(rnu orecon Sunday journal, Portland, Sunday morning; july 19
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmtmimmmm iT r'T ' i "" ' nil i ii 1 1 i i i ill i "T rtliU il tin r
, ft i:ijij:;S '."-y '
ITHE ffU.'S. M."
LARRY, the stage-driver, has broken a leg,
nd Mr. Wright aayi I may run the stage
for a month or two. I 'd like to do it, sir,
if if you 've no objection," begged Tom
of his guardian, Judge Gifford.
The judge looked down at him with
amusement.
"Do you hear that, doctor?" he said, walking to
the other end of the piazza, where the old doctor sat
with his feet on the railing and a New York news
paper in his hand,
Tom, who was always in dead earnest about every
thing he undertook, had been studying too hard or
too much, and had grown thin and nervous; so, by
the doctor's advice, and greatly against his own will,
he had been compelled k leave school.
The doctor looked up absently.
"He- 's been out of school three days," explained
the judge, stepping aside and exposing the bashful
boy, who had followed close at his heels, "and now
he 's ready to run a stage."
"Only 'three trips a day," pleaded Tom, with the
air of a culprit "It starts from Mr. Wright's store
at Van Curen Center, and goes down to the railway
station. It connects with the 8:30 A. M. and the a
and s P. M. trains for New York. It carries the
mail."
"Um-m!" remarked the doctor, thoughtfully, look
ing intently out toward the orchard.
"It 's better than lounging anyway," ventured
Tom, and instantly retreated again behind the judge.
"Um-m-ml So it is, judge, so it is," said the doc
tor, lowering his feet, one at a time, and holding
them in place with a hand on either knee. "It '11
keep the youngster out of doors, too; and that '
what he- needs. He 's small for his age. Go ahead,
young man; here 's my hand on it."
And Tom, emerging from his retirement, shook
the chubby old hand with a glad "Thank you, sir,"
and a glarwe at his guardian that was three parts
merry and one part triumphant.
That evening found him stretched upon the1 boards
of the western porch with an open book before him,
straining his eyes in the fading light.
The judge commented gravely.
"It 's only a book of postal laws and regulations,"
apologized Tom. "I got it of Wright. Of course he
must answer for me as mail-carrier; but I thought
I ought to know what the rights and duties of the
office are." (Tom was taking some ideas from the
Constitution of the United States.)
"That 's right, my boy, that 's right," exclaimed
the judge, with a heartiness that brought a glad light
into Tom's eyes, for he lcfved his guardian most
devotedly. "Whether you are a private citizen or a
public officer, always keep yourself informed as to
the duties the laws of your country require of you
and the privileges they accord to you. But we want
you now to let books alone as far as may be.'
The stage was clumsy, with low, heavy running
gear and a tunnel-like top of canvax Upon the
wagon-box, hardly decipherable through diafigure
merit of weather and iojI, appeared the name ol the
nimblest ra,ce-horse of the day "Eclipse"; for every
time the vehicle received a new coat of paint it was,
with no idea of any joke, renamed for the race-horse
once so famous. At the back, just above a pair of
steps by which passengers climbed in or out, ap
peared the letters "U. S. M."
The driver's seat was high, and Tom felt lifted up
in more senses than one when, on the morninsr of his
entry into the mail service, Mr. Wright, storekeeper,
postrhaster, stage-driver, and mail-carrier all in one
though giving to others the duties of the last two
offices tossed up to him the mail-bag with its im
posing combination of iron staples and lock and
leathern pouch that, as the story runs, made an old
sailor's jack-knife laugh.
As it fell rattling before him, he put a foot upon
it, gathered up his reins, and started off, feeling him
self a p.ublic official.
" Sj P
Ml M
Warn Flit 111 Ir I fift&w
struck at Tom had not Harmony suddenly pusheM
in front, lifting into sight with both hands her best
hope, Inr last rciue, the mail-hug. Her sunbonnet
had fallen ..if ag.uu; her tosmg hair was blown
backward .11 :! breeze; her grc.it, wide-open eves
were t .irle.-.s, uini there was not a tremor in her
piping voice. ."".
"The United States mail," she cried; "the United
Stales mail!
The passengers had alighted, and stood gating at
her .1, if -In.. h.nl been from another world; but
Bats was in : .,, great a rage to be impressed by ny
mortal presence.
"Come ,,wn here, you young scamp," he shouted,
ami 1 n teach ymi a lesson.
"No, thank yon, sir," said Tom, gently restraining
Harmony lest she should lose her balance. "Another
time 1 miht oblige you; but just now I happen to
have the United Mates mail 111 charge, and
"What '& the trouble?" asked a passenger. ''.'
"The rascal lias stolen my horse that I bought of
Cushman !'' Hates danced about and waved his arms.
"Papa did nt sell Dinah; papa did n't,'' insisted the
little girl.
"Does any one here believe that Mr. Cushman
sold that maic for .seventy five dollar;.?'' asked Torn,'
stretching cat his whip-hand over Dinah's back.
Some ;-ni- blew a low, long " Whew-ew-ew!" that!
partly sobered Mc. Malum and made Dates realize th.
uangcr ui uciay. .
"Constable," lie roared, "I can't stay here talking,
all the afternoon. Unhitch the little beast!" and ha
began to unharness her. ;;
"Constable," said Tom, "get me another horsej
men. i u musi tee i iiar 1 am not iniertereci Willi
in my duties as Mr. Wright s agent. 'Wright doei
nt stand tooling, you know.
"A'I,-,. ' A 1 1. .1 V - . 1 1 .
., . 11., . v ,iui a mo; ."v ui ciiKwo vvu . asKcu Kurne una
tne grounu, unnooKea tne cnainw w!lo came pamingly up behind. "Lucky thine foci
r ri.,n t,.,.. t. -. r-. i, . 1 1
11:1. i uuK'il nave HdU IU liui 11 All II1C WdV nnniF,
"YOUNG MAN, YOU CO ABOUT YOUH BUSINESS, SAID MX. UCUAH0I
His route lay past Rigg's Corners, a tavern stand,
thence to the station, a drive or two milei by the
regular route or old road, or a much longer drive if,
as was often the case, he had to go hy the hill road.
On each of his trips he was obliged to connect
with a train for his passengers' convenience as well
as to deliver the mall-bag to a trainman. Then he
must wait a half-hour for return trains from which
he received the mail and generally a few passengers.
Our heTO had been stage-driver about a month
when, upon his morning trip, he was signaled from
the home of Farmer Cushman a fine old house
Standing sixty feet from the road. The farmer had
been kind to Tom. The lad had a grateful heart,
and saw with pleasure that the passenger coming
out from the greenery of trees and shrubs that al
most hid the house was his old friend.
"Room up theTe for me, Torn?" he asked, indicat
ing the driver's seat.
"Certainly, sir, certainly!" Tom blinked with sat
isfaction ai he slipped to one side, making room.
A few rodj before them was Biggs' Corners.
Early as it was, the idlers of the place were lounging
upon the long, narrow piazza. Mr. Cushman scanned
the group nearrowly.
"I suppose it 's too early for Bstes to be around
yet,'' he said. "He 's a fellow that 'a been buying,
cp horses about here. Have you een him, Tom?
He drives a bay and a flashy little buggy with yellow
ear. He puts up at Riggs's. MeMahon" (the consta
ble) "hobnobs with him a good deal is treated by
him. I auppoae, tad of course thinka Rates if just
fight I offered him my old gray yesterday for
seventy-five dollars: but I regretted it afterward,
and I really hope he won't take me up. The rid
fellow been too good a servant to be o!d to
strangers whi may not trest him kindly "
Tom agreed with "him, somehow he and Mr.
Cuhman agreed on nrvt subjects they talked about,
and the trip to the nation was a pleasure to both.
In the afternoon Tom left WHght't, ai uual tn
connect with the tww'cloelt train A4 he re
proached the Cushmm rlace his fare Hsrhted np with
a very lively euriosifv. f"r something anwerir,g the
description of Bates's rig smrd at the rate, with
Ctihman'i little black mare-. "Dinah," tied behind.
Oft coming nrr he sw little Harmony Cash
man at Dinah's head, and jut within the ratt Htr
nonv'i grandmother, meek-faced old Mr. iwild'y
arwninv with loni ont whom Tom took to be Bates
feimselt ,
Approaching the group, Tom drove more and
more slowly, forgetting all politeness in his pity for
the child when he saw that Harmony was crying and
tugging at Dinah's tie-strap with all her little might.
The Eclipse came to a standstill.
"Papa did n't' pel! my Dinah, Tommy! Papa did
n't!" cried the little girl, dropping the strap, running
forward, and reach up her hands to him n pitiful
appeal
( Tom was beside her in a moment, and seizing his
1 hand, she ran with him to her grandmother's side.
"It is unfortunate, Mr. Hates," the old lady was
protesting, "that you should have mine when there
s no one home but me. Liven the hired men are not
round. They would have known. Of course I
don't doubt your word, but I '111 afraid there 's some
misunderstanding. Can't ynu leave the mare now,
and come for her when my son is at home?"
"I would like to oblige you, ma'am, indeed I
would," answered the man, very blandly, "but I have
promised to deliver these hnres to-morrow. You
knew that your son had sold a hore, did n't you?"
"I did hear him say that he had offered one for
seventy-five dollars ca--h, hut I thought 't was old
Trince,' the gray. I did n't suppose he 'd fell Dinah
for any urh aumunt of money or under any circum
stances, for "
"Fapa did n't sell Dinah " The child confronted
the man unflinchingly. "I was there Don't you
wemembeh 't was Trince' D'nah's mine. Papa gave
her to me a long time ago " In spite of her lob
bing, her voice rang clearly every sound ihe at
tempted but the IfttT r.
"Nonsense!" said Hates, though smilingly. He at
tempted to strcjke the little girl's hair, but she flew
from him with a frantic gesture.
Tom felt that he could keep quiet no longer.
"Something is wrong, Mrs. Cushman," Tom said.
"Mr. Cushman told me only this n-.nrning thit he
had (riven Mr. Bates the refusal of Prince. Anyway,
he '11 he home on the lat train to-night to apeak for
himself That is n't long. to wait"
That Bites paid no attention to him did not in
the Irast trouble the hoy; but MeMahon, who had
asuntered over from the hotel gnd had heard the
latter part of the conversation, braced himself be
fore him with feet apart, and began a sort of eross
nuettioninf, emphasizing with an indea-fingeT upon
his open palm
"Mr. Cushman told you that he had offered Prince,
eh. young man?''
fcYe.. ,ir -
"Well. nw. what hav we to do with Prinee?
C.early rothirjr at all The question is Jid he tell
yrMi that he hd not vAA Dinah?"
"N'o; but if he hid sold her"
Tt t"t! Keep to the facts! The law can't rec
ormre V'; it 's facts we want Young man. yog g
about yemr bniiness Yon '11 mi vour tram If vu
wae morh yrmre time here. Wright don't Stand
mn'-ll foohn'. yoa Irnnw "
Then to Mrs, Cushman he said impressively:
"Allow me, ma'am, to introduce to you my friend
Mr. Bates, of N ew York. Mr. Bates is a gentleman,
ma'am. I '11 .stand for him. It 's simply absurd that
his word should be called into question by that
young prig. It 's late now, and further delay may
put htm to a great de3l of trouble. You were to pay
the money and take the horse. Mr. Bates?''
"That was the bargain," said Bates, with the calm
ness of one who 's sure he 's right and waits pa
tiently for permission to go ahead.
MeMahon was naturally headstrong; still he might
not have acted with so much assurance had he not
been imbibing freely at the tavern.
"Well, Mr.( MeMahon." said yielding grandma,
"if you say it 's all right, why"
"Of course it 's all right, ma'am. Con e in, Mr.
Rates, and count out your money." And with tlio
familiarity of an old neighbor, he led the wav into
the house, grandma following meekly, only stopping
for an instant to pacify Harmony, who clutched her
gown in speechless protest.
"Don't cry, deary," she said; "and you may ride to
the station with Tommy, if he '11 let ym."
But with a faint ncrcam Harmony i'.-.v o-it and
began again her helpless tug at the tie Mr.i; Tom
looked at her a second, then crosfei the road and
let down the ban of a pasture lot; then with steady,
nimble fingers he unhitched his near horse, and put
him into the lot. He was at Harmony's side the nrxt
instant, with a low, comforting "Sh-sh'" he too the
strap from her shaking fingers, untied it, flung it into
the buggy box, and lead Dinah into the vacant place.
The rusty old harness was a loose fit but it wag
made to answer with only the change of a buckle or
two.
Meanwhile the haughty little beast showed a pair
of disdainful eyes under the shabby blinders, and
tossed her head and lifted her-feet in a wav that
showed her to be quite out of patience with th s new
work. But Harmon)', whose active little brain had
quickly guessed Tom's purpose, ran to her hea.f
"You must be a pood Pinah," she- said, and at a
sound of her voice the affectionate creature lowered
her head for a caress The child drew her pilms
resolutely across her wet !nhes. heaved one last 10b,
snd took up with her who'e soul her part it peace
maker A-fipfoe she stroktd and patted and coaxed
and counseled.
"You went double twice before, Dinah. Don't
yon wemembeh' Papa de vru w-jth Prince, and
papa said yru was a a rin'elligent cweature. You
must be good to us. Di-r V and we 'J! be good to
vrvu. Tommy likes mie'''gr",t cweitures, don't yvjt
Tr-m "
She looked up anr! iw Tom upon hi perch, ready
to tart In an intint h was climbing op to him,
clutching in her arent se rep, wheel, anything her
litt'e hands mtdd grspr'e
Tom cangUt her ht as D'pah leaped forward.
''Gwindma id I miirht wn.'' he panted
Hex sunbornet ha ! fallrn Jack upon her shoulders,
COPYRIGHT BY THE CENTURY COMPANY
her hair tumbled wildly about itfl rim, traces of tears
and of soiled, restraining fingers were upon her face;
but as she snuggled up to him with a long, wavering
breath of relief and trust, Tom felt her cause was his
cause, heart and soul, for weal or woe.
He looked at his watch, and kuew that if he made
the train he must do it by the shorter route. He
urged his team ahead. Dinah capered at first, and
would not do her part; but Harmony, clinging to
Tom's sleeve and bending eagerly forward, en
treated her:
"Oh, be a good Dinah; be a good Dinah!" And
Dinah, quieted again by a voice she knew, subsided
iflto a steady pace.
They had passed the corners and had turned into
the old road before Tom looked backed. Two be
wildered nicu were standing before the Cushman
gate.
Some minutes passed before they fully understood
the situation, anil then MeMahon exclaimed:
"The young idiot! lie 's forgotten that the road 's
blocked! He '1! have to come back to the Cor
ners!" and Mr. MeMahon doubled himself together
in triumphant glee.
But Torn had n't forgotten anything. He came
up to the closed portion of the road. A chain was
Stretched across, hooked to a post upon each side.
The foreman of a gang of laborers said surlily:
"No thoroughfare. You can't pass here."
The boy rose upon his feel, looked at the broken
road, and saw that it was passable. Then he lifted
the mail bag into sight, saying quietly.
"I carry the United Slates Mail, sir."
The man made no reply, but tuyned away and
kicked sullenly into a clod of earth. , ,
Tom f-pr.mg to
at one end. carried it to the other side, dropped it.
and, regaining his scat at a bound, drove on. The
road was rough in places, but not dangerous, and he
passed safely over it, though to the inconvenience
of Several groups of workmen.
Ahead of him he saw the train already slowing at
the station It would not do to go close with the
frisky Dinah, a drawing to the sidewalk a few rods
away, he Hung himself to the ground, put a dime
and Dinah's bridle into the hands of a gaping idler,
lifted Harmony to the ground for safety, snatched
his mail-bag, and made a dash for the platform. He
reached it iust in time to hurl the bag aboard as the
train was starting.
lie must now wait a half-hour for the mail-train
from New York; and from the platform he scanned
the homeward road, the loirg- hill read, for he knew
that if BhIps and the constable were' to come afier
him they would come that way.
The road was clear, and he went back to look
after Harmony. His team was quiet, the boy he
had hired still holding the pair, and Dinah gravely
eating clover from Harmony's hand. Saying to
himself, "Busy hours go fast,' he pulled a few fresh
tufts from under a fence and fed them to the patient
old creature at Dinah's side. Then he set himself
the task of scraping the mud front' the wheels of the
stage; but he worked in nervous haste, as if. instead
of killing time, he were trying to gain it. Then he
turned his team about, heading them toward the hill
road and home. Then he made a bargain with his
hostler, giving him another dime to remain until the
train arrived.
"It must be nearly due," he thought, and looked
at his watch. Just ten minutes had sped!
Fretted by what he called his foolishness, he
placed a foot firmly upon a hub and with nicest pre
cision whittled a stick to a pin-point. He as care
fully sharpened the other end, then threw it away
and mounted the stage steps to view the road. No
Bates in sight. Again he pulled out his watch.
"Is it 'most half an hour now?" whispered Har
mony. "Ten minutes more," he said, and. stooping, untied
hrr bonnet and smoothed back her hair, talking
soothingly to her meanwhile.
"When we get another mail-bag aboard and get
started, I don't believe they '11 dare to take Dinah
away from us. They won't unless they get us an
other hors-, and no one here has one to lend."
"And will you keep Dinah and me and the United
States mail with you ev'wy epeck of time till papa
come6?''
"I '11 try to"; and with a parting pat of encourage
ment he left her and went and stood upon the plat
form. For perhaps the twentieth time he jerks out his
watch. Time up and no train in sight!
He steps from the platform and puts his ear to the
ground. The train is coming!
Upon the platform again, he tries to look round a
corner a hundred rods away, where the track bends
out of the thick weeds
But it is corning. It is almost in sight, announced
by rumble and whistle and fleece of sm .ke sifting
e
What was your hurry, Tom? I scrambled alonir
about as spryly as an old man like me can be ext
peeled"
Uh, papa, papa, did you sell mv Dinah?' '
Mr. Cushman for it was he, returned a train:
earlier than lie had planned caught Ins little girl
sne siiran
"Sell your Dinah? I guess not I guess not! Nbt
a hair or a shred of anything my linnet claims. Whoj
says I sold your Dinah?" ' -
But the tired litjle thing had buried her face on big
neck and was crying. 5
Tom showed him Dinah, and told the storv. r
"'The rascal!" he exclaimed. "I told him she wai
not for sale, and that, if she were, three hundred.'
would n't buy her. Where t? he?" V
"There he is," said an impatient passenger, poirtf-4
ing to a buggy that was (lying over the hill, "and.!
n.-., 1... . t. .11 ... !,:-. I . T
iiv.v tvi n iwii'fw ill- CAdlllj'lC.
In a trice the stage w,i rumbling forward. ;-t
At the Cushman gate stood grandma, with a placJdd
face. I
"I 'm so glad," she said, "that you were able I(K
ltt!. ti mntfpr u itliAiit mrhnrt .,,iU ninil, .
"How 'settle' it, Mrs. Cushman?" asked Tom,
eagerlv.
"Why, Mr. Bates said they had made a new dealj
ana he s taken Prince and gone
"Well, he ought to be arrested. I sunnose: but lefS
him go. He has n't got any more than belongs tol
mm now, sain tne easy-going, mild old man. hla
anger over; " but as for you, my boy, I '11 see that
you re paia ior tms day s wprK; 1 II make
right tor you.
rou maue it an ngnt tor me years ago,
Lusnman, reprea inm, as graveiv as it he wer
looking back over tha various ups and downs oil
fiftyyears of life instead of fifteen. 1
;e tHat
0, Mr
WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK
By ANNA HARRISS JESSUP.
A
WORTHLESS but shrewd fellow frond
1
1 : s eye
t upon
under
mbling
upward through the tree-tops. If- runs 1
along the hill road N'o vehicle in sight, Im
the summit a cloud uf dust. It takes sh e
his straining pare; a scampering h"re. a fi
buggy, and the drivers Tom cannot see them, but
his instinct outlears his senses.
But though lis heart has stood st:U, the belated
train ha9 not It is close at hand, and in his eager
ness the boy strtrtches 'ut Ins arm- ,;r.d wildly beck
ons it forward. It comes slowing and scraping
alongside of tin platform, and he runs with it
nbreast of the car that ho;d the coveted bag. It is
flung at his feet. He hitches it. ami stands ready,
waiting for the erovng passengers t" come out
up'in the 1 :atf rm. iin.v a -i ment. then:
- ardl" he
ai:
ren ' and he b und s f.
As he runs dou n the
Pates is n-'t far aw.iv,
plunging, made frant-c
id
shin's and b!
S that
rear
Iet
le-
everythir
s up in the
: d r o ; r n ,
;r.
tore
bred
rorr.'
door
precious t
Little 1 1
hill road.
of a fen. e
the Stage,
t'irre rror
tin v
rentle. rev rtr1 hrd
for ready ca; rr f--r
per!!. h.e bad h.rh n
Only tf
dl aboard for Van Bu-
r wa rd
steps he glances up the road,
but hi hor'e is rearing and
bv the shrieking engine be-
s from behind The boy
'ray makr de'av, snd as he
"f 'he Krbpse he rongs the
a w:!l-he r--""ger watte
in furrVirc w"h it old f.Ktenings.
rv had tiV.en in-the It ng view of the
'O uken it in white clinging to the rail
and at nrn a Tom made hit dah for
he f.id acramb'ed to hrr phce. and sat
but fol'ovjirg ditrefn'!y hi every mo
e "ed the Mir r' her fret. he with
gathe'-'-H if
It off be
-ee
v ;
re
admitted the ungainly thing
having feen its value in one
it st a p3'sort through all
ge-s apesred. active mm,
-1 .-'! a1 hr r to hit seat,
reirt. wavrd awiy hit rroom, and
hey we-r fjir'v rifed Put he went
g to fea- any Moprige as littla
at a s'o-w r 'ce, e em-
ai If he drove ,ve chariot the icn
"5tor. you thief!" echrved McMshow
Thr ttage wi brought ti 1 stsnditHL
"Vi'i I'ida'-i'vit ratrnl' fhoted Batet
ouaiihcd his whip, and in his fremy he might fcavt
ys-j thief" relied u.e fumirj Bates: ind
He
Ain Zibde, who went to Damascus oiu
uumucss, goi lmo soma scrap; or otntr,i
and started for home very suddenlyJ
ana snatcning up on tne way, and talc-i
ing with him from the city, a drumJ
left by some children on the1 street. He took refuge
for the night in a deserted mill. There was no place toj
sleep except in the hopper over the great millstonesu
very trariy ne was awaKenea Dy a snuitiing near mm,
and as it grew light he saw that a good-sized bearj
had come into the mill and was snuffing about, get-J
i ns i.unmnoi uuiy near. 1 ne man naa no weapon,
but began to heat on the drum. The bear was terri-i
bed and tried to dash out of the door, but one of his
clumsy sidevvise notions hit the door and closed it.
So the man and the bear were imprisoned within
the mill together. The man did n't dare tret out and
open the do. r, and the bear started for him; so heJ
beat his d run. and the bear dashed around and hu
kept on pounding, arid the bear became frantic, tear-4
ing around anil stirring up the white dust. So and
M ine muiereers witn mules laden witn pottery came
by. I hey heard the sound of the drum, and won
aereei, and opened the door of the mill. As soon a
it was opened, (nit dashed the bear, scattering" tha
men, and causing a panic among the mules, who
dashed oh, breaking all the pottery against the rocks.
The bear escaped to the mountains.
The muleteers, angry at their loss, came in nd
found the man climbing out of the hopper. "We '11
have the law on you; your bear has broken all our
jars Oive us five hundred piasters, the price of what!
we have lost!" 1 1
"Give you five hundred piasters, indeed! Give me.'
back that bearl I wnt my tar! Did n't you see mo
teaching him to dance. Anj you let him out, and)
now he't gone!" ;
Rut the muleteert tnct Vitn r.ff .;t tlrr. .- ;
Damascus to the judge. He listened to the mu?e
teera, and then to Simple Simon. The lrtter de
manded justice for the Ios of his bear, let looie by
the muleteers, and SO elib waa he that h o-ot e-
tence in hu favor. The muleteers lott their pottery'
and had to pay two thousand piasters for the bear,
and departed.
Simple Simon went h!a way rejoicing, met soraei
travelers, and told of his food fortune.
And where are yonr c!sters?
R'Bht here in my belt."
"Oblige us by preaenting ut with them," aid t'v
new acquaintances, who happened to te frien fi r
the muleteers; and they fell rn hir-i an! re'.rvr ;
him ef the entire sum and even took fmm In t -dram
1 he had Moleru One ol them recr.fr.f 1 jt, i
said he wrmlj restore it its yotirjr awner.
So the man from Ait Z,M p- hi I'tttru. t -;n.
bem pnishe! lor ti theft, his trickery, f - 1
falsehood, -