The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-06-12
Selected Story.
MY SLEIGH-RIDE.

aUpon my word, George is gotten up re- |
gardlessly, Tonight"
e Mamma, George has got on his new, blue
~ ~, Now when man comes down stairs on |
tiptoe, and essays to open the front door with
the least possible amount of observation, it
isn't particularly agreeable to have whole
broadsde OF female tongues upon him the
instant ne crosses the Threshold. However,
as D. not to seem daunted, stopped and confront
ed them, doggedly, painfully conscious the
while, of extra bears grease on my hair, a
borrowed ring on my little finger and shirt
whose gloss might have reminded one OF
whole starch factory. Need mention, after
enumeratng these particulars, that was IN
fl love?1 S Ia
.!as4a II am going slegh-riding with the party
from Judge Dacre's, Il answered, fitting a
pair of lemon-colored kid gloves, which, con-
sidering the night was pitch dark, and the
thermometer stood at zero, was piece of i'd
iocy well BETTING young man in love:
"What lady do you take with you?"
sis "Why," interrupted Dolly, where's Miss
Aspendale?" / felt myself grow hot IL over,
.sl.s as strove to answer indlfferenty, and, es-
.a Gaping to my little cutter, soon jingled up to
the line OF equipages in front of Judge Da-
cre's door. M
"Just in time,' observed Harry Spicer
refining up. hisSvicious, little, gray horse, as
that sagacious animal was about to try the
SuAbtc 4uoAsipS VI my car, '1tuO SIS ~
coming out. They ran in to have warm
while Patty Dacre was getting her things on.
Whew! how cold it is. L say, old ieiiow,"-
as the light Of ipassng lantern intern rel on my
er stunning for the occasion? guess you've
r''N taken up your next quarters salary for
20 81 He stopped abruptly, and the next minute
heard him whisper to some one beyond:
"Hallo, Judson, I've been and gone and
!. IN done it now. l mistook old Barnwel for
- George Wildwood, and have been chatting
~, him hike fire. Their traps are as like as two
va peas. 4 wonder what he thought of me?
though ilss-s aas faN =
Huggng myself mentally, of counsel at
this deluson of Spicer's, took care not to
disabuse him of the idea. It was a relief to
issFA be rid of the clack of his ceaseless tongue
As these reflections passed hufriedly
y through my mind, there was sound of mer-
~ ry, birdlike voices, intermixed with musical
laughter, and the tripping of many feet.
i'si The girls, dozen so in number, were
s, coming out, hooded, cloaked and furrei. just
as was about to guide my horse away from
the gate, to make way for some enviable
miscreant who claimed proprletorship of one
or more Of this gIancing bevy of female love-
Illness, light foot was placed on the lower
rail OF the cutter, and Kate Aspendale sprang
.ss, r in beside me, nesting down among the fur
tas robes as If it was her place by right. ss
taiisa y 81 hope haven't keptyou waiting, Bruce
DEAR" she said, adjusting the folds of her
VEIL
se.a The words of glad greeting which had risen
to my lips seemed frozen on the very portals
OF speech. Bruce" indeed So she mistook
ses me ;or the man of money-bags, did she?
We'll, considering that she despsed Mr.. Barn.
we'll SO heartily las she had assured mel, her
voice was attuned to very coaxing accents.
only think' she went on, as obedient to
t'-- the calls of "Go ahead" form behind loos-
ened the reins, and touched my feet little
horse with the whip, George Wildwood is
here tonight alone. suppose he couldn't
get any girl to accompany him. | do think
gtoA that young man is the greatest fool--Oh,
my gracousP for Sultan, my spirited horse,
w gaze plunge just then. had unconscious
go ly given him mercess cut with the whip,
and it required all my strength and selfpos-
session to calm him down again. Still, new
So er spoke; my teeth were set tightly together
- and could feel burning red spot in the
centre OF each cheek, which seemed as if they
s. must glow in the dark like live Goals; but
waited, instinctively to hear more.
NOW, you're vexed with me, Bruce" MUIR
INJURED Kate, "just because / mentioned
George Whitwood's names You know
fssta,, don't care two straws for him,a conceited,
silly bIockhead, that fancies girl is in love
% with him just because she happens OCCASION
ally to smile at his foolish speeches. assure
you, Bruce, Eve never seriously encouraged
him, but a girl must have something to
amuse herself with, in dull country place
like this. George WILDWOOD indeed, as if /
could care Tor him when you're near, Bruce
How ne will stare when he gets our wedding
cards next week ~ -
She broke ont laughing-that merry, melo-
dious laugh, which had been music to my
6-e ears SO many time, in our lonely, woodland
ramoes and twilight gossips beneath the
VINE draped porch How differently it sound
ed to me now. The hollow resonance
some tuneess Instrumentation could ever
= - have ancied it sweet? g sAs
I've worn my engagement ring tonight
Bruce" she we at on coaxingy. There's no
use keeping the matter secret any longer
ana i want To what the Girls will say
N You've no objections, have you, Bruce, tor
-Dear me, what is the matter? We can't
Z .ai' have reached Slopeville, yet, Pm surelD
Il sfi The long line of sleighs had come to a
stand-still. One not unlike my own, detach-
= f's own. 10" W
Is - why, she's herel What on earth does
TINS Jugglery mean Z? demanded the voice
not particularly melodous one-of Mr.
4t Bruce Barnwell. Kate started up with q
slight Shrek ~ En-. So -
2 .where amIa Who is this in the sleigh 9'
- she cried, - - Z
"Pray don't disturb yourself, Miss Aspen
dale, satiricaly growled Mr.. Barnwell. Evil
- IDENTITY there was abundant spice of the grim
Othello in his temperament. of you prefer
ostl MI Mhitwood's company to mine, it's all
1'Mr. Whitwoodp repeated Kate, wildly
'oh, mercy 1t can't be possiblep' Il b
Some one held up lantern. l looked full
INTO Kate Appendices splendid, dark eyes.
OF satire could have fired INTO the enemys
camp; what Ied-hot Goals of haunting jaeosity
could have heaped upon Rates deiencees
mead. But. being a man, 1 left her to thu
punishment OF her own recollectons, an(
bowed with all the complacency could com
mand.
9Hg4s Permit me to assist you into the othel
sleigh, Miss Aspendale," said. "When Mr.
Barnwell understands that it was by mistak,
that you entered this equipage, he will PAL
don any appearance of aWkWardness in tn
"a affair." 8,.'i 3s.sl 9slia u
- Without single word, Kate Aspendale de
s scended from my sleigh, and was assisted int
lac that of Mr.. Barnwell, who sat upright an
--ia9 irate staring Indignantly around him.
Good evening, Miss Aspendale," / SAID
unable 70 resist the temptation, of launchin
BACK one Parthian arrow, as drove away, g
shall expect to receive the cards very SOON"
- Alice, my blue eyed cousin, was SEWN
alone in the room, when returned home.-
She looked up in surprise, as / entered.
Home SO soon ?" she said. hardly ez
pected to see you SO early"
Didn't you Alice?" / sat down besid
her. "But you see wanted to say SOM
'n aa very q particular to you" .n
eyes. Kate Aspendale is to marry Brut
BarnwelI, and want to marry you" ~
@Upon my word, Alice, Pm in earnestv
---a-e So was After the stormy reign OF Kat
Aspeadaie IN my heart, Alice's sweet fac
seemed like dream OF repose for which
had ionged with an inoiscribabe longing
And the next day 1 Went on q secon
seighride with my dove-eysd, little finance
and my cards were out the same week vii
those of Mr. and Mrs. Barnwell. IS "
sai3 esAl ------------
DiMcnlty About That Dog.
This was the cause of all the trouble:
aLost-On tho 10th instant, small terrier d.
with bras. collar upon his neck aud the tip OF
tai eorsI Answers TO the name OF Jack Five d
Ia,s reward will be given to the person who ietur
aim TO John Quill, No.S4 RicKeiy Row."
10 I inserted the above in the Daily Flipfl;