The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-12-13
WHERE ALECK FOUND A LOST LOVE
AND A WIFE.
PeterSon's MAGAZINE,

PeterSon's Magazine
l had Just finished hearty supper, and had
ordered my horses to be brought to the door,
when the landlord of the country inn entered
the room, rubbing his hands in an awkward
manner, as if he did not know Just what to say.
In fact, he was so slow about speaking that
removed my pipe from my mouth long enough
to exclaim:
"Well"
Still continuing his rubbing, thing which
always exasperated me, he replied to my excla-
nation by saying:
at is an odd request | have to make sir,
considering the state of the roads, but there is
a lady here tonight who is desperately anxious
to get to Brenton by morning"
"Then why don't she go?"
'"That's the point, sir; she can't. All my
horses are storm-stayed somewhere in the
country, and you can't hire team hereabouts,
as you may know"
As there was no house within three miles,
the landlords proposition seemed incontrover-
tible.
'tHow did the lady get here?' asked.
"She came just before you did, sir, with one
horse; and the young fellow that drove don't
appear to have much sense Leastwise, he's
most killed the horse, and it would finish it
certain to send it out again on these roads,"
am not naturally disobliging but to be
asked to take passenger in your sleigh when
the snow is deep and likely to be drifted, and
you are in considerable hurry, is not the most
agreeable request in the world, especially when
the passenger is a lady, and therefore more
apt to be hindrance than an aid in case of
any difficulty arising on the way. More
over, since Kate Macdonald and had quarrel
ed over the attentions paid her by her rich
and handsome cousin, which she either could
not or would not explain, l had never felt in
the mood for ladies' society; and that was
could it be possible two years ago.
Where was Katie now? l often wondered.
Perhaps at her home in Kentucky, possibly
married to the handsome cousin. good
many things may happen in two years. True
very little had happened to me; but then not
much is to be expected when one is on railway
survey outside the limits OF civilization. The
winter drive was now taking was not on regu-
lar business, but was undertaking as special
favor for the head contractor, who said that GER
tain papers received from England must reach
his brother, confirmed invalid living near the
little town of Brenton, by certain day.
foDin the days of which | write, they had not
penetrated everywhere. Hence, had to tray
el by team and so bad had the roads proved,
that was very near being behind time. As
it was. if every thing went well l would get
through in good season. My plan was to drive
through, if possible, but, if the roads should
prove impossible, resolved to leave the horses
at some farmhouse and walk in on snow
shoes. Under these circumstances to be asked
to take lady passenger was certainly the last
request could have DESIRED
''She really seems in great trouble, sir, be-
cause she can't go on" said the landlord, as l
paused before replying to his previous remark.
"Well, tell her to get ready" said II sup
pose will have to say yes
"By the way, sill" said the landlord, IF you
have not been over the road before, you want,
when you get past the burnt land. ten miles
from here, to keep sharp lookout to the right
for road that turns off there. Take that.
The straight road leads to Brenton, but nobody
lives on it. Oh, yes, it is travelled some," he
added, in response to my question, but IN case
you have to leave the team, you know"
"All right; I'll look out But tell the lady
to hurry, for the horses are coming"
The landlord vanished, and prepared for
the drive When had donned my overcoats,
turned up the collar of the outer one, pulled
down my fur cap, and taken two turns around
my neck with huge comforter, caught
glimpse of myself in the glass, and laughed at
the thought that my intending passenger
would not be able to tell whether she had a
Young man or an old one for a companion
Scarcely indeed whether was black or white
Going out to the sleigh, l arranged the robes
to my liking, and was just beginning to get
impatient to be off, when an animated bundle
of clothes, with q suggestion of femininlty
about it, emerged from the inn-door, followed
by the landlord.
'"Here's your passenger, sir" he cried, ad-
ding: "By gracious, but it's cold night!
A
clothes said something that l did not quite catch
and made no reply The lady took her place in
the sleigh. sprang in beside her, the landlord
and the hostler tucked in the robes bade us
good night, and we were off under the shining
stars, with much tinkling of bells, the
sleigh runners singing over the frosty snow.
1t was twenty-four miles to Brenton, and the
loneliest road in the state.
/ did not feel sufficiently reconciled tohaving
a companion to be much disposed to conversa-
ton, but, as the wind came with more than
unusual fierceness through an opening IN the
trees, inquired of the lady if she felt cold.
She hesitated for almost minute before reply
ing, when she assured me by curt monosyi-
liable that she was not. Sociable-very
thought l, and made no further effort to talk.
The going was heavy, but not especially so,
for the way lay through the forest and was
not drifted. Four miles brought us to the
burnt land; a long, wind swept space, where
there were Just enough fallen trees along the
roadway to catch the driven snow. 1t soon
appeared that the road here was succession
of drifts not deep, but solid, and that, II any
teams bad been over it during the day, their
tacks had long since been filled in. Indeed L
could see in the bright starlight that fine snow
almost like ice DUST was moving swiftly over
the great white surface spread out before us
The horses could no longer trot, but settled
down to walk, the wind whistling through
the harness and blowing their names and
tails till they projected almost horizontally.
How cold it was T! In the northwest the bright
disk of venus shone with wonderful splendor,
and the pitiless wind seemed to come straight
from the star. There seemed to be merclless
glare in the splendid planet, and longed for a
Cloud to cover it from sight. | shivered
under all my clothing and began to feel uneasy
for my companion.
"Are YOU cold?' shouted for the wind
rendered it useless to speak in an ordinary
tone. muffied as we were, and not facing each
other.
She answered that she was, whereupon l
told her to get as low down in the sleigh as
possible, which she did, and pulled the robes
over her head she nesting very close to me.
Somehow this was not altogether disagree
able and in my imagination l began to picture
what my companion was like. j concluded
that she was young and beautiful, without
any reason whatever, except that 1t would De
vastly more pleasant to be taking care OF sucn
a girl than of one who was old and ill-favored.
The wind-swept stretch of road was six
miles long, and when we had gone about one
third of the distance the horses stopped: LOOK,
ing ahead found that the drifts had deepened
and that they were standing in it up to their
| bodies. urged them little. but soon saw
| of no use. They only plunged in manner to
endanger themselves and the sleigh. There
was but one thing to do-get out and break
| a road. Telling my companion to crouch low
| in the sleigh covered her well with the robes,
| and going in front of the horses began to tramp
| down the snow. The poor animals stood
| shivering in the wind, and l worked with all
my speed; yet it was more than an hour,
| Judge, before had a track made for them.
| When returned to the sleigh, was thorough.
| ly heated and as wet from perspiration as if
| had been plunged into water. l knew. l was
running fearful risk in sitting down in that
piercing wind, but there seemed to be no al
Tentative. so, protecting myself as well as pos
sible from the blast, which seemed to grow
in strength. urged the horses along. As they
proceeded slowly my companion threw the
covering from her head and said:
"You must have got heated, working as you
did, and you will take cold unless you take