Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-06
THE TOBOGGAN QUEEN

THE TOB0GGAN QUEEN.
That h . dangerous pastfme.' remarked
Mia Boynton, who bad been chosen queen u
The lev reyeis and damisd all eyes with h1
Beauty and won an hearts with her dash and
grace.
shs vas watching . marry party crowd
upon oas u the large on sisds Of the country,
and involuntariiy tremblsd - xhe saw Il dash
down the ICY bill amid reckless laughter, hood
voiced songs and little screams Of fear.
-Yes,' was answered by one she had n'estsd
h hsr charms, 1t would require very little to
turn the sled aside and send it crashing down
among the trees or over the high rockz.
And them with . shudder) broken limbs
end los Of hfe would be the inevitable 70
sultfr
Certainly; but skiilfuily guided there 4
less danger than you imagine, and very ses-
dom has an accident occurred
Il never bad one Of any kind For three
years my pretty toboggan and have sbos
down many dizzy height, and should any
thing happen il would not involve nunbera,
but myself alone"
~Aioner he Questioned with his flushed
tngs Of his heart.
Her quick womans Wit read his secret more
clearly than ever before, but she was too much
Of coquette to easily giyeup her maiden
Liberty. IL would require SONS strong con
yulsion Of her heart TO cause it 10 freely give
la return the love she knew was hers and Of
which she was proud. But permitting no
time for further expression Of his feelings she
dropped gracefully upon her sliding craft
and was whiriei out Of sight.
The slide al Hillside was equal to any in
the country. Starting from the top Of
mountain it wound downward for more than
y mile with broad lake stretching away at
the bottom Every irregularity bad been
filled, iced over, planned down, and for the en-
tire length tho surface resembled polished
glass. Encroaching trees had been removed,
brilliantly coloret Chinese lanterns hung sus-
pended from the branches, and hambeaux Oh
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 craze had
penetrated the mountain regions without
bringing the fashionable tobogganer, with the
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, was dressed
with picturesque taste and richness that sur
passed all others. The combination Of crimson
plush and fur set OF her well developed figure
to the best advantage: the little cap was worn
jauntily; the tiny silver bells that frlnged the
short skirt and jacket made music with every
movement
Her lover made no effort 10 follow, but
waited her return Flushed with exercise and
with eyes dancing In the most happy Of moods,
she looked NOR. beautiful 20 him than ever
before, and with difficulty be restrained his
arden. lips from the avowal Of what was fast
becoming all consuming passion. But she
,killfully avoided giving him an opportunity.
As the hours grew later the fun became
more fast and furious" -Formalities were
abolished the huge sleds NOR crowded, the
laughter and song more hearty, and when
girlish forms trembled from the almost
breathless swiftness Of the descent, manly
arms we're ready to support and II need be,
protect But the queen continued to co;rse
alone, notwithstanding the entr.aties Of bsr
lover to be permitted to accompany her.
"If were a man" she laughed al would
be the very last to beg for what had right
to demcnd," and springing tantaliznsly upon
her toboggan she cut short the conversation.
He understood the challenge, flung himself
upon u sled and followed, hoping to overtake
her Archly looking back she beckoned him
on, and seemingly enjoyed distancing and
discomfiting him. Then, as II plying, she
permitted him to sit by her side on the ;iow,
upward journey, and became more gra1iously
tender than ever before.
s'The sport will soon end, he said, glancing
at his watch as they neared the top of the
mountain.
"What timer she questioned hastily, and
az IL to bar the words she feared he might
utter
within quarter of an hour Of midnight,
and
"The very next s,it.c niust be the last"
"And viii you not permit me to ride with
you and guide your toboggan, 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. spsinging lightly from the sled, she
exclaimed
Her we are at the top
.WiIl YOU not go'r he asked Of the queen
as she stood with one dainty foot tapping upon
her toll, an.
Al must be the last she replied, must see
the last of my subjects depart"
"And as prime minister will remain and
guard you from danger"
(which cannot possibly arise
at is to be hoped not, but to assure myself
of your safety | must be ever by your side
Seei" 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 endeavorng to get home"
The beautiful face flushed yet more rosily
as she comprehended the fun meaning Of his
words and her black eyes flashed with q
softer, II brighter, light. But, as still guard
ing any confession they might treacherousy
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 sleds. and at last stood alone upon the
crest Of the mountain-she and her lover.
He saw his opportunity and was not slow to
improve it.
"My tobogganr she questioned, after look
ing anxiously around and failing to find it.
Safe" b. laughed, with slight ring Of
triumph in his voice.
@You do not meansthat YOU
al mean that as man | intend to be the
very last to beg for what I 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
him. "But l must 60 What will the rest
thinkr
Little care l. Yet you are right. We
must Be- s,ing; but Ella, win you not firss
tell me that the love offer is not refusedl
viii you not permit me to guide the toboggan
and
YES, that promise" she hastily inter
supted Now, get it, please, and
yet one more promise, my darling. Prom
IN to be my queen for life, my hope, my
love, my blessing" and her hands were 20 i'm
prisoned That she with difficulty released
them.
@Yes, prom she commenced. but, dis.
covering her tobcggan, left the sentence un-
finished, and with the coquetry Of her nature
fed toward it, looked back iaughingly, then
with colorless face and ashy lips she turned,
staggered toward him and fell half fainting
Ct his feet.
In the name Of heaven, what Is the
matterF he asked, as be raised and held her
trembling as an affrichfad bird in his arrr,s