Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-10-30
hapcspvn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday October 80 l8g0

sharp LOOKOUT TO Cnc rlGAt lol Ioau
that turns off thele. Take that. The
straight road leads to Brenton, but
nobody lives on 1t. Oh, yes, it is trav.
elled some," he added, in response to
my question, "but in case you have to
leave the team, you know"
Gall right, III look out. But tell
the lady to hurry, for the horses are
coming.
The landlord vanished, and pre-
pared for the drive. When had dom
ned my overcoats, turned up the collar
Of the outer one, pulled down my fur
cap, and taken two turns around my
neck with II huge comforter, caught a
glimpse of myself in the glass, and
laughed at the thought that my intend
ing passenger would not be able to tell
whether she had Il young man or en- old
one tor companion; scarcely. indeed,
whether | was black or white.
Going out to the sleigh, arranged
the robes to my liking, and vas just
beginning to get impatient to be OF,
when an animated bundle of clothes,
with suggestion Of femininity about it,
emerged ir ,m the inn door, the landlord
following.
"IIere's your passenger, Sir he cried
adding: "Dy gracious, but it's a cold
night"
A mullel voice from out Of the bun
die ol clothes said something that did
not quite catch but l made no reply
to either. The lady took her place in
The sleigh. ! sprung in beside her, the
landlord and the hostler tucked IN the
robes, bade us goodnight, and We were
of, under the shining staro, with much
tinkIing of bells. the sleigh.runners
singing over the frosty snow. 1t was
twcnty.iour miles to Brenton, and the
loneiiest road in the State.
did not feel sufliclent y reconclled
to having Il companion to be much DIS
posed to conversation but as the wind
came with more than usual tierceness
through an opening in the trees, in
quired of the lady if she felt cold. She
hesitated for almost Il minute before
replying, when she assured 1e by curt
monos, ,llable that she WAS not. Soc,ablr
very thought | ; and made no fur
the~ effort to talk. The going was
heavy, but not especially so, for the
way lay through the forest and was not
drifte,l. Four miles brought us to the
burnt land, long wind swept space,
where there were jast enough fallen
trees along the roadway to catch tn,
driven snow.
1t soon appeared that the road here
was II succession Of drift, not deep but
solid, and that, if any teams had been
over it during the day their tracks had
long siuce been filled in. Indeed,
could see in the bright starlight that
fac 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 il walk, the wind WhlstllnG
through the harness and blowing theil
names and tails till they projected al
most horizontally. How cold it was
In the northwest the bright disc o
Venus shone with wonderful splendor
and the pltiless wind seemed to come
straight from the star. There seemed
to be Il mercileSs glare in the splendid
planet, and longed tor cload to GOV
er it from sight. l shvered under al
my clothing, and began to feel uneasy
for my companion.
Are you cold 2" l shouted, for the
wind rendered it useless to speak in al
ordinary tone, mufIled as we were, anc
not facing each other.
She answered that she was, whereup
on | told her to get as low down in th'
sleigh rs posoibl9 which she did, anl
| pulled the robes over her head, SHE
nesting very close to me. Somehow
this was not altogether disagreeable,an
in my imagination l began to pictur
what my companion WAS like. | con
Cluded that she was young and beautl
ful, without any reason whatever excep
that it would be vastly .nore plea8;ln
to be taking care Of such "a girl than o
one who was old and Ill favored.
The wind swept stretch Of road wa
six miles long, and, when we had gon
about third of the distance, the horse
stopped. Looking ahsed, | found tina
the drift had deepened and that the
We're standing in it up to their bodies
I urged them little, but soon saw tina
it was Of no use. They only plunge
IN a manner to endanger themselye
and the sleigh. There was bat on
thing to do-to get out and break