ROUGH ROADS--THE HAPPY BRIDEGROOM--JACOB MENTOR'S
EXPERIENCE--FAIRY KNOLL--A JOYFUL MEETING.
The prospect of a change from steamboat navigation, always so
delightful on the upper Mississippi, to jolting and jarring over a
rough extent of country in a heavy, lumbering wagon, suited to the
unimproved state of the roads, was anything but agreeable to Mr. and
Mrs. Hanford, as they surveyed the uncomely vehicle drawn up before
their hotel.
Edward had overtaken them, and with Mr. and Mrs. Hanford, stood
waiting on the porch, while Mr. Hanford made every arrangement for
their comfort, of which the state of the case would admit. The
cushions and buffalos at length fixed to his satisfaction he assisted
in his wife, and after a small strife, in which each contended for the
seat which neither wanted, Edward prevailed, and planted himself
beside the driver, while Mr. Hanford, looking remarkably happy for a
vanquished man, took his place beside his wife.
The sober driver, Jacob Mentor by name, looked over his shoulder and
carefully surveyed his load before starting. The trunks were firmly
strapped on behind, and a half a dozen chairs were also disposed of in
the same way. A small sized dining table, bed downward, rested behind
the seats, so hugged up by boxes and bundles, that it appeared
impossible for any number of bumps or thumps to disturb its quiet. The
two beaming faces, just in the van of all this array, did not escape
the eyes of honest Jacob.
"I guess yer pretty comfortable to start on," said he.
"All right," said Mr. Hanford, "drive on."
It would be a matter of surprise how it had entered into the head of a
plain, common-sense, matter-of-fact young man like John Hanford, to
bestow the name of "Fairy Knoll" on the little hillock in the
wilderness, where stood his solitary cabin, did we not remember that
at the time he was completely under love's influence. The name given
under such circumstances was music to him as it fell frequently from
the lips of his young bride on their toilsome journey thither.
"I hope the fairies at Fairy Knoll will have a nice fire to welcome
us, she said, as the day was drawing to a close, and they were nearing
her future home.
"Are you very cold?" said her husband, drawing her more closely to his
side.
The day had been unusually chilly, and towards night the autumn winds
got up a boisterous frolic, and swept past, dashing from their wings
light flurries of snow directly in the faces of our travelers, and
the delicate bride, unused to such rough play, had at last hid her
face behind her veil and wished for the warm fireside. Before she had
had time to reply to Mr. Hanford's question, Edward produced a neat
little flask encased in silver, and unfastening from the stopper a
tiny cup of the same make, he filled it with the sparkling fluid, at
the same time giving orders for the wagon to stop.
"Now here is something almost equal to a warm fire," he said offering
Mrs. Hanford the cup.
"What is it?" said she, hesitatingly.
"Pure domestic wine, some of Col. Wilson's best, ho presented it to me
just before I left home, and gave me his word it was unadulterated,"
said Edward, with great assurance.
"Col. Wilson's wines are justly popular," said Mrs. Hanford, sipping
the beverage; but it is whispered that the Colonel uses alcohol in
their preparation."
"O, very likely," said Edward carelessly. "I have no doubt of it, but
this he assured me was unadulterated. Have some, Mr. Hanford?"
"I don't care if I do. It is really very fine," he said, returning the
cup, "quite stimulating, but I prefer a little brandy to any other
stimulant; it takes right hold."
"You surely don't drink brandy!" exclamed the young wife, anxiously.
"Only a little, occasionally, when I need it to keep the cold out. O
never fear, my dear," he continued observing the look of concern upon
his wife's countenance. "I'm a good temperance man, but not a
teetotaler; that is drawing the reins rather too tight."
Meantime, Edward had offered the driver a drink, but the man shook his
head; "No, thank you," said he, "I'd rather not take any."
"Not take any!" said Edward, "why, sir, it will do you good."
"I'm not sick," said the other.
"But you are cold," said Edward, mistaking his modest demeanor for
bashfulness.
But the earnest and decided shake of the head by which he refused the
second invitation, signified more than words that he was an adherent
of the total abstinence principles.
"What a simpleton," said Edward to himself, as the individual by his
side shiveringly gathered up the reins and drove on.
But the individual's ruminations were of quite a different character,
and something after this wise: "Shiver away, old man, it is better to
shiver than to drink." Be it known that for many years this grey
headed man had without measure, poured down the alcoholic fire. When
at length overcome by it, a good Samaritan had discovered him lying
sick by the wayside, and had humanely assisted him to rise, and had
set him upon the beast commonly known as "Total Abstinence," upon
which he had ridden with great comfort and safety up to the time of
our story. Moreover being satisfied that the animal was of good parts
and _sure-footed_, he was not at all inclined to exchange the faithful
old creature for any of the best bloods belonging to the domestic wine
family. He had not forgotten that apparently harmless little
hobby-horse whose _cognomen_ was Lager Beer, which he had sported in
his youth, but which at last got unruly; whether from having been
stabled with vicious beasts, or from a bad quality which it inherently
possessed, he was not in a condition to inquire the first time it
played off its pranks upon him. But one thing was certain, after
several months of docile behavior, one fine morning his pet landed him
very unceremoniously in the gutter, after which, on various occasions,
he mounted nearly all the beasts in the stable, whiskey, rum, brandy,
etc., but they, one and all, proved vastly more refractory than the
first named, and, as we have seen, he was at length left battered and
bruised by the way side.
It is needless to state that Jacob Mentor's experience had not, nor
was it likely to benefit any so much as himself; for who, among the
thousands tampering with stimulating drinks, could be made to believe
that a glass of beer, or an occasional sip of wine would result in
their final overthow?
Such, at all events, was not the opinion of our young friends
journeying in the direction of "Fairy Knoll; for more than once the
wine went round as the night winds whistled colder. But the tedious
road had at length an end, and about dark, the heavy wagon lumbered up
under the shadows of Fairy Knoll.
"It won't do to drive up that hill with this heavy load, the horses
are too much jaded," said Jacob.
"Then we'll walk up," said Mr. Hanford, jumping out. "Come now, Mrs.
Hanford," proudly stretching out his arms, "I will carry you up. Mr.
Sherman follow me; the path is a little slippery, and we shall have to
step carefully."
By reason of his burden and the icy path, Mr. Hanford was sometime in
reaching his cabin, but he made short work of getting inside; for,
having bestowed several impatient thumps upon the window which he
declared frozen down, he suddenly threw himself against the door, and
crack went the wooden fastening, and open flew the door, and a most
unexpected scene burst upon his astonished vision.
Surely here were the fairies, and here the warm fire for which his
shivering little wife had been wishing. Surprise held him upon the
threshold; but Edward, who instantly recognized in one of the
so-called fairies, the person of Little Wolf, sprang forward with a
shout of joy.
"The honey, sure as I'm alive," cried Jacob Mentor, pressing eagerly
after him. "Laws," said he, precipitately dropping his bundles in the
middle of the floor, and rushing up to Edward, "how came the little
creature here?"
Edward silently held the little creature in his arms as if he would
keep back the dear life that appeared leaving her, and when Jacob's
eye fell upon the white, upturned face, he drew back with a look of
alarm.
When this and that restorative had been resorted to with happy effect,
and Little Wolf no longer required undivided attention, at her
suggestion Antoinette La Clare briefly related the story of their
escape from Bloody Jim. Mutual explanations followed, discovering to
Antoinette the fact, that she had taken refuge in the house of her
cousin, for such John Hanford proved to be, his mother's sister having
married Antoinette's father.
Amid the general rejoicings and congratulations, Edward naturally
alluded to the death of Bloody Jim, and the means by which it was
accomplished. "We are fairly rid of him now," he said, turning to
Little Wolf, who had quietly slipped from his embrace and perched
herself upon the big chest, "the ball made sure work."
The color had come to her cheek, and there was great joy in her eye,
but Edward's unlucky words made her pale again, and she looked quickly
and apprehensively towards Antoinette.
The poor girl shiveringly hid her face in her hands and sobbed
audibly.