The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-01-17
WHERE AlECK FOUND A LOST
LOVE AND A WIFE.

know just what to say. In fact, h
was so slow about speaking that
removed my pipe from my moutI
long enough to exclaim
Well?
He continued his rubbing,
thing which always exasperated me
he replied to my exclamation b,
saying:
1t is an odd request l have t>
make sir, considering the state O
the roads, but there is a lady her,
to night who is desperately anxious
to get to Brenton by morning.
Then why don't she go?
That's the point, sir she can't
All my horses are storm. .stayee
somewhere in the county, and yol
can't hire team hereabcuts, as yo,
may know.
As there was no house withir
three miles, the landlords PROPOSE
ton seemed incontrovertible.
How did the lady get here?
asked.
She came just before you did, sir,
with one horse; and the young fe!.
low that drove don't appear to have
much sense. Leastwise, he's moSt
killed the horse, and it would finish
it certain to send it out again on
these roads.
am not naturally disobliging;
but to be asked to take passenger
in your sleigh when the snow is
deep and likely to be drifted, and
you are in considerable hurry, is not
the most agreeable request in the
world, especially when the passenger
is a lady, and therefore more apt to
be hindrance than an aid in case
of any difficulty arising on the way.
Moreover, since Kate Macdonald
and l had quarreled over the atten-
tons paid her by her rich and hand
some cousin, which she either could
not or would not explain, | had
never felt in the mood for ladies'
society; and that was-could it be
possible? two years ago.
Where was Katie now? | often
wondered. Perhaps at her home in
Kentucky, possibly married to the
handsome cousin. A good many
things may happen in two years.
True very little had happened to
me; but then not much is to be ex-
pected when one is on a railway sur
vey outside the limits of civilization.
The winter drive | was now taking
was not on regular business, but was
undertaken as a special favor to
the head contractor, who said that
certain papers received from Eng
land must reach his brother, a con-
hrmed invalid living near the little
town of Brenton, by certain day.
Brenton, was long distance from
any railway; for in the days of which
l write, they had not penetrated
everywhere. Hence, 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 would get through
in good season. My plan was to
drive through, If possible, but, if
the roads should prove impossible,
| resolved to leave the horses at
some farm house and walk in on
snow shoes. Under these circum-
stances to be asked to take a lady
passenger was certainly the last re-
quest | could have desired.
She really seems in great trouble,
sir, because sne can't go on. said
the landlord, as l paused before re-
plying to his previous remark.
Well, tell her to get ready, | said.
l suppose will have to say yes.
By the way, sir, said the landlord.
if you have not been over the road
before, you want, when you get
past the burnt land, ten miles from
here, to keep a sharp lookout to the
right for a road that turns off 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 request,
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
coming.
The landlord vanishnd, and
prepared 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 COM
forter. l caught glimpse OF myself
in the glass, and laughad at the
thought that my intending passenger
would not be able to tell whether she
had young man or an old one fol
companion - scarcely, indeed,
whether l was black or white.
Going out to the sleigh, l ar
ranged the robes to my liking, and
was just beginning to get impatien
to be off, when an animated bundle
of clothes, with a suggestion O
femininity about it, emerged iron
the inn-door; followed by the land
lord.
Here's your passenger, sir, he
cried, adding: BY gracious, but it's
a cold night!
A muffled voice from out of tn,
bundle of clothes said something
that l did not quite catch and
made no reply. The lady took he
place in the sleigh, l sprang in be
side her, the landlord and the hostile
.Il =. A. roIoe hoIa ,,p noo,