Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-07-12

when a IKE 70 see who'd beat me at a spin
min or cheese-pressin"
"Well, il won't do you any harm 10 have
mother TO look out for you, any way, Melis
sy,' answered
But ltcrank that night, as handed he
into the sleigh. twas as light as day, an,
the sky was covered thick with stars as & Ma
Held with dandelions, and the moon sat il
the midst Of EN- ike a solitary sun-hower.-
These wasn't a single twig or bough but wa
covered and glitterin' with ice, and the roat
and the fields stretchin miles away was lik
one great sheet Of shinin' marble | tucket
Melissy up tight in the buffalo robe, and tn
horses shook their handsome necks, and tn
bells that covered EN- clashed out like bant
OF music. ! was jest goin' to crack my whiI
when Mrs. Treat who was at the door to Sc,
US of, screamed OUT
30 laws Nat, do wait a minute; Ia forgo
the foot-stone' And she hurried right Of
into the kitchen, and was back agin in
BREATH
"She wouldn't hear a word, when object
ed to her coming out in the cold, hui threw
her apron over her head, and ran down to tht
sleigh, and sot the stone under Melissy's fee
declarin' the gal would a got her death cold
if she hadn't thought ont. a minute artei
We started, the horses sprang like lightinin'
and we whirled away over the white, shinin
road, past the fences, and the farm-houses
and the great black barn-gate, and up the
turnpike that led TO the woods; and there by
my side, chattin and laughin', sat the girl
that Id a laid down my life for Oh, il
makes the old blood dance in my veins to
think of that time And Uncle Mats rug
ged face kindled itselfinto light that seemed
70 set i'll back into the lost freshness ofits youth
once more.
go on, go on, | whispered.
''Well, il must a been wearin towards
eight o'clock when We got to Pixies Tavern,
for the horses didn't let the ground stand still
under their feet. There was about forty
couple on hand, as full Of life and fun as the
night was of frost and we had fiddlin', and
plays, and a high time generally, and, to
crown all, supper, the very sighl Of which
was enough to make ones mouth water. But
arter all, | didn't enjoy that evenin' as I'd
counted on.
"Why, what happened, Uncle Nat2"
"Well among the company was young
fellow from the south part of the village
whose name was Daniel Slade, the son of old
Deacon Slade, and he d had the reputation of
bein' awful wild in his youth when he was
at home on the farm but he finally went to
New York, aud the neighbors said his father
was glad to get him off his hands, as he was
more'n be could manage at home. But, ar
ter three years absence, Dan had come back,
and he was greatly improved. lie was good
-
as an oak, and jaunty air that al'ays takes
among gals. There was something in his
face that didn't like, though, and he wasn't
any great fayorite among the village boys
that night, COS he outshOne EN- ali; but mis-
attentions to Melissy Treat was aggravatin'
enough to me. s'spose he selected her be-
cause she was about the handsomest of the
lot; and he, talked with her, and danced with
her, and hung round her great share of the
eyenin'. Then, he cOntrived to get opposite
TO her at supper, and was so perlite and soci-
able that didn't get chance to put in
word edgewise, if I'd been disposed, for ]
thought Melissy was nightly pleased with
bis attentions, as | s'pose Almost any gal
would have been; but when saw her checks
kindle and her eyes brighten at her Jokes, l
est wished Daniel Slade was a thousand
miles off from Pixies Tavern, and was halt
scared at the feelin's of hatred that flashed
put of my heart; and, take it all in all,
wasn't sorry when the evenin was over"
'Oh, haven't we had glorious time ?n said
Melissy, as she snuggled down in the sleigh
about two o'clock.
"Wall, I think I've seen better ones.
was glad, though, you seemed to enjoy it SC"
which wasn't exactly the truth, as / gave
the left horse a crack with my whip that
made him rear and, d,sprance until Melissy fairly
with terror. We whirled over the
road, and team after team of ringin voices
shouted out in its goodbye TO us, until, at
last there was no sound but the clashin' Of
our own sleigh bells to break the still, frosty
air. We had sot thus for about ten minutes,
when at last Melissy's little hand stole out
from her cloak, and rested softly on my arm.
'What makes you so still and grum, Nat
Are you offended at anybody?'
ooh, not at all, Melissy, only | didn't
S pose l could say anything very interestin',
arter the agreeable company you've had to-
night"
Il didn't mean to make just this answer,
but somehow the words shot right out of my
lips"
ooh, now, Nat you don't mean to say you
was offended because chatted with Daniel
Slade awhile this evenin'?1
sit isn't my business Melissy, and Pm
aware ont too; but when l see you so car
ried away by the fine airs of city chap that
hasn't got any more brains than good-sized
turkey, can't help kinder speakin' on it.
81 wasn't carried away with him, Nat, and
as for his fine city airs, they don't weigh with
me more than white feather; and / think
you ought to know me better Nathaniel Pal
mer, than 10 cherish such unworthy thoughts
Of me-"
'She said this last in such grave, grieved
tone that fairly longed to turn round and
bug the little puss right to my heart. l
out somethin' arter this fashion:
''Weli, Melissy, hope you'll excuse me, if
I've gone too far; but beg you Il jest remem-
Der it isn't fine clothes and smart manners
that make true hearts, and those who love
you best may not arays be the fust to tell
you of it"
"Well, " says she, with toss of her head,
'it wouldn't make any difference if Daniel
Slade should tell me so a hundred times over
-uOb tue least Bll III tue WOflQs
'It did me heap of good to hear her say
these words, but somethin' made me feel won
derful bold just then, and answered: NO. I
don't s'pose 'twOuld make any difference to
you Melissy Treat, whoever should tell you
they loved you
81 declare, Nat Palmer, believe you think
I'm nothin in the world but heartless, good
fOr-nothin' flirt.' And here she broke right
down and burst out cryin'.
"It was more'n could stand. felt, that
minute, as if hanging was too good for me,
when heard Melissy sobbin'.
"No, | didn't mean that, at all you didn't
understand, Melissy"
"You insinuated it any way" she said,
sobbin.
"Well, I meant I meant "-
"What else did you mean then2n
81 meant didn't spose it would make
the least sort of difference to you if / said /
loved you. There, thinks !, you've done it
now, Nat Palmer, and felt hot and cold by
turns"
Melissy sat still as mouse, not saying a
word; but could feel that she was all Of
tremble from head to foot. can't tell
whether it was this that made me bolder, or
the e1enepsp which eaamad bardar fn andura