Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-04-24

best dress of urim1on cashmere. all trimmed with silver braid, she certainly did look quite picturesque and ehArrA- Ug.
 sSylviar' called her mother.
 "Coming!" she cried.
 She pulled 0n her jacket, tied on he, white zephyr hood, and catching up her Da'ftens ran down the steep stairway to the Kitchen. Ten minutes later she was out beside the sleigh, where, in an 1 agony of difhdence and delight, Reuben Bassett waited. He sprang out. helped her in. Then the team trotted briskly of.
 Jingle! jangle! jingle!
 There was no other sound for awhile Reuben felt himself relapsing into his usual nervous silence. He made . heroic attempt at conversation.
 "lt is beautiful night" he said.
 His voice sounded husky and strange to himself. This was his first drive, first real tete-a-tete with the girl he loved.
 ''1s it?" she cried, with silvery laugh. "Now I think it's rather cold and 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 to Bob for giving him this opportunity. If he only had enough courage to profit by it!
 Do you know," he said, ''I was afraid you'd be offended at my coming"
 "OffendedV' she echoed. "Why, I was glad you thought of bringing me-" "1t's very good of you to say SOL
 She was trifle puzzled by his em- barrassment.
 "We are going to have fine night after all, she remarked; "the stars are coming out.''
 The little face in the white zephyr hood was upturned to the kindling sky. And then, very suddenly, he did an ex- 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 hlm. She drew back trembling. Y "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 you, Sylvia. Give me the right."
 'I can not" she whispered.
 Why not?"
 She was silent. Distinctly sounded the chatter of the horses hoofs on the hard, white road. Onward the sleigh sped, by farms and fences and a few red-gold window panes.
 ''Is there," he asked, "any one else?" She heSi tated.
 "Yes."
 His heart sank like lead. There was no hope for him, then. In silence they swinging up the sky, globe of pearl. Evidently they were late. When they reached the small wooden school-house where the reunions were held they saw several teams hitched without. From the windows of the structure the light streamed. They could catch a pleasant murmur of voices.
 Brighter the moonlight had grown. started, cried out.
 What is it?" he asked. | His face was pale, and, she fancied, rather stern.
 ''Is it yous" she panted, "Reuben Bas- sett?''
 'Who," he asked, culver in his grave voice, ''did you think it was?''
 She had not withdrawn the hand she had given him when about to descend. Now 1t futtered in his like captured bird.
 II thought" she faltered, "I was with your cousint'
 Bob Benham?"
 "Yes."
 He went step nearer.
 Sylvia" he questioned, queer, wild hope tugging at his sorrowful soul and making him desperately brave, ''did you mean no to him?'
 He could hardly hear her low assent.
 "And the-the man you cared for-'
 He broke of. She leaned towards him. She held out her little mittened hands to him. Flushing and fearful in the radiant winter moonlight, her ten. der young face smiled down upon him. Never word she said. He needed none.
 "Darlingv' he said, and sprang into the sleigh.
 "You don't care to go in?"
 "No-oh, no!''
 Just then the door of the school-house was opened. Light billowed mellowly forth. Those within called to them te hurry, that debate was in progress But Reuben snatched up the reins shouted out laughing refusal and turned his horses homeward. He wal not at all timid now. Indeed, 1t was as