The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-01-04

invitation just at that time, for mat
ters at home were complicated, and the
atmosphere was not agreeable. Father
had beea paying money on a mortgage,
and that always made him cross-not
cross exactly, but very, very miserable.
The sight Of his sorrowful face and the
sound of his depressed voice caused us
all to feel more or less wretched.
''That night there was to be party
at the house of Judge Mills. They only
gave one a year, on the occasion of
Meeny Mills birthday. Poor Meeny! A
homelier gil never lived, but the Judge
was rich, and she wore all the latest
fashions, so perhaps she never realized
how very plain she was. / had been
busy over my only white dress, taking
tuck out here and adding bit of lace
there, wishing, for wonder, that
could have something new to wear. At
sight of Ned and the team, however, all
my troubles vanished into air, and I
ran down stairs laughing.
Il do wish't you'd be a little sober
minded said my father, in his fretful
way. 1T seems kinder heartless to be
laughing when there amt cent in the
house, and nobody knows when there
will be-
'"Why, father, there's potatoes and
meal" was my merry rejoinder.
Eyes, and there's always cares and
troubles he answered lugubriously. L
don't seem to get ahead like other folks,
and Eve pretty much about given up
trying. If you girls was only boys nown
s"Think what you'd have to lay out
in boots alone l said, still laughing, at
which he frowned and tnrned impa-
tiently away, while ran out to be help
ed into the handsome carriage.
'.What a glorious day it was! The
vines lining each side of the road all
seemed dripping with sunshine. The
shaded valleys, the dancing brooks and
the highways bordered with NAPLES and
elms-and then my escort beguiled the
hour with odd and merry fancies, talked
about his farm, his hopes, his aspira-
tions, and if had not wilfully turned
the subject once or twice." said the
pretty old lady, with prim little gest-
ure, Il thing he might have proposed.
But wasn't ready for that yet. In the
quiet of the home going / said to my
self, i will listen to him perhaps
SAT last we reached the waterfall,
which, with its accompanying heights
and charming scenery, repaid us for the
long ride. 1t was hard to tear ourselves
away, and when we did turn the
heads of the spirited horses il the direc-
ton of home it was very late.
'"We shall never be in time for the
party l said, as the twilight deepened
into dusk. Must you pay at the toll
gate? The old man is half blind, and
il will take him an hour to hunt up
change. Run the toll, just for the fun
of it-you can pay him afterwards
s''That won't do said Ned .Pllhave
to get q bill changed though Just take
the reins second. BY the way /
never heard the end of the sentence
At that moment the spirit of mischief
seized me. ] snatched the whip and
touched the near horse. Then / only
he;lrG the t..under of hoofs and the
whirr of wheels, saw Ned S eyes flash
fire in the semi-darkness and his face
grow pale. Before he could take the
reins from my inexperienced hands, we
had run the toll in good earnest, and
the horses were flying over the bridge
as only frightened horses can. 1t was
as much as Ned could do to guide them,
and twice we were in deadly peril.
''On they sped, young Hamilton
standing without a hat, his teeth set,
lips white, his frame rigid, while the
veins of his forehead stood out like
whip-cord. just sat back and held my
breath, too frightened to cry out, and
catching at whatever was nearest to
steady myself as they raced down the
long. hilly street to the village, at the
foot of which they slackened their speed
and were soon under control.
"'That was mad freak of YOURS
was all the young man said, as he help
ed me out at the door; and knew by
the expression of his countenance that
l never should be asked to ride behind
his grays again.
Il went to the party, seemingly as
gay and light-hearted as ever If any
feeling of regret lurked under my care
less speech and manner, Ned should
never know it. In the midst of the fun,
when | was holding my little court, and
the laugh and the jest were again round,
who should appear upon the scene but
my father. in his homely, patched clothes,
quite regardless of the figure he cut in
the midst of that brilliant company. He
walked straight up to me, his hair in
disorder, his face as pale as death.
Jack says he, did you run the
toll to-day?'
'''The horses ram l said, with a
touch of levity, though l trembled from
head to foot. What did they know
about toll?'
''Well, the bridge-keeper has been
young man was getting the money
when you caught up the whip and set
the horses to running. Now, there's
fine for that, an Eve got to give him
five dollars; he won't let me off-and
amt got five cents to my name Tears
stood in his poor. weak eyes, and, re-
gardless of the surroundings, he took
out his handkerchief and wiped them
away. Imagine, if you can, how l felt.
."Allow me to pay, sir, said Ned,
coming forward; and that capped the
climax. / could have screamed with
modification. l just ran out of that
room, without waiting for wraps or any
thing else, and few home so shamed
that l think l hardly knew what / was
doing. As you may suppose. | cried
pretty much all night, and it was long
time before | recovered my spirits.
Il have no doubt it lost me Ned
Hamilton, too" said the old lady, with
a queer little toss of the head: but that
didn't matter much. He left me and
took Mary Bean, old Deacon Beams
daughter-the pink of propriety, and
who would no more have dared to say
her soul was her own than she would
have dared to ride wild horses. 1t was
a little mortifying at first, but after his
marriage folks said that he was miserly
almost beyond belief, and l am positive
Molly Hamilton only has one new bon
net q year, poor soul!-though by this
time she may have gone where they
don't need bonnets.
However, / was cured from that
time of my thoughtless pranks. went
to work and soon paid back the five
dollars, and more than that, I paid off
the mortgage on our little home, in
time"
nd $hnn .1l H.,