Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

136 2 THRIOR WEDDED. which was rendered doubly dismal by the huge forest trees - which lined each sice of the rough way. Suddenly the carriage lights revealed to the driver’s fright- ened eyes a closely muffled figure, with upraised arm, in the act of hurling a heavy, knotted club at his head. He dodged, but too late, for it struck him full in the face, and, with a groan of pain, his fingers relaxed their hold upon the reins, and he rolled senseless from his seat to the damp earth below. At the same moment, the flying horses were seized by the bits by a strong and evidently masterly hand, for after a few fearful plunges, they yielded to firm hold, and stood quiet and resistless. Madame Alroyd, thoroughly alarmed at this fearful state of affairs, but without knowing the cause, hastily pulled down the carriage window, and strove in vain to see what was the trouble. ‘Thomas, what has occured?” she asked, in a frightened voice. ‘‘Nothing much, mum; only the horses got a little unruly and one of the lamps went out, so I stopped to light it % again,’ replied a voice which madam thought did not sound a quite natural, but laid it to the howling winds which ren- a dered it almost impossible to hear. “Very well,” she returned. ‘‘Light it again as soon as possible, for it is a fearful night, and I am anxious to gain a shelter.’ 3 “Yes, mum.” “How far is it before we can reach one%’ she con- tinued. ‘““About six or eight miles,” said the man with a low chuckle, as he bent over the refractory lamp which would not light. (?) ‘Blast it! there goes my last match,” he added, as it flickered, flared, and went out. «Well, well, Thomas, never mind,” returned the lady, im- | patiently. “Let it go, and do the best you can with the other, only do hasten, for we are atmost frightened to death in this darkness, and long for a comfortable room, with cheerful lights and a fire.” “Yes,mum. All right, mum,” was the ‘answer, as the man hastily climbed to his seat, and touched the horses with his whip. muttering with intense satisfaction. ™ COoOmMmICcboo