Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-04-16
Am 0riqiual Sturp.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
ONE RED RIDING-HOOD
AND THE PLOT 1T DEFEATED.
BY JUAN LEWIS,

1t was eighteen years ago last December. !
remember the day we'll !; a clustering, freezing,
windy day-such as would cause postpone
ment of any out-of:doors business, previously
decided on, unless such business was unavoid-
able-and one which made the warmth and
comfort of 6reside unusually cheerful and
attractive.
But business use the word in its pleas
antest sense; for in such sense only is it ap-
plicable herein-called me forth.
We had received letter the day before,
saying that my cousin, Jenny Danforth, one Of
the brightest and sweetest girls in all England
$50 my mother averred) was coming to pay a
long talked-of visit at our house and that she
would expect me to meet her at the railroad
dep6t-distant from our place some FIVE miles.
Jenny was the daughter of my fathers half
sister, and lived in London, only few min
utes' walk from Hanover square.
Her father was lawyer-not one Of the
modern sort, whose zeal too often outruns
their discretion but one of the essentially old
school; whose trusts and executive response
blities, left little time for the more noisy, if
more popular, duties of the courtroom.
This was the worlds verdict.
Jenny was his only child, just turned eight
cen, tolerably versed in the ordinary accom-
plishments of the day; inheriting, according
to the same authority, all the sweetness and
gentleness that belonged to both. She was as
good as she was beautiful.
With such desirable acquisition to our So
cial circle in prospect, it can hardly be won
dered at, if 1 thought less of the day-breezy
and frosty as it was-than of the purpose of
the business which had called me forth, and l
made my preparations for the ride right cheer
fully.
Though I had not seen Jenny for some
years-being absent at college on the two oc-
casions of her later visits at our house, had
no doubt but that should recognize her.
drove pair of handsome black horses |
remember, attached to light but strongly
built sleigh; and the way flew over the
snow, brought the blood in bounding eur
rent to my tingling face, wherever the furs
and wraps left it exposed, and brought me to
nv destination before I half realized that
had started
The express had not yet arrived. l had
fully ten minutes to spare as | found on re-
ferring to the waiting-room clock.
What should 1 do-how dispose of the
time?
Boy.like, I was impatient, and the impa.
teuce grew upon me. The heated air indoors
wasin6nitely worse than the frosty atmosphere
outside. l went out and began to walk up
and down on the platform.
had taken half dozen turns to and fro,
and had not glanced at my watch, q am con-
fdent,) more than four times in the interim !;
when my attention was attracted by white
horse and small, swan-like cutter dashng up
to the depot.
The horse was powerful one, and its tre-
mendous gait was what first attracted me !;
but my gaze was Immediately transferred from
the horse and the cutter, to the driver.
A young girl, of apparently not more than
fifteen or sixteen years; cloaked and hooded
so closely as to conceal her exquisite features,
save where the Jealous wind asserted its pre-
rogative and uncovered them a fresh, daring,
sweet, yet commanding voice, as she spoke to
her horse, when riding the animal alongside
the platform; and eyes such as, I thought
then, had never seen beforehand such as
know nowI shall never see hereafter-fashed
upon me in wondrous beauty as / sprang to
offer assistance.
The inquiring, magnetic glance which pre-
ceded her gesture of assent thrilled me from
head to foot; and when the tiny, gauntletted
hand touched mine, as I assisted her to the
platform, the demolition of that organic struc-
ture properly called lovers heart was thor
oughly completed.
She threw back the envious hood which
concealed her beautiful facets glowing red
contrasting with the lily of her cheeks-and
thanked me, with lowering grace, all indes-
cribable, but living in my memory yet.
Refusing, by negative shake of the we'll
poised head, my suggestion of the waiting
room, she stood, for moment, patting the
great white horse, and gazing first down the
iron rails in the direction of distant London,
and then toward the great highway along
which had just travelled hitherward; as if,
thought, she, too, was expecting an arrival.
Who was she? Whom did she expect
Her father, friend, or-jealous thought
lover?
As these questions arose in my mind, |
turned again suddenly toward her, and my
glance met hers. Was it imagination, or did
1 see her ruby lips move slightly, as if hesita,
ting on the brink of some anxious inquiry
Acting with boysh impulse (Which is
still, fear, not foreign to the old mans heart)
begged her to command me for any service
wherein I could assist her before the arrival
of the train briefly stating the purport OF my
presence at the station-whom was expect
ing-snd my name-Harry Macintosh.
The effect of this personal revelation upon
the young girl was to me most surprising.
She seemed startled-then pleased-then con-
fused; blushing so deeply that the color Of
her Hood appeared to change; laughing with
80 musical an outburst that it became conta-
gious; speaking with joyousness that brought
to my mind the faint memory Of little girl
had known, as she warmly clasped my hand,
and said: