The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-12-21
SLEIGH RIDE EXTRAORDINARY.
WHAT CAME OF 1T.

sleigh bells, and arose to go down, but
when he reached the door he felt slig ht
touch upon his arm, and heard the we'll
known voice of his daughter.
Pa, may go ?" Y,
But am only going to the bank,
Grace"
After that, father. I will go, there
and wait for you, 1t will not take me
five minutes to get ready"
Well-well Be spry and I'll wait"
said the old gentleman quite merrily,
"and | VIII give you sleigh-ride such
Us you never had before-a slelgh-ride
extraordinary. You know have the
black before the cutter"
80 much the BETTER" said Grace and
she ran away to drees, but little dreaming
how we'll the promise would be kept
John Normandy stood by the window
| To- king out upon the busy street, ever
anon glancing at his watch, as though
| impatient for the time to pass. And in
deed he was. He had no thoughts for
what was passing in the street below.
He saw Jonas Blenchford and his daugh-
ter as they drove up to the bank, but for
got them the moment they passed from
sight With:a the entrance He had weigh
ty thoughts npon his mind, that could
not be cast aside by any ordinary occur
renee.
He was somewhere about thirty years
OF age, tail, erect, dignifed, and very
plain Of feature. He had batt.ed with
acknowledgements and poverty until his
very face bore marks Of the terrible
struggles, but he had conquered. His
motto had ever been "OnWard and up
ward, and never finching, never giving
away, he had at last become cashier of
the Bank of E, position both hon
orable and lucrative.
Only twelve month had he held the
position, but in that short time he had
won the confidence of the officers of the
bank, the regard Of his fellow employees,
and was generally liked by those doing
business with him.
Still he was unsocial He lived life
of his own. He asked no companions
wanted nOn0-When the bank closed for
the day, he hurried away to his lodgings,
and was seen no more until the hour OF
business on tue following day. Business
was his pleasure. He talked little
worked much ne was poor companion
but good friend.
"Day dreaming, Normandy"
81 have encountered so much reality
that there is but little of the imaginary
LETT" said he turning toward them, half
reluctantly.
ooh, flo Normandy. Not quite thir-
ty [ should judge, and setting down in
to an older man than [ am. What are
you thinking about? 1t must not be.
Grace, can you do anything to show this
practical old man the error of his ways?
III leave you with him to try, while de-
vote q few minutes to business"
Don't forget the ride, father"
Never fear, you shall have it,"
Normandy was really veXed to see the
old gentleman trot away, and leave him
to entertain the peerless Grace Blench
ford. Grace suspected it, and she led
him a pretty race of words that brought
the smile to his face in spite of himself,
and provoked some almost merry re,
plies that sounded strangely from his
lips. When Blenchford returned, he
found them quite sociable, Normandy
leaning over the desk, listening to Graces
merry talk, and occasionally putting in q
word that showed how well he was enjoy
ing it,
"Thawing by---smoke !" exclaimed
Blenchford in his surprise, but his man
ner Immediately changed. "Grace we
must postpone the ride. Some very ur
gent business keeps me here. Wait
Normandy can take my place"
Ct should be pleased said he.
VERY good, Normandy, and remember
thai promised her such ride as she new
er had before"
"a ride extraordinary, father"
Eyes, yes; that was it; do not disap
point her,"
While Normandy was drawing on his
great coat gentleman stepped to his
side and spoke to him in very low tone
Normandy's face bIanched whittier than
the snow, but he recovered instantly.
THANK you, Ganson, for this proof of
your friendship, but have known it tor
some hours. Please let it rest where it
is if you can, and I will make it all
right in the morning. There is some
mistake.
With buoyancy of manner that sur
prised Grace after what she had seen, he
conducted h to the sleigh, and with a
gallantry little expected from one so
| practical, he handed her in, arranging
the robes about her more skillfully than
ever her old father could have done.
Then he took a seat by her side, and off
they went
Through the crowded streets, through
the less crowded suburbs, out in the quiet
country, Normandy all the while chat
| ting merrlly, a startling contrast to bis
real feelings. But when once they were
out of the great city, his manner changed
entirely. Turning his dark, searching
eyes full upon his companions face, he
asked earnestly, almost beseechingly,
! AIicn Rl snnh fnr6 nan wan tr1 OF M a 0,l