Los Cerrillos rustler. (Cerrillos, N.M.) 188?-1891, 1890-11-07
ONE SLEIGH RIDE
Where Aleck Found a Lost Love
and a Wife.

! had Just finished a hearty supper,
and had ordered my horses to be brought
90 the door, when the landlord OF the
country inn entered the room, rubbing
his hands in an awkward manner, as II
nc did not bnow Just what TO say. In
fact, ne was so slow about speaking
that ! removed my pipe from my mouth
long enough to exclaim:
"'Well?'
Still continuing his rubbing, a thing
which always eXasperated me, he re-
Piled 70 my exclamation 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 Bronton
by morning"
'Then why don't she go?"
''That's the point. sir; she can't. All
my horses are storm-stayed somewhere
in tho country, and you can't hire u
team hcreabouts, as you may know"
As there was no house within three
miles, the landlords proposition seemed
incoutrovcrtible.
How did tho lady get here?' l
asked.
"She came just before you did. sir,
with ono horse; and the young follow
that drove don't appear TO have much
sense. Lcastwise, he's most killed the
horse, and It would finish it for certain
TO send il out again on these roads"
/ am not naturally disobliging; but to
be asked to take a passenger in your
sleigh when tho snow is deep and likely
TO be drittcd. and you are in consider
able OF a hurry, is not the most agree
able request in the world, especially
when the passenger is a lady, and there
fore more apt TO be a hindrance than an
aid in case OF any difficulty arising on
the way. Moreover. since Kate Mac
donald and / had quarreled over the
attentions paid her by her rich and
handsome cousin, which she either
could not or would not explain, ] had
never felt in the mood for ladies' So
ciety; and that was-couid IL be pos
sible? two years ago.
Where was Katie now9 often won.
dered. Perhaps at her homo in Ken
lucky; possibly married to the hand
some cousin. A 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 n rail
way survey outside the limits of civil
cation. The winter drive ] was nov
taking was not on regular business, bui
was undertaken as a special favor fol
the head contractor, who said that Ger
tain papers Just received from England
must reach his brother, a confirmed in
valid living near the little town of Bren
ton, by q certain day. Brenton was
long distance from any railway; for il
the days of which | write, they had no
penetrated everywhere. Hence, / hat
to travel by team; and so bad had thu
roads proved, that | was very near beinI
behind time. As it was, IL every thinl
went we'll | would get through in gooI
season. My plan was to drive through
If possible, but il the roads shoul'
prove impossible, / resolved to leavI
tho horses at some farmhouse and wall
in on snow-shoes. Under these circum
stances to be asked to take a lady pas
senger was certainly the last request
could nave desired.
''She really seems in great trouble
sir because she can't go on" said tn
landlord. as ! paused before replying t
his previous remark.
"Well, tell her to get ready" l said
81 suppose l win have tosay yes"
by the way, sir" said the landlord
'ff you have not been over the road be
fore, you want when you get past th