The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-08-09

fore. and every one always on taeir
knees to me. And now, the very one
who absorbs my thought-cold. cold,
coldr
Don't be silly, Gen. You're so fred
up at finding any one you can become
romantic over. that you are as blind
rs hickory nut, besides being dread
fully awkward when he's around.
Moreover, Hall Balkan is perfectly
splendid-so handsome and So manlyi
| don't wonder you like him tremcn-.'
dously. And the idea of him not COM
ing under your spell! AS for me, just
know he thinks you are irresistible. |
know you are in his mind
You love me, and try to think me
vanquisher of all hearts. no matter
how brave and Free" murmured
Gencyieve. But my former con-
quests have not been all convincing,
because Mr. Balkan is really the only
true, fine person of enviable position
and means whom / ever met in our
set There seem to be thousand
foolish bachelors to one downright
herop
II think Hall is fine fellow" Nellie
again admitted, softly thrusting her
little hand upon Genevieve's arm for
few steps, and then stopping her ar
bitrarily, and letting the others catch
up with them. How far north we
seem!" she then exclaimed. Il am
sure the Arctic sea is over that hill of
pines by the meadow. Ribbons of
white cloud and this exhilarating at
mosphere make me feel as if | were
somebody else. Oh, we are explorers!
Is that q Polar bear or snow drift2"
she concluded, pointing to white
banked gate post by the cattle lane.
Cecil Morton tried to shuttle the lit
tie party in such way that he would
come next TO Genevieve; but she evad-
ed him by sheer force of desperation.
And, as luck would have it, Hall Bal
kan camo UP to her with his fine,
hearty good cheer and asked her to
walk with him as far as a wide spread
ing elm at considerable distance
down the high road; and Nellie Feath-
erly heard him say it. A damask flush
all over Gencvieve's face made Balkan
glance around to SEQ if the sunset he'd
begun yet; but the west was as gray
as flagstone. Genevieveswas willing
and they started off at huge pace.
which the rest tried TO initiate; but not
too well, as every one of the girls
thought that Balkan wanted to propose
to his companion, and determined to
let him have chance.
At last the two figures in advance
stopped under the delicate tracery of
the great, bare elm tree, and seemed
to be talking earnestly Then a cry
went up from Nellie Featherly, for
Genevieve had sunk to the ground,
evidently in faint, and Balkan
kneeled at her side.
1.-THE walk was too rapid for her!"
exclaimed Nellie, otf-hand. "Oh, Mr..
Morton, why must you always be ask
ing us togo for constitutionals; they'll
be the death of us!" And Nellie,
whom no one had ever seen really
provoked before, gave him a cross
glance; and then went on a run, ac-
companied by the reproved Morton,
toward her friend, while. the others
followed, moro or less ardently.
AS faithful Nellie ran, she discerned
q strange black cloud rolling toward
them all down the snowy road. Soon
the motion of two prancing horses be.
came apparent; and as Nellie reached
Genevieve's PROSTATE form, in the
middle of the road, over which Balkan
was bending in absorbed dismay, the
plucky girl realized that runaway
team was in full swing at a few yards
distance and quite unobserved by any
one but herself and Cecil Morton, who
shouted to Nellie to have a care and
jump aside.
But this Nellie never thought of do
ing. On she ran, beyond Genevieve,
whose danger was so imminent-and
what could she do to avert the danger2
In her muff was ball of snow, which
had been reduced by careful manipu-
lation (under Morton's Instructions to
an icy consistency; capable, as her
teacher had explained, of killing any
body if rightly aimed. 1t is by no
means easy to swerve the direction Of
a maddened horse. But one of these
was running away because the other
wanted to, and he yet retained some
common sense. At any rate, Nellie
drew forth her icy ball in a twinkling
and hurled it, by good luck, at the
saner horse (for they were now close
at hanD with such splendid vigor and
true aim that it hit him furiously on
the nose. He plunged aside, slipped
on the hard crust of the old snow be-
side the road, and kecled over, carry
ing his rampant mate with him into
the ditch. They were powerful
team belonging to Nellie's uncle and
were dragging an empty wood sledge.
Their driver was hallooing in the dis
lance as he ran YEARLY along.
Nellie pondered moment over the
success of her defense and gazed at the
quivering limbs of the foe, and then
turned back to Genevieve, painting.
The girls were on the bank at the
other side of the road.
Meantime, Balkan had but just
looked up, realized the peril and
caught Genevieve in his arms, while
Morton threw his weight wildly upon
tho Young mans struggling shoulders.