside passenger—with a voice that contrasted roughly with that other voice whieh was murmuring in his ear—began a remark about mining prospects of Lucky-dog. "Some rich discoveries made in the neighborhood, eh Did you ever try your luck at mining?" "Waal, no. 1 own a little stock, though," answeied he, carelessly. "In what mine?" "In the Nip-and-tnck." "(iood mine, from all I hear about it. Never did any prospecting?" asked the stranger, in the tone which denotes only a desire to make talk, with a view to kill time.

No," in the same tone. "That's odd," stuffing a handful of cut tobacco Into his inouth. I'd have sworn 'twas you I saw swinging a pick In the canon east ot the camp, last night."

I'm not much on picks," Sam returned, with a slowness that well counterfeited indifference. I was visiting a lady last evening, which is a kind of prospecting more In my line." "Yes, I understand that lady inside the coach she's a game one." "It strikes me you're devilish free in your remarks," said Sam, becoming irritated again. "No offense meant, I'm sure. Take a cigar? We may as well talk this matter over calmly, Mr. Rice. You see it's ten to one that you are implicated in this business. Been very attentive to Mrs. Pace. Made several trips together. Let her handle your horses, so she could take them ont of the atables for them thieves. Buried ber thieving, gambling husband for her. You see the caso looks bad, anyway though I'm inclined to think you've been made a tool of. I know she's a smart one. Tain't often you find one smarter."

Sam's eyes scintillated. He was strongly minded to pitch the outside

fa*senger

off the coach. The struggle

his breast between conviction and resistance to conviction, amounted to agony. He could not, in that supreme moment, discriminate between the an-'

togt

paled bis cheeks, and eet bis teeth on edge of all of which the outside passer was oooly cognisant. As they were at that moment in sight of the first station, he resumed:

Let ber get up here, if she wants to I can ride inside. I don't want to be hard on her but mind, if you breathe a word to her, about my being anofBrtr, I'll arrest yon on suspicion. Let every tub stand on Its own bot'oni. If she's guilty, you can't help her, and

don't want to, neither if ahe's innocent, fche'll ioome out all right, never tear. 'Art ybu on the square now. "Have yon got* warrant?" asked Sam, in a low tone, as he wound the lines round the brake, previous to getting down. "You bet I but I'm in no hurry to serve it. Pinney-wood station 'ill do just aa well. Telegraph offioea there.

Mr. Rice was not in any haste this morning, being, as he said, ahead of time. He invited Mrs. Page to take her usual place on the box, telling her the gentleman had concluded to go inside and brought her a glass of water from the bar. While he was returning the glass, the passengers, including hiai of the outside, being busied in assuaging their thirst with something stronger than water, a rattle of wneels and clatter of hoofa was beard, and lo! Mrs. Dolly Page was discovered to be practising her favorite accomplishment of driving six in hand

When the "outside" recovered from his momentary surprise, he clapped his hand on the shoulder ot Mr. Rice, and said in a voice savage with disappointment: "I arrest you, sir." "Arrest and be d——d!" returned Sam.

"If

you had done your duty you

would have arrested her while you had the chance." "That'sso—your head is level and if you'll assist me in getting on to Pi-ney-woods station in time to catch the runaway—for she can't very well drive beyond that station, I'll let you of." "You'll wait till I'm on, I reckon. My horses can't go on that errand, and you daren't take the up-drlver's team. Put that in your pipe aud smoke it, old smarty!" and Sam's eyes emitted steelblue lightnings, though his face wore a fixed expression ef smiling.

Upon inquiry it was ascertained that horses might be procured a mile back from the station and, while the baffled officer, and such of the passengers «s could not wait until next day, went in pursuit of them, Sam mounted one of the cayuses." and made what haste he could alter the ooach and Wells, Fargo A Co.'s express box. Within a mile or less of Piney-woods station he met the keeper, the grooms, and an odd man or two, that chanced te have been about the place, all armed to the teeth, who, when they saw him, halted in surprise. "Why, we reckoned you was dead," said the head man with au air of disappointment. "Dead?" repeated Sam. "Have you seen my coach "That's all right, down to the station and the plucky gal that druv it, told us all about the raid the 'road agents' made on you. Whar's the passengers any ot 'em killed "Passengers are all right. Where is Mrs. Page?" "She cried, an' tuk on awful about ye an' borrowed a boss to ride right on down to meet the other stage, an' let 'em know what's up." "She did, did she?'f said Sam, very thoughtfully. "Waal, that Is oda. Why she ran awav with iny team, that's what she did and it's all a hoax about the 'road agents.' The passengers are back at the other station."

Sam has suddenly become "all things to all men," to a degree that surprised himself. He was wrong about the horse, too, as was proyen by its return to its owner four days after. By the same hand came the following letter to Mr. Samuel Rice: "DEAR MR. RICK:—It was so good of you! I thank you more than I can say. I wish I could set myself right in your eyes, for I prize your friendship dearly, dearly but I know that I cannot. It has not been all my fault. I was married to a bad, bad man, when I was only fifteen. He has ruined my life but now he is dead, and I need not fear him. I will hereafter live as a good woman should.

The tears run down

my cheeks as I write you this farewell, as they did that dav when I saw that sweet woman and her babe at the farmhouse gate, and knew what was in your thought. Heaven send you such a wife. Good-bye, dear Mr. Rice, goodbye. "DOLLY PAOB."

There are some men as well as women, in this world, who could figure in the role of Evangeline, who have tender, loyal, and constant hearts. Such a one was the driver of the Lucky-dog stage. But, though he sat on that box for two years longer, and scrutinized every dark-eyed, sweet-voiced ladypassenger who rode in his coarch during that time, often with an intense longing for a sight of the face he craved, it never came. Out of the heaven of his life that star has vanished forever, and nothing was left hiin but a soiled photograph, and a tear-stained letter, worn with frequent folding and unfolding

OLD DOMINIE FORD

On Colfax Mountain once lived good old Dominie Ford. The Dominie was a good old hardshell Baptist who distilled apple-toddy during the week, and made special prayers ana preached doctrinal sermons on Sunday. His forte was in praying tor specific things, and like the chaplain in the Massachusetts Legislature, he always told the Lord more than he asked for.

One day he had visitors—Major Colfax being present, and prayed as follows: "0 Lord. Thou knowest the wickedness and depravity of the human heart —even the hearts, O Lord, of our visitors, Thou knowest the wickedness of thy servant's nephew, John Ford. Thou knowest, O Lord, how he has departed from Thy ways and done many wicked things, sucn as swearing and fishing on Sunday and Thou knowest, O Lord, how he returned, no longer ago than last night, in a state of beastly intoxication, and whistling, O Lord, the following popular air— "Shoo fly, don't bodder me!"

And the Dominie screwed up his lips and whistled the air In bis prayer.

DTKTKTTC HIJTTS.—Most chronic diseases, and many acute ones, are produced at the table. As a rule, no fluid of any kind should be taken at the meal, especially if the stomach Is weak. The stomach should never be overloaded not more than two or three articles should be taken at one meal no stimulants used before eating tobaoooairests digestion. Milk is the best diet for infanta and children. Toinatoea with cream and sugar are healthy ana notritious. Bread and butter Is the lUff of life ani is easily digested. Too much salt irritates the stomach. Colds are frequently produced by drinking hot tea and exposure afterward. L*te suppers Induce heart disease. Pastry and cakes constipate the bowels. Fresh fish strengthens the nervous system. Boiled potatoes are not as healthy as baked ones. Fruits are to be eaten at breakfast and dinner. The stomach requires much rest to be healthy purgative medicines weaken the bowels. Cheerful conversation promotes digestion, anger prevents it.

A OOLORKD preacher, lining ont a hymn from memory, said: "Plunged in a gulf of dark despair,

Y« wretched sinners mme emtof darf

Peculiarities of the Lint Between Wash' in0ton a*d Baitimor*.

Mr. Derrick Dodd writes ss follows to the Washington Capital about the branch railroad between Baltimore and the Capital:

But about this railroad. Of course I want it abolished, every one does The reckless velocity with Which the trains are run between here and Baltimore is absolutely trightfuL I was delighted years ago when this road was established because 1 thought we had got rid of the old rickety and dangerously fast stage coaches, but the speed they are beginning to run the trains at now on this road is worse yet. Now, everj*one knows that Baltimore is 40 miles from Waahinhton if it is an inch, and three days and a hair Is plenty quick enough for the trip, but the managers have -already reduced the Schedule time to three days and four hours, and what with making the engine fires too hot, and racing with oows along the road, and all that, the conductors are even cutting that time down.

Why it was only the other day on the down trif we happened to spy Simm's old mule about two miles out of town. What should the reckless wretch of an engineer do but clap on full steam and race every foot of the way into the Distriot We didn't exactly pass the mule, but we caught up with him twice and came into the depot neck aud neck —and whioh was putlSng the most, the mule or the engine, you oouldn't have told to save your life. Now it was all very exciting, and all that, I kndto, but I hadn't purchased an accident tioket, aud I don*t believe the other four passengers had either. This is all wrong, Mr. Editor, all wrong.

And then, on another occasion, I remember, we came within a hair's breadth of having a very serious accident. The engineer had gotten off to snowball a chipmunk, ana the conductor was minding a young widow's baby for her—the result was that the train happened to get on a dowu grade and we started off at a terrific rate, every bit of four miles an honr, I should think. We were just half a mile above the Annapolis junction, and the first thing we knew—there being no one to whistle and wake up the switchtender—we were turned off into the Annapolis road and went down the wrong track at nill speed. Imagine our consternation when just at this moment we heard the whistle, not half a mile ahead of us, of the Annapolis up train.

We

were paralyzed with terror.

Here were two trains on the same track approaching each other at the dizzy speed just mentioned. Evidently our time had come I In a few short hours the engines would meet, and then—destruction! With great presence of mind a minister on board organized a prayer meeting. Pale but calm the doomed bund ot passengers sat, and though with the very shadow of death upon them, raised their voices in a parting hymn. "Send for the baggage master," said a young man with a sad smile.

Why was asked. "Because we are all about to pass In our checks."

Everybody wept. From the roar platform we could see the miserable engineer straining every nerve tooatch up, but he had tight boots on and didn't gain anything to speak of.

At this mouient a ray of hope dawned upon us. I bad just finished writing my will on the back of a visiting card, when I observed a young lady in the act of detaching her bustle. Plaolng the article—which was oomposed of eight hundred Capitals and a hair mattress—under ber arm, the heroine marched through the car. We followed her anxiously.

She climbed up on the tender and then over the engine. It was\ery Interesting and thrilling to see her climbing over the wheels and brass things on the way to the cowcatcher. It reminded me of a country girl getting over a wire fence. But never mind about that now. Let me see where I was. Ob! yes—on tho cowcatcher. Holding on by the oross bars with ono hand, the noble maiden tied the bustle on the sharp prow with the other.

You can guess the result. In the oourse ot the afternoon the collision came off. Protected by the bustle the engine received a gentle bump, and wo were saved I

I took up a collection for the woman on the spot. I always take up a collection on such occasions, always. And what's more, I never forget to give the object interested something nice out of it, never. There Is nothing mean about me. I suppose you have noticed my clothes

THE OLD THING WOULDN'T WORK. An experiment which did not prove an entire success, is thus described by Max Adeler: It does not do to follow the advlceof newspaper receipts always with implicit confidence. There, for instance, was the woman out in Frankfort who read somewhere that the best method of curing drunken husbands was for their wives to take to drinking and for wives with profane husbands to indulge in a little experimental swearing, In order to show tbelr lords how very offensive such language Is. Well, this woman's husbana disgusted her constantly by using horrible profanity, and so she made up her mind to euro him upon homeopathic principles. That very evening, wnen he came home to supper, he began to curse at the coffee, and swear at the stove, and blaspheme the bread, and to tumble out oaths at his wife and the children, and the hired girl and the dog. As soon as be stopped to take breath, his wife stood up on the chair and begun. She poured out a volley of ornamental objurations, sensational imprecations, coupled with oaths, adjectives, blasphemy, pronouns, profanity and participles for a quarter of an hour, until she stopped from very exhaustation. The old man sat still, looking at her In profound amazement for a few moments, and when she concluded he remained for awhile in deep study. She thought she perceived signs of repentance. But presently be arose, put on bis hat, and went around to an alderman's office, where he procured a warrant for his wife's arrest upon a charge of blasphemy, and then had the hired girl and children subpoemed as witnesses. She was unable to procure bail, so she spent the next two weeks in prison. She now says she thinks that homeopathic system was somehow a failure.

A CITT or WOMB*.—Thecity of Vailed Women In Siam numbers 9,000 inhabitants, all of whom are of the femnlne gender. One thousand of these belong to the F. F. S., and the remaining 8,000 administer to their aristocratic wants. In this femnlne municipality female blacksmiths, jewelers, merchants, and manufacturers abound, and the jack-of-all-trades is a woman. The walls are guarded by female sentinels, female policemen patrol the streets, and once a week female military, both horse and toot, perform their evolutions on a large parade ground in the centre of the town.