The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-05-09


when she was near, and why [ began
like some things [ had never cared mue
for betore-music, and poetry, and Sc
!. timental stories.
1t frightened me to know the truth
for how could she like me? [ was NJ
= hideous, perhaps. A tall, straight, al
gular Maine youth, with yellowish ha
, and light-blue gray eyes. But WE
certainly not handsome. Then we wen
poor-mother and 7. We lived in
little frame house which we never ha
the means to repair or paint, and OF
few acres barely kept us from wan
Only for mother I should have. left tn
place long before but she clung to i
for there her young husband had brougi
her on her wedding day, and from ii
upper window she could see the whit
stones which marked his resting plac
and that of her lost children. I was to
poor to marry, certainly but after ha
felt that I could only be happy if Heps
liked me, resolved, come what woulc
to make some effort which would lift Il
above the condition which bordered S
closely upon poverty. If [ could onl,
first obtain her promise to be mine,
should be inspired to accomplish any
thing I undertook but to go away
leaving her quite free and with n
knowledge tina. [ cared for her-kncw
ing that there would be little hope tha
my return would find her still HepsJ
Harrow-world be impossible.
I Yet it seemed also impossible to speal
to her on the subject. l had resolved tt
do SO dozen times, but her presence
awed me. She like me-that slender
young beauty, so bright and so witty
so much admired. She The speech
I had prepared always died upon my
lips, and | went home knowing that
had only uttered stupid truisms about
the weather and the crops, and was nc
nearer the point I wished to gain than
before.
But that evening, having spoken with
Jem Studley of the sleigh-ride, I went
on with lig ghter step, I could muster
courage, [ thought, to ask her to go
with me.
One word. There is no such fun as
a sleighipg party. City folks know
nothing of it.
The long sleigh-ride, fist and furious,
amidst jingIlng bells and merry laughter,
each young fellow with the girl he likes
best nesting by his side, with a chance,
TOR once at least, to say what he chooses
to her, to discover the state of her heart,
or even pop the question. The snow
spray tossed up by the horses feet; the
breeze lust sharp enough to redden pref
ty cheeks and chins, and put warmth
and lightness into every heart. The
supper and dance at the end, and the
star-lit home going. It is hard to tell
which like it best-the girls or the boys,
or who is the happiest-the individual
who, in virtue OF being the best dancer,
or, owning the best horse, takes the lead,
or he, who, being last, has the cosiess
tete-a tete, with the happiness of know
ing that if his arm should steal about a
taper waist, there is no malicious iok:ng
watcher behind to take notes and "prnt
'em." u" ., @.. 81 4a-..~4~
If fHepsy Harrow would go with me,
when | had her all alone with me under
the cold stars, [ might whisper what I
had only dared to dream thus far. AT
least could judge how she would take
the knowledge of my liking. "# .:..
I was very brave until [ stood face to
face with her. Then my courage de-
serted me. The blood rushed into my
face. | looked at the carpet, instead of
at her, and stammered and hesitated.
But | found, when | went away, that |
had asked her to ride with me, and that
she agreed to go . ...s..yr
| whistled merrlly all The way home,
and after / had met Jem and the rest,
and we had settled matters, could not
help turning into the shed where our
little red sleigh stood, and looking at it.
1t was all shabby, and the cushions
needed patching. I took it in for mother
% do. She had no cloth to match, but
she put a. blue piece in. A good square
patch; but velvet cushions would not
have been fine enough to my mind for
Hepsy.
Its shabby T said, ..confoundedly
shabby
: That's Almost swearing, Almon,o
said my mother. What's the matter
with the sleigh a'sudlen !? 1t used to be
5ood enough, Coin to take girl out 2"
" Who ever went on sleighing-partv
alone 7" I said. -
"Twonld look funny said moth
n. LA, those sleighings. I was fond
i EN- once. I'd as lief you'd mt -
eet in a tub o water~aaia 80
= my ears - sssy entry, as take
ne toal5W. Wrap up well, AImon.
There's many a death caught a.sleigb.
ng. You remember speaking Of nv |
Uncle Eben z"
"Yes," said 7. did be catch his
ieath sleighing I" ..
"No," said my mother. .tHe propos-
ID a-sleighing. Itwas dreadful thing
Or him. What d life she led him. rHe
'ouldn't say say his soul was his own
while she lived, poor man. Who are
,on going with ~ H
"Mi . Harrow
"The school ma am I"
ss'Yes.''... s.,..,.t.t
.Don't wonder you talked Of the i
lrigh's being shabby said mother
They say she takes airs. meyer saw
uch 9 bonnet You take notice of IL"
a'.What do know Of women's bonnets 4
mother 7" I asked, poking the FIRE.
"Oh, well" said mother. Men don't
now much, poor critters besides she'll 4
kelly wear hood sleighing. But one
hat puts all on her back isn't the wife