The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-04-20

S'Soh-DOHySat OuF icet, HuQ alQeO 10 keep
them warm. / had known her brother in
the Canadian Rifles-had killed a bar at
the 'Saltlicks' with him; had met Lota and
her family on board a Lawrence steamer,
and was guest at their house, enjoying
their frank, bounteous, hospitality.
'Hurrahp Through the keen, sonorous
air, sleigh and horses bound along. Cling
clang! go the Ginning bells. 'Crick-
crack! goes the long thonged whip, with
sharp, CHEEKY, significance. My 'Mada
waska Cariole,' a sleigh which is the perfec-
ton of locomotion, is not less. perfection
than the.fiery steeds, with their sinews of
elastic steel which drive. \
Driving sleigh-tandem is the easiset thing
in the world when youyare used to it:
was member Of the Tandem Club and
reckoned crack ,hand,of course. 7 sexuls
ted in my skill,asEI bore my rosy compan.
ion through the air, and tho whipssw
'crack-crackP like a double-barrel going
off, and the sweet bells sang and. Echimed.
oh! sweet echoes Of far4distant we'd
ding bell ! thought--and the crisp snow
was split and shatterediuto diamonds under
the grudings of theEhoofs the attri-
ton Of the runners and with an exhiarat-
ton could not repress, | gave vigorous
'hurrah! !! which conveyed itself to Lota
wrapped up in moose, and bear-skins, and
warm as toast. "A sweet, girlish laugh ech-
oed my exulting shout.
You appear to enjoy this, Mr.. Harding
she said. ~ .
If / don't Crack crack! filled up
the hiatus. What pair of beauties !:,tPhe-
bus Apollo never; drove their like down the
sleeps of heaven. The willy Ithacan never
raised such cattle when he cleaned the sta.
bles Of Rhesuss T. Of her horses. sStCrack-
crack ! and the horses neigh andst0ss their
archipg neeks, and the bells are Ginning
and tinkling, and the mad, exulting rush
uplifts one like wine.
remark to myself that the sky has deep.
ened into an intense, STILL darkning blue
darkening with strange, unearthly, tene-
'bfous inkiness, betokening coming snow
storm: mo matter-'Wi indy Gap is right
ahead, and the welcome lights will blaze
out of-the easements soon, for the afterno on
is wearing. -,
On we 60, but I do not see them yet; ; and
yet-but no, it's all right.
s. Are you warm-quito snug, dear :Lota r
said !, half turning to look at the rosy, ex-
quisite face peepiug forth with so much fur.
tive coquetry from its encarnuent of white
cosy furs.
'Oh, so comfortable, she answered, with a
nesting movement, and 4 smile which made
my heart leap joyously upward.
But my attention was called away to the
creeping, crepuscular inkiness of the sky.
1t wssatght, yet not daylight, but blue light
to coin wora; that wintry blue of livid
darkening steel, always the precursor to a
fierce change in the weather. This only
made long level plains ofssuow CLEAN with
|
lus're the more dazzling and Intense. l
remarked this but with momentarily di.
vided and wavering sense.
had never (familiar as we had grown,
and l was 'honest as the skin between your
brows' as she was in facD had never said
dear Lota' before and the words were vet
in mine ears like sweet old burfhen. !
loved her:with all mgl cart and soul, but /
had never,toid Il. I.yearned to tell her so
now; but I thought stsearcely fair-notOp
to thesmark ofipy manhood TO take what
seemed an unfair advantage of the protect
t'on was supposed tosxtend over her.
magnanimously resolvedtto wait-choking
down the words-but notforl long.
Meantime, Crack, crackr went the long
whip, and still, Cling went the ch lining
Fbells, and the horses heldon with unabated
pace and splendid vigor, but--phere had
'Windy-gapgone to all this timeq our time
wasup aud Es should be there by this
time.
Maoodness exclaimed Lota, all at once,
how strange thsisky looks we shall have
more snow-asbeayy fall, too. We are
very long going, fancy ,'lshe continued re
flectively, you flsyebeen driven there quick
or than this befss@ O;Heaveu! she cried,
with suddenness Of revelation, can We
have lost tbs traeE
The blank question harped with 4 horri.
ble jar on my most vivid nerves. Now OF
neveEsFas the tiIus,to be quite eool.i - :
:No,I th ink not,' + replied, withessdbeti
carelessnesss .we shall aeshs;te puf lsndmark
presently. -
"A clump Of Grs-sn old mill farther on.
Yes she added, Il fetollect; but we should!
have passed them long. ere tliis. Oh, 1 fear
wS'are lost !. y: 81 81 -