, 1888-02-23

fiat stone that served as 6 step. I only
stopped TO gather up my long, pretty
nuns yelling train before plunging into
the snow, then quite n respectable depth.
The snow whirled into my face, nearly
binding me. 1t seemed hours before /
could place my hand on the brass
knocker adjoining the door of Miss Slack's
little shop. AT last it changed SO sharply
as to bring almost Immediately a frowsy
little girl, who retreated behind a tall
pewter candlestick, with terror in every
feature.
II want to see Miss Slack" I cried,
''at once" pushing the child aside to
hurry into the little entry and shake off
the damp snow.
"You can't" said the girl, staring at
me and the wedding bonnet, ''she's
gone"
Gomez 1 cried. ''Where?"
ITO the weddin', " said the girl. "She
went early SOS to see the folks, an get q
good place"
1 sank down on the lowest stair, bonnet
and all, but Immediately jumped up.
See here, little girl" 1 cried, Il
want a gray feather to put on this bon
net. Something has happened to it.
and'-
81 know" said the girl, leaning
around her candlestick, and answering
critically. "It's got burnt. 1 smell it."
"Well, get another one for me-" I
cried, impatiently, las quick as you can,
and don't stand there talking. It's gray
dark gray. Hurry up, you must know
where she keeps them"
"She hain't got any," said the girl,
examining the feather, mot that shade.
Hers are all black and white, besides
she's got a green one, yes, an a yellow,
but she hain't got a gray one"
Take me to her box of feathers, and
1 will look for myself" l cried, turning
to the shop door. Il will pay her to-
morrow I'm Kitty Farrar, Miss Hemen-
ways niece. It's all right. Now open
the door" 1 laid my hand on the knob
as l spoke.
81 can't" said the girl. otis locked
and she's took the key. She always does
when she goes out, AFRAID somebody'n
get in"
Every particle of blood seemed to de-
sert me at this juncture, and for n mo-
ment / felt as if sinking to the cellar.
The first thing that brought me to was
hearing the girl say: ''Ain't you going?
1 want to lock the door. And l found
myself out in the snow again.
A dark object stood in the road, en-
circled in whirling snow mists. Out of
it came: cousin Kitty, get into my
chaise, y and a man sprang out. 1t was
Cousin John.
mot for u thousand worldsl' l cried,
striking out for home and wrapping my
soggy dress around the poor bonnet.
~. Ill I'll = > =
And without further preamble he took
me in his arms, hurried out to the car
riagc and put me therein, the wedding
bonnet meanwhile slipping to the ground.
"Where is the blasted thing2" cried
Cousin John, poking in the snow n bit.
Evidently the horse was ~displeased
with her master for taking her out from
n comfortable nap. At any rate, she wa
determined to start without waiting for
his word. And knowing she was naughty
and would be whipped for it, she decided
to go TIE whole figure and have some fun
out of it. Accordingly, off she bounded
with a snort, leaving Cousin John and the
wedding bonnet n long distance back in
the snow covered road.
My indignation now gave place to n
certainty that l should be dashed to
pieces. l could hear Cousin John shout
ing to the creature in n voice that I
should have admired had tho circum-
stances been different. l could then see
that he was rushing like lightning after
us, but no human power now seemed
able to stop the beast, whose blood was
up, particularly rs the reins had been
thrown up over her back by the impct-
ous hand of her master as he sprang
out. Yet, knowing that the time should
have been spent in prayer, l laughed till
the tears rolled down my checks and my
overweight nerves had n little Gained
themselves.
And now the very thing l thought not
possible had happened. The carriage
came to a sudden stop. How, l didn't
know then; afterward l realized the ex-
PLANTATION that the reins had caught in
the mares foot, throwing her against a
friendly tree. Here Cousin John rushed up.
"You poor childl' he cried. After
seeing that the horse was all right, and
possessing himself of the reins, he looked
into the carriage. 81 should think you
could laughI' he exclaimed, indignantly.
II couldn't help it" 1 cried, wiping
my eyes. ''Have you got the bonnet2"
1.-THE deuce take the thingl Beg par.
don, cousin. No, 1 haven't go it, nor l
shan't get it, either" With that he en-
sconced himself by my side, turned, and
drove off toward home.
"'Are you wet2" he asked, after n mo-
ment's pause, in which he ought have
been arrested for fast driving.
mot much" l said, trying to wiring
the soft nuns yelling out of my side OF
the carriage.
"And not n thing on your head" he
said, whipping up the horse. Cray
child, TO come out sol l ought to have
stopped you instead of getting my horse
to follow you"
How did you know it was burnedT''
l asked.
81 heard you give a cry, and 1 turned
back, then / saw for myself
"And now she never will be married, >
l cried tragically, land l have ruined al
her plans for life"
"Nonsensel" Cousin John exploded.
Ruined your own, more likely. Shell
cut you off from her will before she sleeps
tonight. Don't worry about her; she's
probably Mrs. Luke Potter by this time
heaven help him."
This WIS comfort, indeed, and I basket
III II