The Gentleman from Indiana

Also, it might have been inquired if this parade of fashion had no

connection with the simultaneous action of Mr. Ross Schofield; for Ross

was at this hour engaged in decorating the battered chairs in the "Herald"

editorial room with blue satin ribbon, the purchase of which at the Dry

Goods Emporium had been directed by a sudden inspiration of his superior

of the composing force. It was Ross's intention to garnish each chair with

an elaborately tied bow, but, as he was no sailor and understood only the

intricacies of a hard-knot, he confined himself to that species of

ornamentation, leaving, however, very long ends of ribbon hanging down

after the manner of the pendants of rosettes.

It scarcely needs the statement that his labors were in honor of the new

editor-in-chief of the Carlow "Herald." The advent and the purposes of

this personage were, as yet, known certainly to only those of the "Herald"

and to the Briscoes. It had been arranged, however, that Minnie and her

father were not to come to the station, for the journalistic crisis was

immoderately pressing; the "Herald" was to appear on the morrow, and the

new editor wished to plunge directly, and without the briefest

distraction, into the paper's difficulties, now accumulated into a

veritable sea of troubles. The editor was to be delivered to the Briscoes

at eventide and returned by them again at dewy morn; and this was to be

the daily programme. It had been further--and most earnestly--stipulated

that when the wounded proprietor of the ailing journal should be informed

of the addition to his forces, he was not to know, or to have the

slenderest hint of, the sex or identity of the person in charge during his

absence. It was inevitable that Plattville (already gaping to the

uttermost) would buzz voluminously over it before night, but Judge Briscoe

volunteered to prevent the buzz from reaching Rouen. He undertook to

interview whatever citizens should visit Harkless, or write to him--when

his illness permitted visits and letters--and forewarn them of the

incumbent's desires. To-day, the judge stayed at home with his daughter,

who trilled about the house for happiness, and, in their place, the

"Herald" deputation of two had repaired to the station to act as a

reception committee.

Far away the whistle of the express was heard, muffled to sweetness in the

damp, and the drivers, whip in hand, came out upon the platform, and the

loafers issued, also, to stand under the eaves and lean their backs

against the drier boards, preparing to eye the travellers with languid

raillery.