The Penn's Grove record., 1883-12-29

she only looked IN my race Win u p3tT
full expression in her eyes as she 49,
pered to me: ooh, Rob, how could y y"
A sob was in her voice, and she turned
away without another word and left he.
Something had evidently made her ~.
happy, but l was guiltless. 4 wol
The party at 1.-THE Elms' were be
ginning to grow FESTIVE under the mo-
notony of their snow-bound exist
ence, when Mr.. Crofton said he was
DESTROYS that the city girls should
see what was meant by a genuine coun-
try sleighing frolic. He further in
formed them that he had sent word to
the Red Cross Hoeel, about ten miles
distant, to provide music and a good
supper for our party, and to see that the
house was thoroughly heated; he added
that enough horses were IN the stable,
but as he owned only enc sleigh he
would leave it for the gentlemen to
supply the others needed from the neigh
boring town
All was now merry hustle and confu-
sion; the girls were delighted at the
prospect of participating in this new
pleasure and began to look up their
warmest wraps, while Mr.. lowering
and MYSELF went to Eyerton to procure
the required sleighs. | wasnot anxious
for his company, but as it could not be
avoided / submitted as gracefully as
possible.
We found but two sleighs procurable
in the town, and these would hold only
two persons each. This delighted ME.
for, being accustomed to drive with
Henrietta, | thought fit would surely
fall to my lot to have her for my com
panion But l reckoned withous my
host, for when | asked her to accom-
pany m she said, with a smile, that she
was already engaged TO go with Mr..
lowering.
Of course, the sleigh-ride at once lost
all attractions for me, and would gladly
have remained behind had it not been
for an underlined feeling Of u%neasiness
for Henrietta that possessed me There
fore 1 invited Miss Crosby, and when
we started it would have been difficult
to find a merrier party than Ours.
The road was splendid, and the snow
creaked and whistled beneath our run
ners. The horses were soon covered
with flakes of CONCEALED moisture, and
flew over the road, their hoofs keeping
time to the merry jingle of the many
sleigh-bells. The moonlight on the
snow turned the night into a brilliant
day, and the ladies' enlivened the ride
with merry songs and tests.
AT last our destination was reached
and the girls, thoroughly warmed before
a roaring hickory fire, were shown to
the dressing room, from which they
soon emerged to be escorted to the dan
eng apartment, a large hall decorated
with eyergreens and lighted up with an
immense number of candles in tin soon
ces fastened to the walls. The hooI
was white and smooth; the music was
furnished by a negro violin player and q
colored assistant, who banged, away on
a tambourine.
Mr.. Crofton was in his element. He
Nmet numberless acquaintance, among
Whom were some of the foremost men
IF the county, and soon had all the
yVung ladies supplied with partners,
10y course Mr.. lowering took almost
entire possession of Henrietta, and
while the rest of the party held high
reve, l sat alone.
"Hey-day, my good fellow" cried
Uncle John Crofton, as he came 10 me
and slapped me on the shoulder, .'why
are you not dancingp BY the way now,
Rob-" and IS he spoke a Sudden thought
seemed to- strike him, ''why is that
fellow Leyering always with Eta? ]
don't like him. She came here with
you, did shepot?" When l told him nc
he was very sngry. and said he would
soon have arranged the affair had he
known of it. But" he concluded,
"we win have to pass it owe this time,
The girl is crazy to trust herself with
such a whip as hels. You must keep a
sharp lookout for them, Rob-"
That was just what l intended to do.
/ There was a delicious supper, of
which we partook heartily, for we all
had keen appetites aftlr our ride in the
frosty night. Then, alter u while, we
prepared to start for home l had
ordered my sleigh to the door and was
waiting very impatiently for the appear
ance of Miss Crosby, when / saw Hen
rletta coming along the passage, attend
ed by Mr.. lowering, who helped her
into his sleigh, then jumped in hurried
ly himself, and taking the reins drove
rapidly away in a direction entirely
opposite to that which led to s'The
Elms." Here, then, We're some grounds
for my uneasiness. | did not take time
to think. Miss Grossly was as thor
oughly forgotten as if she had never
lived. / threw myself into my sleigh
anu, Nlbh NY hhC AtbiO pan VI opAAllCd
Arab horses. was on their track like the
wind.
Leyering'shorses too, were thorough
breds from the stable of Mr.. Crofton,
and the race between us was a fearful
one. Once | approached them so close
ly that l plainly heard Henrietta calling
out to me for aid. which almost mad
dened me. In desperation l applied the
lash to my Arabs and, with their in
creased speed, gained upon lowering 50
rapidly there was no escape for him.
lowering stopped his horses as l came
up. Worn out with their long drive
they stood painting, while he threw
down the relns and advanced upon
me with the whip uplifted in his hand,
which l wrested from him, when he
gave me a blow with his clenched fist
that made me stagger. For Henriett