Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-22
7. ]. FOX G son.
$50 NORTH MAIN.
A HORSE LAUGH.
How It Betrayed a Young Man In
Women's Clothes.
A Party of Cleveland Ladies Indulge in 9
Peculiar Sleigh Ride-Sad Result of
the Surreptftious Introduction
of the Masculine Element.
cleveland Leader.

| cleveland Leader.
|, A coarse guffaw, a smothered giggle,
and 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 pranced
! out Woodland avenue few nights since.
| On the high seat was a man with a fur
/ cap and chin whiskers. La one hand he
swung aloft whip, while with the other
he held the four leather lines that guided
his bell-covered steeds. At last he stopped
! before a palatial mansion. A minute later
a lady closely wrapped and yelled 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. Four more
ladies joined the one and away went the
sled again. The next stop brought eight
ladies from gayly-lighted residence who
also cambered into the sled and slowed
themselves away among the warm robes
and blankets in the bottom.
"Where shall 1 go now?" asked the fur
cap and chin whiskers.
"Drive 10 Mr.. Blanks, on Woodland
avenue,'' said one of the ladies. Then
turning to her companion, she remarked:
"Mits Blank when she heard that the la
dies of our church intended to give a
sleighing party, asked if she might bring
young school friend, who is visiting her.
knew you would not object, so / 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
jingled, and the man on the high seat
whistled lowly. Mr.. Blanks residence
was reached in due time, Miss Blank and
her friend were waiting, and hastily found
snug corners in the great covered sled.
More ladies joined the party, anti by 1880
O'Clock the sled was packed with fur-cov-
cred figures, who chatted necessarily. The
fur cap and chin whiskers was then di-
rected to drive out Eucli d avenue until he
came to Colts where a steaming supper
awaited the jolly sleighers.
Crack went the whip again, and away
the horses plunged as if conscious of the
precious and merry party there were
drawing The ladies talked about every
thing. They were alone; no man was near
deaf, and very busy. Miss Blank and her
friend seemed to enjoy the ride very
much, but they remained silent and per-
mitted the others to do the talking. A
great many things were said. Gentlemen
acquaintance were discussed, matrimon-
ial affairs were considered, and jokes
were cracked along with the drivers
whip. 1t was roaring party to be sure.
Miss Blank and her friend were all attep-
ton; they heard everything, saw every
thing, but said nothing. At $50 the
steaming steeds stopped at Colts, and
the ladies began to alight. Some were in
the act of scrambling out OF their warm
nests, others were shaking the folds of
their dresses TO straighten out the
wrinkles, and still others were indulg-
ing in pleasant conversation not intended
for masculine ears. During all this COM
motion Miss Blank was seen to whisper to
her friend. Suddenly the coarse guffaw
and the smothered giggle referred to
foated out upon the moonlit night.
When the echo of the laugh died away
there was silence for an instant. The ladies
looked into each others faces, and then
screamed and ran away. They collected in
a little group, and with bullying eyes and
crimson cheeks, exclaimed: "Did you
ever!" Finally pretty girl of seventeen,
or Whereabouts. informed her mother with
bated breath that she recognized the hoarse
laugh as that OF Jack -, the best young
man Of Mss Blank. TSe little group stared
aghast. Then, without word, it returned
to the sled. got in, and directed the chin
whiskers to drive back to the city. No one
said word. The driver ceased his whist
ling the horses laid back their ears, the
supper at Colts grew cold, and the hot tea
disappeared in vapory clouds.
At ten O'Clock Miss Blank and her friend
left the sled in silence, lodged into the
house, and fell into each others arms.
"Oh, Jack" said Miss Blank, as she gazed
ut her lover, didn't we have jolly time?n
Jack said that they had, and then went up
stairs 10 take off his back hair and petit
coats. The ladies of that church will take
their husbands along next time.