The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-06-12
VOLUME XIV.

but perpetual shiver. Mr. Langford
anxious to experience all these joys, came
up to Winston In the middle OF February
to remain two days, bringing with him
baggage sufficient fot three weeks, to
which term, after much interchange of en-.
treaty and t5postulation, he was lnduced
to extend his visit
The first time be met Miss Brandon, he
tempted her with the suggestion of q
sleigh ride. Said he. A sleigh-ride in
winter is seldom amiss,P and was there
upon sharpely criticised for admitting the
possibility of such thing at any other
season. However Miss Brandon consent.
ed. She would ride with him the next
afternoon. '.s
In the morning Mr.. Henry Langford
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. At first he contemplated the luxur
Gus magnifeence of a span, but an ire
sistible Impulse subsequently, induced him
to settle upon a single courser. Gone
horse may be driven with one hand D 1t
Is difficult to imagine what impelled him
to seek with such pertinacity as he did
for the narrowest sleigh in 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 compactly. 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'
ture's 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,
For while both chartered and laughed
with vigor that put them into precious
glow; but by.and by Mr.. Henry stopped
short, in an unaccountsble 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 incessant little smart
sprinkles of feminine wit. Presently he
observed with wonder a faint suspicion Of
a flutter trembling through him, and at
tributed it 10 their rapid motion, recollect-
ing similar sensations in earlier youth,
caused by swinging,
He must have expressed something odd
in his countensnCe, for, of sudden, Miss
Lucy cut short her fun, and subsided into
dim, obliVious tranquility. Just one min
ute after, it 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" Sc
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 tc
have known it long ago, and should, if he
| had ever before been alone with her, as
he now found himself Having settledal
this to his own satisfaction, he took eour'
age and a bold step:
"Miss Lucy" (rather shakily)" areyog
comfortable?"
"Oh, perfectly"
'Not cold2R
"No, indeed
Now what he wanted was, that sht
should say she was cold; and he con
sidered himself a little ill-used because she
did not But he would not be berea o
| his idea 80 gathering reins in one hand
he cautiously disembarressed the other
and, sweeping his arm around the back O
the sleigh, caused the Yagrant member tt
encircle the big bundle Of buffalo bandagei
which confined the gentle form beside
him. Not word Of remonstrance, bu
a silence dangerously ominous, if he ha6
known it. Incoherently mumbling
repetition of the inquiry concerning com
fort, etc, he permitted the arm to Ventur,
upon a faint suggestion of squeeze. Thi
time the little face, now sadly flushed
came round square upon. him, and discon
certed him horribly. But with desperat
impudence, he remarked quite carelessly
and looking earnestly at point in th
road at distance of halfa.mile ahead
"Please shut your eyes minute" Dow
went the lids.
The calm was over. First came
torrent of reproaches, very limited as t.
duration, but Of crushing weight; then a,
intrusive little tear, which had better hay
stayed away; then a dead silence. Nj
Henry Langford was s0rely afflicted. 81
she did not want me TO kiss her." though
he "then why did she shut her eyes
AS he could make nothing of it, he eI
desyored to effect quiet pacifcation, bu
all encouraging response was withheld
Hardly word was youchsafed him, an
the few he got were by no means of
character to fill him with rapture. In tn
midst Of hisanxiuus argument, there cam
cry from the side Of the road.
Harry pulled up, and saw melanCho oil
looking woman, not well clad, not strOngl
framed, standing with a child in her arm
by the sleigh. She asked how far it we
to Linville.
"How far to Linville, Miss Brandon
inquired Harry, in blissful ignorance,
@Four miles s-(rather pettishly).
The woman of melancholy mien furthe
more desired to know the direction. W'
it straight on?
"Is it straight on, Miss Brandon"
"Yes "--(stiff and short).
The lugubrious female murmured
thank and the sleigh moved off. In abol
q minute Mr.. Langford clutched the reil
, savagely, and uttered an exclamatlC
, which would have satisfied any listener
his innocence of theological tendencies
Miss Lucy emitted ahigh D, head regi
ter, staocato.
Il think am a brute" quietly r
marked NE. Henry Langford.
4 Miss Brandon now assumed an air
4 resignation, as if expecting an apologet
/ explanation Of the recent rudeness 81
( was disappointed, and when the sleiE
t began to turn about, became perplexed.
q The woman is going to Linvill
4 wherever that ii" continued Harry, SO
/ course she Isl She mustn't walk fo
!. miles through the snow this weather. Al
2 loaded down with big baby, tooP
Miss Brandon gave out symptoms
4 uneasiness. You are not going all Il
/. way TO Linville," said she.
!. Certainly | am, Miss Brandon va
1 he drew up beside the pedestrian Of dolt
i Gus aspect.
Q II do not see that there is room" So
/ Miss Brandon, ungraciously; aud thepo
3 woman shfnnk back at the words
Harry's eyes flashed in a very unci
8 manner, am afraid, as he said rath
/ roughly, We will make room, sprir
3 ing out at the moment, and hursiaiy i
|. ing the lacbrymose traveller and her ch
into his place. Then, without a word,
/ quaEtered himself upon section Of /
d sleigh's floor, and drove ahead.
\ In a little while Miss Brandon said, sc
4 ly-" l think there is room up here, j
Langford."
I II an very well down here be
\ a \. l.. - -