The Lincoln County herald., 1868-05-28
the OLD RED SLEIGH.

Troy, Nay II, 1868. DECATUR.
the OLD RED SLEIGH.
After msther had gone to bed I went
up stairs and brought down my writing
desk. There were some sheets Of paper
aud some delicate envelopes which has
been there for months stored within, ane
. silver pen and pen.handle which hat
been . birthday present in my schoo
days.
Itook them out and the ink bottle also
The ink was thick, foe We did not write
much-either Of us-and I brought tn,
vinegar. cruct from the closet and thinnec
it to my liking. Then sat down ant
looked at the paper. Then I went to tho
stairs and listened to see that mother was
not coming. Then I actually seated my
self, squared my elbow, and began "a
write. This is what 1 wrote:
Dear Miss Harrow II am coward
Not in one sense, but certainly as regards
you. For year I have loved you. Yet
| no more would have dared say so than
l would had you been queen. Perhaps
because l do not cherish q hopo that you
like me.
To morrow you and I will ride togsth.
er. Tomorrow I had made up my mind
to try my fate, but l know shall moi
dare to speak, SO writc I will give you
this letter to read at home. II the an.
swer be "No," it will be easier for both
Of US. Will you try aud think enough
Of me to be my wife one day?
love you better than I do my life, and
I will do all man can do to make life
happy for you. With a little hope,
can make my way in the world as other
men do. lam young and strong. and not
utterly ignorant. II I am to have that
hope, give me some sign-give ME line,
your name only, anything to show me
what you mean. II I am to be misera.
blc-well, then make 70 answer. Silence
shall mean "no." I could not bear to see
you or speak to you after that.
This is an awkward love letter no doubt.
l am not much used to writing letters OF
any kind of late. I never wrote or said
a word Of love to any ono before. Thut
must be its. excuse. But wero it ever so
elegant it could not mean more. For l
offer all tho love in ny heart. The only
love ever felt or shall ever know.
ALMoN CRAIG.
I sealed this note in the daintiest envcl
opc I possessed, and wrote Hcpsoy Har.
rows name on the back, and hid it in the
desk from mothers eyes; sharp eyes
that looked after mo anxiously as l drove
away with old Dobbin and tho little red
sleigh the following evening.
She was ready for mo. Ny mothers
hint was in my mind, aud I looked at her
dress. All l discovered was that it was
blue; but her furs were good I could
judge Of furs.
"She must marry . rich man, or one
on his way wealthward," I said. "She
shall too. Two more to start with than
Washington had" And tucked her into
the sleigh and drove off to the meeting.
1t was q pleasant drive, and merry
dance and supper; but as the time
went on l felt glad that had written the
letter. For l could not have said what
IL said for mo. It was tho last moment,
when we were driving homeward, that l
mustered courage to ask her for the lit.
tie reticuls she carried, as the ether girls
did, with brush and some flowers in it,
I think, for they had to touch up the
curls and braids after the windy ride be.
fore the dance.
"Why do you want it?" she asked.
"To put something in it, which you
must not look at till we reach home," I
said.
"You arouse my curiosity" she an
swersd, ~ shall look tho instant I have
o lamp" ......
A. she spoke had dropped in the let.
tor and snapped the clasp.
Not a word more could speak, But
at tho door ! tried for the first time to
kiss her. Her lips eluded mine, and !
dared not repeat the attempt.
I took tho red sleigh home and waited,
waited hopefully, Is I knew. afterwards,
for an answer. None came-a day, .
week, month, then all the hopo was ovor.
I had seen her. She had given me .
little, cold, smilslsss bow. I was rejected.
"Mother," said I that night, I've must
have some one to farm the place. I'm
going to some city"
"Why?" she said.
ITO make my fortune" I said.
"For that girl-the school ma'sm2"
asked my mother, bitterly.
"No," I said "nevsr for her," \
Mother knslt down beside me 40 I sat
on low stool. She put her hand On my
shoulder aud looked in my face.
"She didn't dare refuse you ?" she said.
"Boy, I know you are in trouble. I'm