Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-02-11

pTemacy on TIC VOdu' Aou"S N"oAHOi uloFO
horse he had brought from town-a great
clumsy black animal-but with immense breadth
of chest and vast muscles. could compre-
bend part of Harrys feelings Burning for
revenge on Kate, he had challenged young Max
we'll believing he should beat him with ease.
We had been about ten minutes on the road |
when there was hurrah, and looking back along
the moonlight highway, we saw the two sleighs |
coming like the wind There is nothing more
stirring than such sight The long, rapid
SWING of the horses-the buffaloes streaming be-
hmd-the swift whir of the runners on the fro
zen snow-the cries of the characters made the |
blood dance in our veins as when we hear bat
tie trumpet The race was CALAMITY contested. |
We had hardly seen the two sleigh coming over
the hill before they were close on to us, the hor-
ses neck and neck and going at an awful pace.
Both drivers sat back, holding in with might and
main.
MAxwelPs aheadn shouted one of our party
'No-Harry has him, shouted another
See, he dashes BY
On they came, diverging little to the right !
and left, so as to pass on either side Of our cor
ege. Harry's horse, carrying his neck and
head slightly curved downward, was going a
speed even he had never shown before. Just as
he passed us he darted ahead and took the lead. |
A glance from my friend as he shot by, told of
anticipated triumph.
But Maxwell pressed close behind. His gi-
gantic black was Anging himself from side to
side, heavy and unwieldy but with miracu-
ous strides; and was not half so much wor-
ried as his rival He too went past like light
ming We followed their course with intense in
terest. BY the time they had passed our cor
tege Harry was several lengths ahead; but the
black was obviously gaining on him, and there
was a stretch of rising ground before. We fol-
lowed at the top Of our speed, anxious to keep
them in sight. AT length we saw the black lap
Harry's bay-then Maxwell drew ahead:-and
now followed tremendous struggle which was
terminated by the victory of the black. From
that moment the game was up with Harry. Max
well continued to gain on his rival, and when
finally we lost sight of them in the distance he
was speeding far before like an arrow passing a
bird in flight.
ANCfNl wac ulhll lIOlG ClCSl-ldllGll Illdu Lar
ry. Everybody now began to have an inkIing of
what was going on and when we stopped at the
rendezvous and learned that Maxwell got in at
least five minute. ahead, there was any number
of good natured friends to condole at his misfor-
tune in being distanced by Maxwell, and the
speakers always took care Harry should under
f stand that the phrase had double meaning.
! From that hour Harry's assurance left him.
He avoided my eye that evening, and every thing
approaching to a tete-a-tete thereafter Thus
things went on for week He huted mean
S while desperately with his new partner, gay,
t gddy girl who met him half way. But nothing
made an impression on Kate. She did not seen
v to notice Rim at ALL but kept up quiet intima
cy with Maxwell, never avoiding Harry howev
t er, but yet rarely showing him the least encour
) agement.-Whenever he sought her hand for ;
r dance or otherwise, she was engaged to Mr.
S Maxwell, or some other gentleman
n At last Harry came to me. He was com
S pleely changed; all his assurance had left him
e even his pride was broken down, or he neve
= would have consulted any one
t 81 can't stand it any longer, he said ID loyt
d that girl to madness But am rightly punish
+ ed-puppy that was. do You think, he said
d suddenly and earnestly, that she loves MAXWELL
=, 4 don't know said. 'She likes him evi
n IDENTIFY but I'll venture to say he has never dare,
a to take any of the freedoms you spoke of st
} boastIngIy, the other day, even while sleighing
r 'Oh! forget my impertnence wish couI'
i forget it myself | spoke like braggart ant
: fool. Miss Melville is all purity and modesty
and would awe presumption down with look
d But do you think she really loves Maxwell!
e Indeed, cannot tell, said seriously But
Il at any rate, yon are not going the right way t.
/ work to make your peace with Kate
=, He was completely BUNDLED; he asked IN eyi
S dent distress, what he should do
0 i speak from what Colonel t told me-
n | replied, and he only repeats his wifes opin
ion. Mrs 7 says that Kate is too RICH
d minded as a woman to listen to you, even if sh
y loved so long as you strove to pque her by hirt
ing with other women
J. Did Miss Melville say anythngl' said Harr
n eagerly
:, Not that l heard. She has never breathed
II WOlu dDuul ltlo uidllGl W HcT COUSIN, ana MIS-
Y, t is as ignorant as you or l. whether Kat
t. loves Maxwell or not. There is one thing il
d your favor, however;-he sees infinitely less O
n her than he wishes, Now Kate, though she ma
treat the man she loves coldy if he has ofTende
d her, is of a nature too pure-hearted and noble t
m encourage a man she will not marry
SIS A CLEAN of satisfaction shot over ITarry's face
You are right he said, 'and have been
fool My pride and modification have been m
curse. will 60 and humble myself before hel
will be hers only. will prove to her l am nc
d. the puppy she thinks me. If cannot lay m
heart where | desire to, will not play the hipc
~ critic and pretend to offer it at a shrine which
desplse. Oh! why could not see this before
I'd But have thought ali women coquettes-sham
at on me for slandering them The purity of
At soul like Kates has been above my compreher
sion