Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-03-23

IWo young iauies anu tne SentieWen go ny
by the house, drawing their sleds, and as.
ceud the hill back of the house, laughing
and chatting in high spirits.
Shortly after that, his uncle came and
asked permission to share his bed with
him. His aunt had gone of to spend the
night; the old gentleman was subject to
spells Of usthmatic pain, aud did not like to
to sleep alone.
In five minutes after his head touched
the pillow he was fast asleep, if one might
judge by tho snores which he emitted.
Charley lay wide-awake, and thought
about the party up the hill.
BY and-by he heard the sound of the
sleds gliding over the snow, and the laugh
and shout of those who were enjoying the
slide down the long bill. Then he heard
them going back, tugging the sleds up for
another trip down.
Then he heard the sleds coming again,
and then shout as if something had hap
pcncd, but the sleds kept on, and one Of
them seemed coming square against the
house. Nearer and nearer; and then
cling! went something against the case
ment, the window swung open with crash,
and sled shot in across the room and
brought up with thud against the farther
side Of the room, making the walls trem.
BILE, and the trinkcts on the mantle. elf
jingle like sleigh bells.
Charley raised up and took look at
the situation.
"Who's there ?" he asked.
"Me," answered voice from the other
side Of the room, very family.
The first time the pleasure seekers went
down the hill, everything passed off spleu-
didly. The snow was covered with an icy
crust, over which the sleds glided with a
swiftncss that was delightfully."- exhilarating.
The keen, bracing air had crispness in it
that was like touc.
1t was hard work, tugging the sleds up
the steep hill, over the glazed surface of
the snow, but the pleasure afforded by a
ride down, paid for the labor expended in
getting to the top.
At last the top was reached, and prep.
arations began for another trip. Miss Van
Meter took her position on the sled, and
Percy took his place behind her, that he
might better manage the steering appara.
tus.
Then they started. For a little way all
went we'll. Then Percy made a wrong
turn, and the sled ran over heap of stones,
pitching him off headforemost over drift
Miss Van Meter could not help laughing
to sec him floundcring about, as she swept
on. She grabbed the steering handles
with an energy born of desperation. She
gave turn one way and the sled threat.
encd to capsize, then turn the other way,
and it vcered round aud went straight
ahead. She began to think she should get
down hill all right, when some unaccount.
able freak seized the sled and it turned
half an angle to the left, and ran directly
toward the house. The hill came down
behind the house, close up to the chamber
windows, and in winter the snow drifted
the space between the house and hill
completely full. This winter it was level
with the window sills. A cold chill ran
ovea Miss Van Meter. What if her We.
hickle should go through one Of the win.
dows? She gave frantic wrench Of the
levers on each side, but the sled went righ,
on and struck one of the windows. 1,
swung open, and in she shot, bringing up
as we have seen in Charley's bedroom.
"Who's there ?" repeated Charley, moi
able to recgnize the faint voice which made
reply to his injury. He hoped it was Per.
cy. He'd get up, if it was, aud pitch him
out, headforemost."
"Me, Louise!" answered Miss Van
Meter, with q little more energy in her
voice.
The old gentleman began to stir about
and threatened to wake up. A deep 81.
lence reigncd for few minutes, then his
struggles subsided, and he was fast asleep
again.
How are you going to get out with
your sled ?" asked Charley in a whisper.
81 don't know" was the faint reply.
"Ill help you on conditions, said Char
ley.
"What are they?" Inquired Miss Van
Meter
"They're easy enough to comply with"
said Charley. Think what Uncle Joseph
vout1 cav tr ho ,boulI u,aLa ~uI cJ