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half…sister； who was divorced from Brown； and a man named Ramsey；
who had put up a new over…shot wheel to the grist…mill。〃
〃Oh my！〃 exclaimed Euphemia。 〃How could you remember all that？〃
〃I heard it so often； I couldn't help remembering it；〃 replied
Pomona。 And she went on with her narrative。
〃That case wasn't a easy one to understand； as you may see for
yourselves； and it didn't get finished that day。 They argyed over
it a full week。 When there wasn't no more witnesses to carve up；
one lawyer made a speech； an' he set that crooked case so straight；
that you could see through it from the over…shot wheel clean back
to Brown's grandfather。 Then another feller made a speech； and he
set the whole thing up another way。 It was jus' as clear； to look
through； but it was another case altogether； no more like the other
one than a apple…pie is like a mug o' cider。 An' then they both
took it up； an' they swung it around between them； till it was all
twisted an' knotted an' wound up； an' tangled； worse than a skein
o' yarn in a nest o' kittens； an' then they give it to the jury。
〃Well； when them jurymen went out； there wasn't none of 'em； as
Jone tole me afterward； as knew whether is was Brown or Adams as
was dead； or whether the mill was to grind soup； or to be run by
soup…power。 Of course they couldn't agree； three of 'em wanted to
give a verdict for the boy that died； two of 'em was for Brown's
grandfather； an' the rest was scattered； some goin' in for damages
to the witnesses； who ought to get somethin' for havin' their char…
ac…ters ruined。 Jone he jus' held back； ready to jine the other
eleven as soon as they'd agree。 But they couldn't do it； an' they
was locked up three days and four nights。 You'd better believe I
got pretty wild about it； but I come to court every day an' waited
an' waited； bringin' somethin' to eat in a baskit。
〃One day； at dinner…time； I seed the judge astandin' at the court…
room door； a…wipin' his forrid with a handkerchief； an' I went up
to him an' said； 'Do you think； sir； they'll get through this thing
soon？'
〃'I can't say； indeed；' said he。 'Are you interested in the case？'
〃'I should think I was；' said I； an' then I told him about Jone's
bein' a juryman； an' how we was on our bridal…trip。
〃'You've got my sympathy； madam；' says he； 'but it's a difficult
case to decide； an' I don't wonder it takes a good while。'
〃'Nor I nuther；' says I； 'an' my opinion about these things is；
that if you'd jus' have them lawyers shut up in another room； an'
make 'em do their talkin' to theirselves； the jury could keep their
minds clear； and settle the cases in no time。'
〃'There's some sense in that； madam；' says he； an' then he went
into court ag'in。
〃Jone never had no chance to jine in with the other fellers； for
they couldn't agree； an' they were all discharged； at last。 So the
whole thing went for nuthin。
〃When Jone come out； he looked like he'd been drawn through a pump…
log； an' he says to me； tired…like；
〃'Has there been a frost？'
〃'Yes；' says I； 'two of 'em。'
〃'All right； then；' says he。 'I've had enough of bridal…trips；
with their dry falls； their lunatic asylums； and their jury…boxes。
Let's go home and settle down。 We needn't be afraid； now that
there's been a frost。'〃
〃Oh； why will you live in such a dreadful place？〃 cried Euphemia。
〃You ought to go somewhere where you needn't be afraid of chills。〃
〃That's jus' what I thought； ma'am；〃 returned Pomona。 〃But Jone
an' me got a disease…map of this country an' we looked all over it
careful； an' wherever there wasn't chills there was somethin' that
seemed a good deal wuss to us。 An' says Jone； 'If I'm to have
anything the matter with me； give me somethin' I'm used to。 It
don't do for a man o' my time o' life to go changin' his
diseases。'〃
〃So home we went。 An' there we is now。 An' as this is the end of
the bridal…trip story； I'll go an' take a look at the cow an' the
chickens an' the horse； if you don't mind。〃
Which we didn't；and we gladly went with her over the estate。
CHAPTER XVII。
IN WHICH WE TAKE A VACATION AND LOOK FOR DAVID DUTTON。
It was about noon of a very fair July day； in the next summer； when
Euphemia and myself arrived at the little town where we were to
take the stage up into the mountains。 We were off for a two weeks'
vacation and our minds were a good deal easier than when we went
away before； and left Pomona at the helm。 We had enlarged the
boundaries of Rudder Grange； having purchased the house； with
enough adjoining land to make quite a respectable farm。 Of course
I could not attend to the manifold duties on such a place； and my
wife seldom had a happier thought than when she proposed that we
should invite Pomona and her husband to come and live with us。
Pomona was delighted； and Jonas was quite willing to run our farm。
So arrangements were made； and the young couple were established in
apartments in our back building； and went to work as if taking care
of us and our possessions was the ultimate object of their lives。
Jonas was such a steady fellow that we feared no trouble from tree…
man or lightning rodder during this absence。
Our destination was a country tavern on the stage…road； not far
from the point where the road crosses the ridge of the mountain…
range； and about sixteen miles from the town。 We had heard of this
tavern from a friend of ours； who had spent a summer there。 The
surrounding country was lovely； and the house was kept by a farmer；
who was a good soul； and tried to make his guests happy。 These
were generally passing farmers and wagoners； or stage…passengers；
stopping for a meal； but occasionally a person from the cities；
like our friend； came to spend a few weeks in the mountains。
So hither we came； for an out…of…the…world spot like this was just
what we wanted。 When I took our places at the stage…office； I
inquired for David Dutton； the farmer tavern…keeper before
mentioned； but the agent did not know of him。
〃However；〃 said he； 〃the driver knows everybody on the road； and
he'll set you down at the house。〃
So； off we started； having paid for our tickets on the basis that
we were to ride about sixteen miles。 We had seats on top； and the
trip； although slow；for the road wound uphill steadily；was a
delightful one。 Our way lay； for the greater part of the time；
through the woods； but now and then we came to a farm； and a turn
in the road often gave us lovely views of the foot…hills and the
valleys behind us。
But the driver did not know where Dutton's tavern was。 This we
found out after we had started。 Some persons might have thought it
wiser to settle this matter before starting； but I am not at all
sure that it would have been so。 We were going to this tavern； and
did not wish to go anywhere else。 If people did not know where it
was； it would be well for us to go and look for it。 We knew the
road that it was on； and the locality in which it was to be found。
Still； it was somewhat strange that a stage…driver； passing along
the road every week…day；one day one way； and the next the other
way；should not know a public…house like Dutton