Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-02-22
TALES AND SKETCHES.
THE OLD RED SLEIGH.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.



me, waving his fur cap and as nearly out of
! breath as fellow with his splendid lungs
could be-
Are you walking for wager9' he ask
! ed, as he came up. "You are stridng as
/ though you wore the seven league boots. /
I have been looking for you all the morning.
We are getting up a sleighing party--will
you gol"
Yes" said. "You might have counted
on that before you asked me. Where is itl"
"Wc meet at Hulda Whipple's-at her
fathers, mcan," said Jem, blushing-for
! lIulda was his sweatheart-"and We drive
to the Red Farm, and have our dance and
supper there. AS usual, you invite whom
you please to share your sleigh, always pro-
vding it is lady, and--But you'll meet
with us and talk it over tonight. At our
home, you know-sharp eight; and I'll not
detain you here any longer, for you seem to
be in a hurry"
was in haste, told him, and promised
to meet them; aud went my way. 1t was the
samc way that it had been-the short cut to
the house where Hepsy Harrow lived.
had u fashion of going that way about
twilight when the district school was closed
and she (tho teachc) had gone home for the
evening. never staid long, but went Of
tcn-always telling some little story as to
how Il happened to pass, and thought I'd
stop and speak to her!'
Any other young fellow would have own
cd to coming on purpose, and would have
spent more time with her and said some
/ thing more to the purpose than Amy one
who liked llcpsy us well as did
, Liked. that was q cool word for it-l
( Loced her had loved her ever since l saw
I her first coming through the golden grain
fields in her white dress; making me think
( of Ruth among the reapers, because she
! looked so like picture painted by some
great artist, that had once seen, which il
lustra:ed that beautiful story-so like the
Ruth in that picture, only prettier. did
know it was love for a long while; but sud
denly found out why the world was
brighter When she was near, and why be-
! gan 10 like some things had never cared
much for bcfore-music, and po-uy, and
sentimental stories.
1t frightened me to know the truth; for
how could she like me2 | was not hideous
perhaps. A tall, straight, angular Maine
youth with ycllowish hair and light blue
gray eyes. But | was certainly not hand
some. Then we were poor, mother and i.
We lived in little frame house which we
never had the means TO repair or paint, and
our few acres barely kept US from want.
Only for mother, should have left the place
long before; but she clung to it, for there
her young husband had brought her on her
wedding day, aud from its upper window
she could see the white stones which marked
his resting place and that of her lost child
rcn. | was too poor to marry, certainly, but
after | had felt that l could only be happy
if Ilcpsy liked me, | resolved, come what
would, to make some effort which would liz
Il. Ia, AL,
closely upon poverty. If | could only first
obtain her promise to be mine, should be
inspired to accomplish anything | under
took; but to go away, leaving her quite free
and with no knowledge that cared for hei
knowing that there would be little hope
that my return would find her still Hepsy
Harrow would be Impossible.
Yet it seemed also impossible to speak tC
her on the subject. had resolved to do 81
u dozen times, but her presence awed me-
She liked me-that slender young beauty
so bright and so witty, 80 much admired
She The speech had prepared Away
died upon my lips, and went home know
ing that had only uttered stupid trUtSnt
about the weather and the crops, and wa
no nearer the point wished to gain thai
before
But that evening, having spoken with Jen
Studley of the sleigh ride, went on with
lighter step. | could muster courage,
thought, to ask her to go with me.
One word. There is no such fun as
Sleighing party. City folks know nothing
of it.
The long sleigh ride, fast and furious
amidst jingling bells and merry laughter
each young fellow, with the girl he like
best nesting by his side, with chance, fo
once at least, to say what he chooses to he
to discover the state of her heart, or even
pop the question. The snow spray tosse
up by the horses feet; the breeze just shar
enough to redden pretty checks and Chin
and put warmth and lightness into ever
heart. The supper and dance at an end, an
the star.lit home going. 1t is hard to tie
which like it best, the girls or the boys, G
who is the happiest-the individual who, |
virtue Of being the best dancer, or, ownin
the best horse, takes the lead, or he wh'
being last, has the cosiest tete.a.tete, wit
the happiness of knowing that if his srl
should stea! about taper waist, there Is n
malicious joking watcher behind to tai
notes and sprint en-"
II Hepsy Harrow would 60 with me, whe
had her all alone with me under the col
stars, l might whisper what had on
dared TO dream thus far. At least ! oou
Judge how she would take the knowledge
my .king.