The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-01-08

thing as telling what the effect OF it
might be.
Tn and down the white expanse he
| gazed, and here and there he saw light
cutters and even heavily.laden wood
sleighs crossing and re-crossing, and the
former now and then putting in an extra
burst of speed over the smooth and glanc.
ing surface Neither to the right hand
nor left did he turn, however, and, by the
time Faith Murray and her friends were
on their way to the quilting, Curt How
lands team were safe in the stable, while
his big sleigh stood empty by the back
| door OF the house, with all its buffalo
robes, blankets, clumsiness, and disgrace,
still clinging to its unoccupied spaces.
| As for Faith herself, she had hardly
ever seemed in such exuberant spirits as
she displayed that evening, and Mr.. Silas
Herring assumed for himself species of
personal triumph, rs he compared his
own position and occupation with what
he could imagine of Curt Howland's
brooding at home over his defeat. The
! quilting was thronged with young people
and old, from far and near, but good, old
| fashioned hours were kept, nevertheless,
and all the more so, probably, because of
the anticipated pleasures Of the sleigh
rides atterward.
If Faith Murray had any remorseful
promptings concerning her conduct, she
certainly gave no external token thereof,
and led the fun as if she had never heard
of such a person as Curtis Rowland. Per-
haps a keen observer, like her own moth
er, If only that good lady had been pres.
ent, might have inclined to the idea that
Faith was OVERRIDING" something, but
Silas Herring was not keen observer,
and the rest OF the merry company neither
| thought nor cared what might be the
| source of her high spirits. When at last
the quilting bee broke up, those whose
homeward way did not permit them to
drive in the direction Of the river, were
half disposed to envy those whose better
fortune was to lead them across Its broad,
smooth bosom. They little dreamed how
much to be preferred were the rougher
but more safe and solid roads that took
them even among rugged hills and heav-
ily-drjfted valleys.
Somehow or other, instead Of going to
bed at his usual hour, Curt Rowland had
fingered and lounged in front Of his glow
ing, log.heaped fireplace, long after every
other soul in the house had gone to bed.
He had pretended, at first, to occupy HIM
self with book, but -and-by the volume
dropped on the floor. Then, for while,
Cur; seemed to be absorbed in watching
the vivid changes wrought by the fire as
the seasoned oak and hickory slowly
yielded; and then, as the fore-stick snap.
ped in two, and plunged among the Goals
with strange, cracking sound, he sud-
denly sprang to his feet, threw on his hat
and Overcoat, and strobe out into the open
air in front of the house. 1t was a clear,
FIJI co., ,s.rl
ride, and not 50 cold but what there was
house. The tinkle of the falling drops,
however, with now and then the crash Of
loosened icicle, fell on his ear with a
painful jar. Could it be possible that
such man had nerves? But now, swiftly
down the road there came a sound of bells,
and the vision OF sleigh was halted for a
moment by the gate.
Howland:" shouted a deep, hoarse
voice. "Ah, you are up, are yous Well,
there's big rise in the river, and it's
comm this way fast. I've been just a
racin' do yn the road to warn folks not to
try the ice, but reckon I've come as far
as l need. Can you give ME a sleep and
a brcakiast:"
cot course can," promptly replied
Curt, and you've done right-gOod
ncishborly thing. "Its Jake Robinson,
isn't it,"
That's my name" heartily responded
the stranger, land I've only tried to do
as I'd be done by"
"Neil, them" said Curt, "you go into
the house and go to bed. "I'll hitch up
my team and see if l can make out to
keep the sleighing-party from mischief
There must be time enough for that
yet. seeing the quilting comes first"
"l'll stable my horses" replied the
philan .hropic Jake, but don't go into
no bed, so longs there's anybody likely
to be in danger. Drag out your sleigh.
Is that it: Well, there's room in it for
more'n two, there is.'
Curt Howland's movements were al
ways good deal more rapid and decis.
i've than they seemed, and it was marvel
Gus how quickly he and Jake were whirl.
ing down toward the customary crossing.
In one thing, however, Curt was wholly
mistaken, and that was in the probable
hour for the quilting to break up. Even
while lac was putting the harness on his
good team, there were terrible perils gath
ering around the gay sleigh-riders. Not
only had the ''bee" dispersed, but already
had dozen different sets of bells rang fast
and far on the frozen river, and already
the first symptoms Of the coming "rise'
were beginning to show themselves in
the ominOus grooming Of the ice as the
tide beneath it strained and lifted at its
frosty letters. Beyond doubt they
would be broken ere long.
Hark!" exclaimed Curt, as they drove
out from the shore. did you hear that?
We shall hardly have time to get across,
I'm afraid"
| "Then they won't need no warnin',"
coolly remarked Jake.
"Hark!" again cried Curt Rowland,
but hoarsely, this time, and with some
thing like pain in the intensity of Lis
u;terance II did hear it! There's team
coming down the river at a run!'
Jake Robinson himself heard it now,
and exclaimed:
1T does sound mighty like runaway,
I declare. Just bark to them bells!'
Curtis breath would have come even
| faster and his heart would have jumped
more fercely, if he had known the whole
| truth. Tie horses OF the sleighing.party
had recognized the signs of approaching
danger much more promptly than had
their masters, nor had it been at all diff
cult, in most cases, for their skilltul driv-
ers to head the frightened but willing
brutes toward safety and the shore. The
single exception had been in the young
and stylish but ill-broken span over which
SHE Herring held the reins, for the gay
young lawyer was not only ''skillful
driver" but he had failed to understand
the situation at first, and had dashed his
poor colts mercilessly for their trembling
refusal to go forward. Even when ne
consented to wheel them, he had not been
able to guide them landward, for u great
heave and groan of the ice around him
had just then nearly scared the senses out
of both him and his quadrupeds. In a
moment more the fright OF the latter was
wild runaway" right down the river,
and certainly had one good result, for it
| bore the sleigh and its occupants swiftly