Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 146: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THRICE WEDDED. 137 “Neat little job that! neat little job; though I would rather have liked to see what became of that stupid coach- man.” The horses’ heads, during the struggle which had just oc- cured, had been adroitly turned to one side, and now in obedience to the reins, dashed on with the speed of the winds in an entirely different direction from that which they had been pursuing. In fact, our unsuspicionus travelers were being conveyed back to the ver y place whence they had just come. On, on they sped through the night’s intense blackness, over a rough and uneven road, jolted and pitched from side to side, until they were ready to cry out with ee fatigue. ‘Two mortal hours, which they brought would never end, were spent in this manner, and then they drew up before a small white house, from the casement of which a single light was gleaming. - The driver went to the door and rapped. His summons was immediately answered by a trim ser- vant girl, who demanded his business, though a close ob- — server might have noticed the look of recognition which passed between them. He explained, loud enough for the inmates of the carriage to hear, their situation; and after a slight demur on the part of the girl, obtained permission for them to pass the night there. Going back to the coach, he stated that it was not a regular inn, only a little cottage in which lived a poor but honest family. Our weary travelers cared not whether it was inn or hovel, so that they could obtain rest, and quickly alighted, eagerly aie seeking the welcome shelter, ‘when they found to their sur- prise a neat httle parlor at their service, and a cheerful fire. Their spirits readily returned under these pleasant influ- ences, and when a tempting little supper of tea, toast, and chicken was added to their comforts, their faces fairly STEW radiant with satisfaction. Having finished their meal, they spent an hour or more chatting “cheerfully, and congratulating themselves upon their comfortable quarters. ‘he same trim little servant comicbooks.co