Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-12-27

Z
Ticicc escaped TO look around at the
couple behfsld me.
No acrid and hopeless spinster walk
ing regretfully ON the shadowy side of
maidenhood but straightens her back,
drops her shoulders and smoothes out
her wrinkles as the music of the bells
plays variations on half forgotten /
theme Of, coy sleigh and comfortable [
wrappers all winding up with crush
ing crescendo OF hot oysters and merry I
reel.
And to those young hearts. suscepti- /
bic to frolic as to sentiment and throb. |
bing for ever changing excitement, what I
q delicious bound it sendsl
Oh. the bells. sleighinx bells,
What world OF merriment their melody fore
tells.
Yes, sleighing is glorious. lis the
next best thing 70 flying to sit in the
light, strong cutter and glide over the
smooth surface without noise or Jar,
seeming scarce to touch it. Your glossy
black, catching the lively inspiration of
his bells, shakes his head in huge frolic.
stretches out afresh and spurns the snow
In lighter wreaths from his ever quick
ening heels. Now for brushl See that
yellow jumper just ahead. Hu-y-a-ahl
and the reins tighten, tho clean head
goes straighter out, the snow wreaths fly
higher still behind the strong hoofs. We
are OIL We close the gap-the yellow
sleigh gains once more--a length, twol
Once more we close and fly along neck
and neck. How the bells peal and
shrieEl How the horses race now as IL
for their own honorl How the clear,
keen wind whistles past the fur tipped
ears, exf1ilarating like huge bumpers of
champagne, as we fly along side by side
for three hundred yardsi Just ahead
looms huge ''pung" loaded down and
creeping over tho snow. Now is the
time; now or neverl Straighten back,
brace kneei Down comes the 1.-the lash
over the blacks TANKS, and what squirt
we havel The brown mare strains every
muscle; her driver lays fiat back on tho
ribbons-now he plies his whip like madi
He laps us again; For a hundred yards
you could cover them both with blan-
ketl Once more we forge length
ahead. We near tho pung-we gain a
leugth--two. Hu-ya-a-ahl and the brown
is in the airl We feel her hot breath on
our necks; we just Craze the ping, fear
fully close, and wind in just before herl
oh, that was gloriousl
And il anything can add to the fun it
! Is to have o particular somebody tucked
| in beside one, with pair Of bright eyes
| that dance TO the merry music Of the
| rich laugh, with tiny hand that rests,
in pretty fright, on tho tense arm that
| guides the black thought too near the
A. II. - =.
problem of easy solution--given. a
neat cutter and q fast horse, TO find any
unknown quantity of tender femininity
alongside.
But haven't forgotten my story?
had just sprung the lock of my valist
and wiped from my brow the drops that
haste brought there even that bitter day
when Jones tally-ho rang through the
frosty street. Giving a final caress K
the mouche on the wounded chin reflect
ed by my parting glance at the mirror,
rushed down with my baggage. Ton
sat with the reins twisted round hi
heavy gauntlets, beaming and trium
phant, and his mustache one solid calz
of ice. The horses stood stock still
covered with rapidly freezing foam, an,
blowing out volumes of mist that form
cd II delicate frostwork around thei
nostrils.
"What did tell you? Look Mt tn
Kittens" was the drivers salute; and a
if to corroborate it, the gray mare mad
terrific lunge forward, while "Jalap
, stood straight up and paved the air.
"So-hoi steady, boysy" and the heuteI
ant braced l1imaelf hard against the gray
while the 1exible wrist brought the lon
lash over tie sorrels neck. 80, there
, steady now. Bundle in quick nov, oil
! boy, while they arc quiet"
D In bumped nay valise. signal for ii
e bTuto3 10 execute another war danes
$ over the hack seat tnmbled. and. {
\ two pairs of heels threw a binding shows
of snow and icicles into my eyes an
down my back. / went headforenaost ini
the folds OF the buffalo.