Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-07-24
A HORSE LAUGH.
How It Betrayed a Young Man In
Women's Clothes.
Party Of Cleveland Ladies Indulge Ia q
Peculiar Sleigh R.de-sad Result 81
the surreptitious IntroductIOa
OF the Masculine Element.



A coarse guffaw, a smothered gigRle,
md all was still.
The moon shone bright and clear and the
wind came over the cleaning lake as four
horses attached to an immense sled pran, cd
cut Woodland avenue n few nights since.
On the high seat was a man with q fur
cap and chin whiskers. In one hand he
swung aloft a whip while with the other
he hell the four leather lines that guided
his bell-covered steeds. At last he stopped
before palatial mansion A minute later
n lady closely wrapped and veiled came
down the steps, tripped down the walk,
and climbed over the sides of the sled.
The driver cracked his whip and dashed
Into cross street near by. Fon more
ladies joined the one and away went the
ed again The next stop brought eight
ladies from a gayly-lighted residence who
also clamberel into the sled aD1 slowed
thems Ives away among the wurm robes
and blankets in the bottom
"Where shall I go nowI" asked the fur
cap aud chin whiskers
'DriVe to Mr.. Blanks, on woodland
avenue" said one of the ladies. Theu
turning to hir companion. shs remarked
"Mits Blank when she heard that tho la
dies OF our church intended TO give a
sieighing party, asked Il she nigh. bring
n young school friend, who is visiting her.
knew you wUuld not object, so I said
she might"
THAT was perfectly proper, Maria" /"
said the other ladies' in chorus. "Miss
Blank and her friend shall be welcome.
Meanwhile the sled went on, the bells
jiu led, aud the man on the high seat
wbistled lowly. Ir. Blanks residence
was reached in dus time, Miss Blank and
her friend were waiting, and hastily found
snug corners In tho great covered sled.
More ladies joined the party, aud by 7:3O
o'cl Ick the sled was packed with fur-cov-
ered figures, who chatted necessarily. The
fur cap and chin whiskers was then di-
cte1 % drive out Il Iclid ovcRuo until he
came to Colts wt-ero a sto1mins supper
awaited the jolly s.eigherS
Crack went the whip agai1, ana away
the horses plunged as II conscious OF the
precious and merry party there were
drawing. The ladies ta.koI about every
thing. They were aloae; no man was near
exc spt the driver, anl hs was Ol /, a trino
deaf, aud very Lusy. Miss Blank and her
friend seemed TO enjoy the ride very
much. but they remained siieat aud per-
Mite I the others % do the talking. a
great many things were said. Gentlemen
Gcguaintarces were discussed, matrimon-
iGl affairs were considered, and jokes
were cracked along with the drivers
VIII p. IL was IA roaring party to be sure.
Mis- Blank and hsr friend were all atter-
tion; they heard everything, saw every =
thug, but said nothing. At $3.50 the
steamins stcels s,oppod ut Colts, and
tue ladies' be an to nlIght. Some w,re In
the act Of scrambling out OF their warm
nests, others were shaking the folds of
th,ir dresses 70 s,raighten out the
". i1kl,s, and s;iil others wcre indulg-
ing in pleasant conversation not intended
Tor masculine ears. Dur NJ ali this COM
motion NJ IS Blank was seen to whisper to
her friend. Suddenly the coarse guffaw
and the smo,hereI gisgle referred to
flOated out u on the moonlit night.
when the echo OF the laugh diel away
there was silence for an instant. The ladies
loos,d into each others faces, and then
screamed ard ran away. They collected in
a little group, aud with bul ,ins eyes and
crimson cheeks, exclaimed: "Did you
ever!" Finally pretty girl of seventeen,
or thcreabouts, informed her mother with
hated treath that she recogniz sd tho hoarse
laugh as that o; Jack -, the best young
man Of NJ. SIS Blank. Thelittle group stared
aghast. Then, without n word, il returned
to the sled, got in, and directed the chin
whiskers to drive back to the city. No ono
said word. The driver ceased his whist
ling the horses laid back their ears, the
supper at Colts grew cold, aud tho hot tea
disappeared in vapory clouds.
At ten o'clock Miss Blank and her friend
lot the sled in silence, dolged int the
house, and fell into each others arms.
"Oh, Jack" said Miss Blank, as she gazsd
ut her lover, "didn't we have jolly timer"
Jack said that they had, and then went up
stairs to taks OF his back hair and petit
coats. The ladies OF that church will take
their husbands along next time.