accents full of anxiety and alarm.

"Our watches may be much too slow," suggested Ella, trying to re-assure
both herself and her cousin, yet trembling with apprehension as she
spoke.

"No, it isn't possible that they and all the timepieces in the house
could be so far from correct," said Zoe despairingly.

"Dar doan' 'pear to be nobody 'bout dis hyar depot," remarked Uncle Ben
reflectively; "but I reckon dar's somebody comin' to 'splain de mattah.
Wha's de 'casion ob dis mos' onusual state ob t'ings?" he added, as a
woman, who been watching the carriage and its occupants, the open door
of a neighboring house, came miming in their direction.

"What de mattah, Aunt Rhoda?" he queried, as she reached the side of the
vehicle, almost breathless with excitement and exertion.

"Why, Uncle Ben, dar--dar's been a accident to de kyars, dey say, an'
dey's all broke up, and de folks roun' here is all"--

"Where? where?" exclaimed Ella, while Zoe sank back against the
cushions, quite unable to speak for the moment.

"Dunno, Miss," was the reply; "but," pointing up the road, "it's out dat
way, 'bout a mile, I reckon. Yo see, de kyars was a comin' fas' dis way,
and 'nudder ole injine whiskin' 'long dat way, and dey bofe comes
togedder wid a big crash, breakin' de kyars, and de injines bofe of em,
till dey's good for nuffin' but kin'lin' wood; and de folks what's
ridin' in de kyars is all broke up too, dey says; and de doctahs and