Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-06-11

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up to Winston in the middle Of February
70 remain two days, bringing with him
baggage sufficient for three weeks, to
which term, after much interchange of en-.
treaty and txpostulation, he was induced
to extend his visit
The first time he met Miss Brandon, he
tempted her with the suggestion OF q
sleigh ride. Said he, "A sleigh-ride in
winter is seldom amiss," and was there.
upon sharpely criticised for admitting the
possibility of such q thing at any other
season. However Miss Brandon consent.
ed. She would ride with him the next
afternoon.
In the morning Mr.. Henry Lapgford
gravely inspected the family stable, but
found nothing therein equal to his own
idea of the magnitude of the occasion.
At the public stable he was more success.
full. Al first he contemplated tho luxuri.
GUS magnifcence of span, but an ire
sstible impulse subsequently induced him
to settle upon a single courser. Zone
horse may be driven with one hand y 1t
is difficult to imagine what impelled him
to seek with such pertinscity as he did
for the narrowest sleigh 10 the collection.
AT four o'clock p. m. the liSht-hearted
young pair dashed away, as full Of good
natured glee as the sleigh was full of them
and they fitted very compsctly Miss
Brandon, knowing the country more init.
mately than her companion, undertook to
point their way, manner of proceeding
quite agreeable, in view of the male crea.
lures total ignorance of localities. They
glided on, turning hither and thither, un.
til ere ong they left the clustering cot.
tages Of Winston quite distance behind.
oh -l a
with vigor that put them into a precious
glow; but by-and by Mr.. Henry stopped
short, in an unaccountable manner, and
left Miss Lucy to do the defamation, con-
tenting himself with watching the sparkle
of her eye, or the pretty curve of her lip,
as she threw out incessaRt little smart
spriukles of feminine wit. Presently he
observed with wonder faint suspicion of
a flutter trembling through him, and at
tributed it To their rapid motion, recollect-
ing similar sensations in earlier youth,
caused by swinging.
He must have expressed something odd
in his countenance, for, of sudden, Miss
Lucy cut short her fun, and subsidized into
dim, oblivious tranquility. Just one min
ute after, 1t flashed upon Mr.. Henry Lang
ford, that he had for the past six months
been steadily and uninterruptedly occu-
pied in making muf of himself; that
the notion of excellent friendship" so
far as he and Lucy Brandon were con.
cerned, was utterly absurd and degrading
to think upon; that the truth was he
loved her dearly, and that he ought to
have known it long ago, and should, if he
had ever before been alone with her, as
he now found himself Having settled all
this to his own satisfaction, he took cour-
age and bold step:
"Miss Lucy" (rather shakily) "are you
comfortableP"
ooh, perfectly"
"Not oold?' i.t
"No, indeed"
Now what ne wanted was, that she
should say she was cold and he con-
sidered himself little ill-used because she
did not. But he would not be bereft OF
his idea so gathering reins in one hand,
he cautiously disembarressed the other
and, sweeping his arm around the back OF
the sleigh, caused the vagrant member to
encircle the big bundle of buffalo bandages
which confined the gentle form beside
him. Not word of remonstrance, but
a silence dangerously ominous, if he had
known it. Incoherently mumbling a
repetition of the inquiry concerning com.
AOAby wv AO PSA VIC aAl1 w NCubuIC
upon faint suggestion of a squeeze. This
time the little face, now sadly flushed,
came round square upon him, and discon-
certed him horribly. But with desperate
impudence, he remarked quite carelessly,
and looking earnestly at a point in the
road at a distance of a halfa.mile ahead
" Please shut your eyes minute" Down
went the lids.
The calm was over. First came q
torrent of reproaches, very limited as to
duration, but of crushing weight; then an
intrusive little tear, which had better have
stayed away; then dead silence. Mr..
Henry Langford was sorely afflicted. al
she did not want me to kiss her." thought
he "then why did she shut her eyes ~
As he could make nothing of it, he en-.
deavored to effect quiet pacification, but
all encouraging response was withheld.
Hardly word was vouchsafed him, and
the few he got were by no means Of a
character TO fill hun with rapture. In the
midst of his anxious argument, there came
q cry from the side of the road
Harry pulled up, and saw melancholy
looking woman, not well clad, not strongly
framed, standing with child in her arms
by the sleigh. She asked how far it was
to Linville.
"How far to Linville, Miss Brandon VI
inquired Harry, in blissful ignorance.
-Four miles"-(rather pettishly).
The woman of melancholy mlen further.
more desired to know the direction. Was
it straight on?
''Is it straight on, Miss Brandon?"
Yes "-(sIif and short).
The lugubrious female murmured a
thank and the sleigh moved off In about
3 minute Mr.. Langford clutched the reins
savagely, and uttered an exclamation
which would have satisfied any listener oI
his innocence of theological tendencies.
Miss Lucy emitted q high d, head regis
ter, staccato.
al think am brute" quietly re
marked Mr.. Henry Langford.
Miss Brandon now assumed an air oI
resignation, as if expecting an apologize
explanation of tho recent rudeness. She
was disappointed, and when the sleigh
began to turn about, became perplcxed.
The woman is going to Linville
wherever that is" continued Harry. 90
course she is. She mustn't walk fouI
miles through the snow this weather. AND
loaded down with a big baby, tool"
Miss Brandon gave out symptoms o.
uleasiness. You are not going all the
nay " AluNtucI bAlu bne.
Certainly am, Miss Brandon and
he drew up beside the pedestrian of dolor
GUS aspect.
81 do not see that there is room," sale
Miss Brandon, ungraciously; and the peol
woman shrunk back at the words.
Harry's eyes flashed in a very unciyi
manner, am afraid, as he said rathel
roughly, "We will make room," spring
ing out at the moment and hurridiy life
ing the lacbrymose traveller and her child
into his place. Then, without word, he
quartered himself upon section of the
sleigh's floor, and drove ahead.
In q little while Miss Brandon said, soft
ly-" l think there is room up here, Mr.
Langford."
81 am very well down here" he an
sweIed and then, In low voice, leaning
over toward herr could not hAv,
thought, Miss Brandon, that you would
transfer any part of the resentment yoI
eflt toward me to this unoffending and un
fortunate person"
T,ucu haoan N ar.r b,,k tks. -. u 4.