The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-10
THE SLEIGH RIDE.


The afternoon is as bright as a glowing
sun shining upon the fresh snow of the nigh
/ previous can make it. The air is mild anc
yet the snow has not melted enough to spoi
the Seighing, and Tom Prince and Kitti'
Maynard are enjoying what is known il
FELTON, as the ''ten mile drive"
The ''ten mile driven is a long stretch o.
winding country roads, following which one
circles three lakes. now frozen over; passes
through the corners Of three townships, and
after all varieties of hill and dale, of woodland
and OF open, comes back to the village from
which he started, pretty little Felton,, nestled
down among the hills Ike a wood pigeon
upon her nest.
Tom and Kittie had known each other from
childhood. and in the days of boy and girl
hood, before they had gone away for what
the farmers around about called their "edica-
ton" they had played at being lovers in the
regulation country fashion. Since Tom had
graduated from college, however, and Kittie
had returned from boarding school, there had
been manifest difference of relations be-
tween them 1t was perhaps that they did
not wholly recognize each other in the ma
tured and changed person each met, and that
It was harder TO become acquainted with this
stranger who bore the name of an old friend
and showed 50 many Of the old traits than it
would have been to begin a fresh friendship
with one who was really total stranger.
They had grown shy Of each other from
the very strangeness of the new sensation
which they felt In the presence of the other,
and two or three times already had Mistress
Kittie declined an invitation from Tom to
take this very ''ten mile drive" upon which
they had now embarked. Today, however,
the delightful softness of the weather, the
brilhancy with which the sun shone, the sight
of the span of trotters in which Tom took a
very Unsuitable pride, and perhaps some
secret inclination to try a touch Of the old
time Irritation, had made Kittie say yes when
she had fully intended to say no, and once
the word had been spoken there was no draw
ing back
1t could not be denied that Tom handled
the reins well, and it Is probable that the
young man himself was not Ignorant of that
fact, it rot being a strongly marked charac-
terlstic of enamored sEains to be wholly I'M
aware of the situations in which they are
most likely to be pleasing to the eye of the
fair whose smiles they would win.
At least, whether be did or did not know
1t, Tom undeniRbly did drive well, and be
also looked his best ia the fur cap and fur
trimmed coat IN which upon this especial day
he was arrsyed. Kittie, of course, pretended
not to look at him at all, while as a matter
of fact she could not have kept her eyes off
aim if her life had depended upon it.
She was well enough worth looking at her
self, it might be added, with her seal skins
and the clear color in her cheeks Tom
thought she had never looked so pretty in
her life, and it is not impossible that he was
quite right in the matter As the pair went
Swimming along to the juggling of the sleigh
bells which has so many a time been be,
praised and be-rhymed, and which cannot
become hackneyed or dull despite of it ali,
they were a very attractive and charming
Young couple, and that one could safely
maintain in the face of whatever contra
diction.
They had not much to say at filat Tom
was good deal occupied win has horses,
which had not been out for some DAYS and
were fresh accordingly, and for Kite,
she had enough to do in watching Tom and
pretending that she was utterly Indifferent
whether she were here in the sleigh with
Tom Prince, or seated at home droning over
the most stupid book in her Aunt Priscilla's
shelf Of memoirs Of deSd and gone mission
aries. She was, besides, zoo bIissfUlly con
tent to care whether she said anything or
not, and It was not until they got to AckieyiS
Hill that they began to talk at all Ackley's
Hill was a long steep stretch of nearly a mile,
one Of those tedious hiHs which make driving
III certain partsof New England 50 like doing
pennnce In the steepest portions of the paths
of virtue. The span capered along for little
at the foot Of the long grade, but they were
acquainted with the place Of old, and it
hardly needed the rein TO remind them that
they had a deal of uphill pulling to do before
they came to the top of the slope
1T is strange how these old places bring
up things" Tom said suddenly, as the sleigh
glided more slowly. just then, when I
looked up, the sight Of the Old bill, and the
feeling Of going up Ackley's as I've gone 50
often, brought up that time when Tim Law
ton and May Nanley were thrown out here
Don't You remember
"RememberT' answered Kittie. Il shouldn't
forget If should i've to be a thousand years
old. / was never 50 frightened in my life"
II was just SUCH d t4tlN a. tLlS, ION went
on, land you know that
"Dont." kittie broke in.
Don't whatF
Don't talk OF it till we get of this hill"
"Why notl'
at Is silly, Of course, =" she answered, but
it makes me nervous.
"TEeu I VIII not say 4 word more about il.
not even to remind YOU that the stone they
struck on Is she one we passed FIVE minute
age"
''WaSnt 1t horrib'e3' Ei-tjc gent CT. in.