Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-02-25

coziy by the side Of his partner that he capieel
her breath his cheek and can hear the bwest
whisper Of her trembling voice. Then, TO you
must both be under one bufalo-and your Jet will
nestle together-and you baud sirays naprally 10
take hers-and by and bye, even your lipsget some.
how close to the sweet ones beside ygo, aud you
catch yourself kissing the struggling btauty before
you are aware Of it. There's many sweet little
dear loses her heart at such times II was an
old rich hunk, and didn't wish my daughter 10 get
married, whenever a gay gallant asked her to
sleigh.ride I'D take the mpudent scoundrel by the
collar. and-baiery or no battery cane him
within an inch Of his life. One can't resist cour-
ting in a sleigh | ought not TO have said as much
10 Kate. perhaps and II was not TAR 10 play her
such trick last night. But III make II all up
this evening" even If have to pop the question"
III hope she may cut you dead" said. piqued
at his affected puppyism, "fof you richly deserve
il. You are head in love, though you
Try to conceal II from me by talking IKE conceit-
ed fop. 1t would serve YOU right if Kate. cured
Of her ncpient passion by your last nights conduct,
should marry this young Maxwell. who is a noble
fellow and one of the first matches in the country"
Harry made no reply but he smiled, raised his
eyebrows, aud stroked his whiskers eyasiyely-the
puppy
When evening came we met again at the colo
nels. Young Maxwell was there, all devotion 10
Kate. A whisper from the coonel's WIFE, inform
ed me that he was an old lover Of her cousins,
whom he had followed from the city, where their
engagement was common report. glanced at
Kate she was in high spirits and began TO won
der II had not been wrong in thinking she admir-
ed Harry.
Harry colored for he had heard what had been
said also but Immediately after saw him APP
proach Kate, and with low bow address her.
"ShaIl hand you TO the sleigh y he said.
Kate looked up with halfslart.
"Sir r. she said.
Harry repeated his question, but with consider
able less assurance.
"shal have the pleasure your company in my
sleighp
Kate, for moment, looked him through aud
through with her dark eyes aud beneath that look
Harrys assurance fell inch by inch. AT last she said
she turned to her companion and continued be
| conversation
Harry became pale and bit his lips the rebuff
took him so completely by surprise. lie was NOR
tilted, he was angry. An indignant repulse would
have soohed his vanity but this quiet, Indifferent
conduct stung him 10 the soul lie controlled him
self, however and soon saw him chatting with
very pretty girl, who, found, was TO be his part
ner,
When we came TO move of in our slelghs, saw
by Harrys movements that he was determined t.
mortiiy Kate il possible by distancing her partner
A banierng challenge, which Mr.. Maxwell eoul'
moi refuse, had already passed between the youuI
men. The rest Of the party, il was understood
were TO move ahead
i 1--WE will follow on" said Harry "Only Civ
US a clear road when we come"
Harry had thorough bred, with tremendou
stride; aud had long maintained'th supremacy OF
the road. Young Maxwell drove horse he ha
brought from town--a great clumsy black animl
but with immense breadth Of chest and vast mus
} cles. could comprehend part Of Harry's fee
ings Burning for revenge on Kate, he had cha
Ienged young Maxwell believing he should be'
} him with ease 81 ts..a,s - d. le,t-..t
!; We had been about ten minutes onathe roat
! when there was hurrah, and looking back aloi
: the moonlight highway, we saw the two sleigh
coming like the wind. There is nothing more si
: ring than such sight.--The long, rapid swing Q
the horses-the bnifaoes streaming behind--th
swirl wills Of the runners on the frozen snow-an
! the cries Of the characters make the blood dane
in our veins when we hear battle trumpet
The race was gallautly contested. We had hard
seen the two seighs coming over the hill beior
they were on TO us, the horses neck and neck, an
going at an awful pace. Both drivers sat bacl
holding in with might and main.
a "Maxwels ahead" shouted one OF our party.
"No- Harry has him" shouted another.
Il ''See he dashes by"
"On they come ,diverging little TO the right ar
left, so TO pass either side ofour corlege.-
Harry's horse, carrying his neck and head slight
e curved downward, was going speed even he hi
never shown before Just as he passed us he dal
e ed ahead and took the lead A glance from n
J. friend as he shot BY told Of anticipated triumph.
: But Maxwell pressed close behind. His gganl
black was Ainging himself from side to side, hea
u and unwieldy, but with miraculous strides al
was not half so much worried as his rival He L
is went past like lightning We followed their cour
! with intense interest By the time they had pass
4 our coriege Harry was several lengths ahead b
the black was obviously gaining on him, and the
x was stretch OF rising ground before. We follow
e. al the top Of our speed, anxious 10 keep them
II sight. AT length we saw the black lap Harry's b
D. then Maxwell drew ahead land now followed
D tremendous struggle. which was terminated by I
g. victory Of the black From that moment the gar
IS was up with Harry. Maxwell continued to "a
ie on his rival aud when finally lost sight of lb'
oil 10 the distance, he was speeding far before like
: arrow passing bird in flight
y Never was a man more crest-fallen than Har
ne Everybody now began TO have an inkling Of wi
Ne was going on, and when we stopped the rend,
BY yous and learned that Maxwell got in at least {
minutes ahead, there was any number of good
tured friends TO condoe nt his misfortune in bel
'g dislanced by Maxwell, aud the speakers alwl
ny took care Harry should understand that The phr
nj had double meaning
us From that hour Harry's assurance LEFT him.
'al avoided my eye that evening, and everything
proaching TO a Ltc-G-tefe thereafter. Thus thin
lib went ON for week. lie hrted, meanwhile desp
ed atey with his new partner gay,giddy girl who
H. him half way. But nothing made any impress
ne on Kate. She did not seem to notice him at
nd but kept up quiet intimacy with Maxwell. ne