Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-11-05
ONE SLEIGH RIDE.
Where Aleck Found Lost Love
 and @ Wife.


 had just finished hearty supper, and had ordered my horses to be brought to the door, when the landlord of the | country inn entered the room. rubbing his hands in an awkward manner. as if hc did not lnow just what to say. In fact, he 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- plled to my exclamation by saying:
 Ut is an odd request I have to make, sir, considering the state of the roads, but there is lady here tonight who is desperately anxious to get to Brenton by m orning."
 ''Then why don't she go?"
 That's the point. sir; she can't All my horses are storm-stayed somewhere in the country, and you can't hire a team hereabouts as you may know"
 As there was no house within three miles, the landlords proposition seemed incontrovertible.
 "How did the lady get ,hereP" asked.
 "Sho came just before you did, sir, with one horse; and the young fellow that drove don't appear to have much sense. Leastwise, he's most killed the horse, and it would finish it for certain to send it out again on these roads"
 am not naturally disobliging; but to be asked to take a passenger in your sleigh when the snow is deep and likely to be drifted, and you are in consider able of a hurry, is not the most agree n ia1l when the passenger is 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 hor 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-could it be pos sible? two years ago.
 Where was Katie now? I often won- dered. Perhaps at her home 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 mo; but then not much is to be expected whom one is on a rail- way survey outside the limits of civili- zation. The winter drive I was now taking was not on regular business, but was undertaken as a special favor for the head contractor, who said that cer- tain papers just received from England must reach his brother, confirmed in. valid living near the little town of Bren- ton, by certain day. Trenton was a long distance from any railway; for in the days of which I write, they had not penetrated everywhere. Hence, l had to travel by team; and so bad had the roads proved, that l was very near being behind time. As it was, if every thing went we'll l would get through in good season. My plan was to drive through, if possible, but if the roads should prove impossible, l resolved to leave the horses at some farmhouse and walk in on snow-shoes. Under these circum- stances to be asked to take lady pas senger was certainly the last request could have desired.
 ''She really seems in great trouble, sir because she can't go on," said the landlord, as paused before replying to his previous remark.
 "Well, tell her to get ready" said. "l suppose l will have to say yes"
 By the way, sir," said the landlord, 'if you have not been over the road be- fore, you want, when you get past the burnt land, ten miles from here, to keep a sharp lookout to tho right for road that turns of there. Take that. The straight road leads to Brenton, but nobody lives on it. Oh, yes, it is travelled some," he added, in response to my question, but in case you have to leave the team, you know"
 All right; I'll look out. But tell the lady to hurry; for the horses are com ing"
 The landlord vanished. and pre- pared for the drive. When had donned my overcoats, turned up the collar of the outer one, pulled down my fur cap, and taken two turns around my neck with @ 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 a young man or m old one for companion-scarcely. indeed, whether was black or white.
 Going out to the sleigh, l arranged the robes to my liking, and was just be. ginning to get impatient to be of. when