The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-04-23

ruor as nearly laugh ana, Delng TOO
full of fun to assume her
Isual role Of indif dignity, she car
led her good nature one degree beyond
he sentimental limits, and closed Philips
Ups as efectually as if she had frozen
herself into a miniature iceberg.
Philip was happy, nevertheless. He
was with Margie, and they two were
alone in a world by themselves; not in
the traditional bower of roses in which
poetic lovers are supposed to mingle
their signs and woes, but in terribly
modern and prosaic cutter, too thorough
ly comfortable to be at all romantic.
But lovers are not so dependent upon
circumstances as some people imagine.
Patrick perched upon one corner Of the
kitchen table, gazes upon Biddy's plump
face and deft fingers with an alteration
very similar to that which moves Au-
gustus to throw himself upon the velvet
carpet to lay the treasure of his hearts
wealth at the feet Of his angelic Mira
belle. Given two human hearts that
beat to a responsive chord, and you have
all the elements of first-class romance
And if Philip had been little more au-
dacious, or Margie little less contrary,
they might have been as happy pair of
lovers as ever the sun shone on. As it
was, they managed to enjoy their misery
very we'll.
Rides, pleasant or otherwise, must
have an end, and in what seemed to
both Philip and Margie an incredibly
short time, the opposite shore flashed
clearly and brightly against the blue
sky. The ostensible object Of the ride
was visit to Philips uncle, forwhom-
it may be worthy Of notice merely as
curious psychological fact-Philip's
affection had suddenly developed in the
direct ratio of the remoteness of
his domicile from the city of o..
If our scheming young lover had an
ticipated nice, long visit with Mar
gle in his aunt's cosy parlor, he had
reckoned without his host and hostess.
Uncle Amos had to exhibit his horses,
his cattle, his poultry, his new reaper,
the improvements in the stable; and
when Philip, on a cowardly excuse of
being cold, finally made his escape to
the house, it was only to find Margie
deep in a feminine consultation about
plating and ruffles, and bestowing so
much admiration upon green worsted
dog that was slow y escaping from the
white fingers of his cousin Addie, that
he savagely wished the creature were
alive, that he might have the pleasure
of pitching it out of doors.
Early in the afternoon Margie conde.
scended for the first time to notice
Philip who was sulkily listening to a
heavy political lecture from Uncle
Amos, and suggested that it was time to
return.
81 beg PARDON" said Philip, suddenly
aware that his divinity had addressed
him. Green worsted dogs, and scarlet
feathers, and brown eyes, were SO hope.
lessly mixed up with the presidents
message and Senator Ms last speech,
that it was no wonder he did not under.
stand.
Margie sheetly repeated her sugges'
ton remarking, by way of parenthesis,
that Philip was more stupid than usual,
Philip forgot the clumsy falsehood he
had told, and clinging desperately to
his last hope of a moonlight ride, replied
that it was very early, no need of start
ing for couple of hours, at least, at the
same time turning his chair SO as to form
one of the circle of which re iad hitherto
been silent and unnoticnd adorer.
"But you said we started early 50 as to
ride while it was warm" persisted
Margie, maliciously: delighted to see the
crimson beginning to creep out from be-
hind Philips ears.
eyes, but did not suppose it would
be so warm,' said Philip desperately,
going to the window behind Margie's
chair. "See how the snow is melting"
Here chorus of female voices came to
the rescue, and Margie relinquished her
plan, if indeed, she had ever entertained
it. Uncle Amos fired off his heaviest
political guns in Philips direction, but
the latter was too happy in his inglorious
retreat to pay any attention, until
Margie, in sheer desperation, crossed over
to the enemy and astonished the old gen.
tleman by meeting him on his own
ground. Margie was politician by ma.
ture and defended her position and
theories with cleverness that would
have done no discredit to professional
stump-speaker.
So the afternoon wore away. The long
slanting sunbeams that fell across the
tea-table grew suddenly dim, and Margie
glanced up uneasily at the lake, over
which fog was slowly beginning to rise.
Philip hustled hurriedly about in re-
Spouse to Margie's pleading look, feeling
an exultant delight that any thing should
send her to him for protection. What
were fogs or frosts, if Margie would only
nestle little closer to his side and let
him care for her, thought Philip, as, in
spite of Margie's protestations, he
wrapped an extra shawl around her and
tucked the robes warmly about her feet.
The light of the setting sun could be
seen but dimly through the fog as they
drove down to the lake, and Margie shiv-
cred little as the faint rays died out
and the white outline of the cliffs faded
away; but treasured by Philips conf
dent air, they were soon talking gaily, as
the swift hoofs flew along the icy track.
Margie's spirits were toned down some
what, and Philip had decided that the
moment for which he had waited and
hoped so long had came at last. Margie
was intently watching the horses feet,
as the fog limited her range of vision,
and she would not look at Philip.
'Margie, L"
There was a sudden dash and whir],
which jerked the reins from Philips
hands and almost threw him from his
seat. The horses, which, for the mo-
ment, were loosely held, had come sud-
denly upon bit of glare ice, and in a
fright had completely whirled the cutter
out of the road. Philips strong grasp
upon the reins soon reduced the fright
ened horses to steadier gait, and he
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