Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-06-05

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Coming she cried.
She pulled on her jacket, tied on her
white zephyr hood, and catching up her
nltSens ran down the steep stairway %
the kitchen. Ten minutes later she
was out beside the sleigh, where, in an
agony Of difhdence and delight Reuben
Bassett waited. He sprang cut, helped
her IN. Then the team trotted bciskly
OF.
Jingle! jangle! jingle.
There was no other sound for awhile
Reuben felt himself relapsing into his
usual nervous silence. lie made q
herolc attempt at conversation.
1t is a beautiful night. he said
Ills voice sounded husky and strange
to himself. This was his first drive.
tirst real tete-a-tete with the girl he
loved
Is ito" shecried. with silvery laugh.
dark?"
This was rather discouraging. What,
Reuben wondered rather dejectedly,
would Bob have said next?
The moon will be up pretty soon,"
he murmured
How horribly fast the horses were
going. He felt tremendously grateful
70 Bob for giving him this opportunity.
II he only had enough courage to profit
by it!
Do you know, he said, Il was afraid
+ you'd be offended at my coming"
( Offended She echoed. ..Whv. |
was glad you thought OF bringing me-"
It's very good Of you to say So
I She was a tride puzzled by his en-
/ barrassment
We are going to have fine night
after all, She remarked; 1.-The stars are
coming out"
The little face in the white zephyr
hood was upturned to the i1indling sky.
And then, very suddenly, he did an ex-
I traordinarily strange thing for a bashful
man to do He never afterward could
comprehend how he had been valorous
enough for such an act He bent and
kissed the girl beside HIM
She drew back trembling
You have no right to do that" she
cried.
Give me the right, he pleaded
grown bold all at once. I'm awfully in
love with sou, Sylvia. Give me the
right
4 can not, She whispered.
Why note"
She was silent. Distinctly sounded the
oiatter of the horses hoofs on the hard,
white road. Onward the sleigh sped, by
farms and fences and q few red-gold
window panes.
is there, he asked, any one else?"
She hesitated.
Yes
His heart sank like lead. There was
no hope for him, then. In silence they
drove on. The moon had risen and was
swinging up the sky, globe of pearl.
Evidently they We're late. When they
reached the small wooden school-house
where the reunions were held they saw
several teams hlJched without From
the windows Of the structure the light
streamed. They could catch pleasant
murmur Of voices.
Brighter tie moonlight had grown.
As Bassett assisted Sylvia to alight she
started. cried out
What is ie?' he asked.
His face vas pale, and, she fancied,
rather stern
Is ityou2@ she painted, Reuben Bas-
sett?"
! who, he asked, culver in his
4 grave voice, did you think it was2"
She had not Withdrawn the hand she
( had given him when about 10 descend.
/ Now il futtered in his like q captured
bird
I thought, she falrered, Il was Gith
| your cousia.'
Bob Benham?"
Yes
I He went sep nearer.
sylvia, be questioned, queer, wild
I hope Juggling at Lis sorrowful soul and
making hin desperately brave, did you
mean no 70 him2"
He could hardly hear her low assent
And tAe-the man you cared for"
He broke of She leaned towards
him She held ont her little mittened
hands to him Blashing and fearful in
I the radiant winter moonlight, her ten
der young face smiled down upon him.
Never word she said. lie needed none.
Darling be said, and sprang into
the sleigh.
You don't care to go imp"
sN0-oh, no.
Just then the door If the schooI-house
was opened. Light beloved mellowly
forth. Those within called to them to
hurry, that q debate was in progress.
But Reuben snatehcd up the reins,
shouted out q laughing refusal and
turned his horses homeward. lie was
not as an tilaid now. Indeed, it was as
tonishing how assertive and masterful
he had suddenly become.
why did Won ignore mo 50? You
never were civil to n4e, dearest.
The idea OF reproaching me, when
you used hardly u notice me
THAT was because loved you SOL
"Well, perhaps | was afraid you would
think tLatl iitd you
And then they both laughed out hap
PLY like tile bltsstul and ridiculous
! ,roprtr nporip they were.