Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-26
THE TOBOGGAN QUEEN.

THE TOB0GGAN QUEEN.
THAT . dangerous pastime," remarked
Kla Boyntos, who bad bsen chcsen queen Il
the icy revels and dazzied al eyes with h@
beauty and won all hearts with her dash and
grnca.
She was watching . nary party crowd
upon one Of the large on dds Of the country,
and involunsarily trembled - she saw it dash
down the Icy hill amid reckless laughter, loud
voiced SONGS and little screams Of fear.
.Yes,' WINS answered by one she bad meshed
IN her charms, it would require very little TO
turn the Sled aside and send it crashing down
among the trees or over the high rocks
-And them with shudder1 broken limbs
and ioss Of life would be the inevitable 70
sultr
certainly; but skillfully guided there b
len danger than you imagine, and very sci
dom has an accident occurred
Il never had one Of any kind For three
years my pretty toboggan and have shot
down many dizzy height, and should any
thing happen it would not involve numbers,
but myself alone"
-Alonef" he questioned with his flushed
cheeks and flashing eyes revealing the long
Tugs Of his heart
Her quick woman's wit read his secret more
clearly than ever before, but she WINS too much
Of . coquette to easily giveup her maiden
liberty. 1t would require some strong con
vulsion Of her heart to cause 1t to freely give
In return the love she knew was hers AMI OF
which she was proud. But permitting no
time FOR further expression Of his feelings she
dropped gracefully upon her sliding craft
and was whirled out Of sight
The slide at Hillside was equal to any in
the country. Starting from the top OF
mountain it wound downward for more than
q mile, with broad lake stretching away at
the bottom Every irregularity had been
filed, iced over, planed down, and for the en-
tire length the surface resembled polished
glass Encroaching trees had been removed,
brilliantly colored Chinese lanterns hung sus-
pended from the branches, and dambeaux Of
pitchy knots and resinous bark flashed strong
and ruddy light The rustic cottages on the
crest Of the mountain gave ample shelter and
refreshment, and the sleds were drawn up by
spirited horses or patiently Flooding cattle.
The means Of descending the icy slope were
Of primitive construction The 1craze" had
penetrated the mountain regions without
bringing the fashionable tobogganer. with tho
single exception Of the queen-a visitor from
. more favored locality.
And well Ella Boynton merited the title be-
slowed upon her, She was tall, 1.-THE, yet
stately, red Tipped and red checked, with the
blacklist possible Of hair and eyes, WINS dressed
with picturesque taste and richness that sur
passed all others The combination Of crimson
plush and fur set Oh her well developed figure
to the best advantage; the little cap was worn
jauntily; the tiny silver bells that fringed the
short skirt and jacket made music with every
movement
Her lover made no effort to follow, but
waited her return Flushed with exercise and
with eyes dancing tn the most happy Of moods,
she looked more beautiful TO him than ever
before, and with difficulty he restrained his
arden. lips from the avowal Of what was fast
becoming an all consuming passion. But she
skillfully avoided giving him an opportunity.
As the hours grew later the fun became
more -fast and furious" Formaities were
abolished, the huge sleds more crowded, the
laughter and song more hearty. and when
girlish forms tremblsd from the almost
breathless swiftness Of the descent, manly
arms were ready to support and, If need be,
protect. But the queen continued tc course
MODe, MISUNDERSTANDING tue euITthlleT of us5
lover to be permitted to accompany her.
"If l were a man. she laughed, Il would
be the very last to beg for what bad q right
to demand and springing tantalizingly upon
her toboggan she cut short the conversation
He understood the challenge, flung himself
upon sled and followed, hoping to overtake
her. Archly looking back she beckoned him
on, and seemingly enjoyed distancing and
boz, ,,it aha
permitted him to sit by her side on the low,
upward journey, and became more graciously
tender than ever before.
1.-THE sport will soon end, +" he said, glancing
at his watch as they neared the top Of the
mountain
"What timel" she questioned hastily, and
as il to bar the words she feared he might
utter.
within quarter of an hour Of midnight,
1The very next slide must be the last"
"And will you not permit me to ride with
you and guide your toboegan, as l would
your
He would have said "your way through
life" She intuitively knew what the ending
of his softly whispered words would have
been. Springing lightly from the sled, she
exclaimed:
"Here we are at the top"
.Will YOU not go'" he asked Of the queen,
~ she stood with one dainty foot tapping upon
her toboggan.
II must be the last" she replied, amust see
the last Of my subjects depart"
"And as prime minister will remain and
guard you from danger"
(which cannot possibly arise"
ut is to be hoped not, but to assure myself
of your safety must be ever by your side
Seel" He sent his own sled unoccupied down
the mountain side and continued: "Now the
queen must take pity on her most humble
subject and give him place upon her tobog-
gan or leave him to remain and probably
freeze to death in endeavoring to get home"
The beautiful face flushed yet more rosily
as she comprehended the full meaning of his
words. and her black eyes flashed with .
softer, il brighter, light. But. as still guard
ing any confession they might treacherously
make, she turned away and took an unwonted
interest in the giddy scene.
From group to group she fitted, gave the
word for starting one after another OF the
great sletls, and at last stood alone upon the
crest Of the inountain-she and her lover.
He saw Ills opportunity and was not slow to
improve it.
any toboggan.' she questioned, after look
ing anxiously around and failing to find it
"Safe," hs laughed, with q slight ring Of
triumph in his voice.
1You do not mean that YOU
u mean that as a man / intend to he the
very last to beg for what have right to
demand" he answered, almost quoting her
own words.
at is taking an unfair advantage" she
pouted, but so prettily as to even more charm