The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-03-06


lit 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,
us itln she cried, with "A silvery laugh.
''Now | think it's rather cold and dark"
This was rather discouraging, What,
Reuben wondered rather dejeotedly,
would Bob have said next;
"The-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. II
he only had enough courage to profit by
it!
,'Do you know" he said, 81 was
afraid you'd be offended at my CON-
ing"
''Oirended." she echoed, "Why lam
glad you thought of bringing me-"
sits very good of you to say So"
She was a trifle puzzled by his en-
barrassment.
'Wc are going to have fine night
after ALL" she remarked, "the stars are
coming out.
The little face in the white hood was
uuturned to the kindling sky. And
then, very suddenly, he did an extra
ordinarily strange thing for 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.
.'Givc me the right" he pleaded,
grown bold all at once. SIN awfully
in love with you, Sylvia. Give me the
right.
81 cannot" she whispered.
s'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 few red
gold window panes.
SIS 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 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 pleasant
murmur of voices.
Brighter the moonlight had grown.
As Bassett assisted Sylvia to alight, she
started, cried out.
''What is t!n he asked.
His face was pale and she fancied
rather stern.
lis it you?' she painted, "Reuben
Bassett,''
''Who," he asked, CULVER in his
grave voice, ..did you think it wasa"
She had not withdrawn the hand she
had given him when about to descend.
How it futtered in his like captured
! bird
II thought, she faltered, Il was with
YOUR cousin,h
/ "Bob Benham?'
I eyes"
| He went a step nearer.
Sylvia" he questioned, queer, wild
hope Juggling at his sorrowful soul and
making him desperately brave, "did you
mean mo- to him2"
He could hardly hear her low assent.
''And the-the man you cared for"
him. She held out her little mittened
hands to him. Blushing and fearful in
the radiant winter moonlight, her tender
young face smiled down upon him.
Never word she said. He needed none.
Darling" he said, and sprang into
the sleigh.
| ''You don't care to go in?'
'tNo-oh, no."
Just then the door of the school house
was opened. Light beloved mellowly
forth. Those within called to them to
hurry, that debate was in progress. But
Reuben snatched up his reins, shouted
out Il laughing refusal and turned his
horses homeward. He was not at all
timid now Indeed, it was astonishing
how assertive and masterful he had sud
denly become.
"Why did you ignore me 500 You
never were civil to me, dearest"
''The idea of reproducing me, when
YOU used hardly notice me-"
'That was because loved you sol"
"Well perhaps was afraid you would
think that actually liked you!"
And then they both laughed out hap
PLY like the blissful and ridiculous young
people they were.
Such splendid drive as that was
Surely, never the stars shone so superbly,
or was the air so sweet!
The following day Reuben went to see
his cousin.
"Hello, he cried. ''Why didn't you
tell Sylvia that you could not go last
night?"
Had no chance. Got stuck in a
snowdrift, and didn't get home till nine.
What's up?"
For Reuben was beaming.
Congratulate me!'
He held out his hand.
"You don't mean" cried Bob,
thunder-struck, ''that you're engaged to
Sylvia!"
son, yes, do
"Well," declared Bob with vigor-
Gus handshake and friendly grin, ~
must say that you have done famously-
for bashful man. "-Det,oit Free Press.
Followed a Horse Car 10000 Miles.
An owensboro (Ky.) dog followed a