Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-19
what he could dc

Al aOOut u4dItSE VI an muir ne returned.
We'll, sir, he said. there is just one thing
you can do. There isn't anybody in this vii
lage who viii go to Delivers today for there
is no chance OF getting back tonight. but the
man who keeps the store here, Mr.. Peter
Chase. has got horse and sleigh and IL Won
choose to hire that of him and do your own
driving l think You can get it il you are will
Ing to pay him sonlething extra, foi he'll have
TO send a man over tomorrow with the stage
driver 20 bring it back. and, besides, IN rough
times Ike these people always charge some
thing extra"
put the matter before Miss Weldon. and she
did not hesitate to say tina: rather than take the
risk OF being obliged to remain in the village
where there were no accommodations for
strangers. she would take the risk of letting
me drive her TO the Dollivers'.
1T Is only seven miles" she said, ''and IL the
horse is good enough don't see what there is
to happen"
tramped through the snow to Peter Chase's
store and quickly arranged with him for the
hire OF his horse and sleigh.
rive dollars may seem q good deal, sir" he
said. for a trip Ike that, but this is a pretty
deep snow. and We all ought to remember that
Shrl5'nas comes but once year III have
the sleigh around at the station in ten minutes {"
In half an hour a little sleigh. drawn by big
brown horse, came up to the back door of the
station
Il would have been here sooner" said Mr.
Chase. but II was a good while before could
find the bells. and / kuowed you wouldn't
want to take Christmas sleigh ride without
bells"
did not complain Of the delay, although
had been getting dreadfu.ly impatient The
station master had had a telegram from mp the
line stating that a down train with q snow pillow
was on Its way, and | was very much afraid
that Miss Weldon would conclude to wait and
.ske this train back TO the city. So without
loss OF time we bundled in The Christmas
minded Mr. Chase had brought two heavy fur
robes. yallses narked in habi md h.
sleigh being Of the box variety and we were
ready
There is no mistsking the way" said Mr..
Chase. You 80 straight ahead until you come
10 the house"
(Which l know perfectly we'll" added Miss
weldon, and away We jingled-
The snow WAS still falling. but We did no.
mind that; and now that we had started off I
was glad that Mr.. Chase had waited TO find the
bells Their merry jingle suited my spirits
We'll A jolly sleigh ride with Clara Weldon
was more enjoyment than 1 had counted on for
this Christmas.
Ayoung man and young woman. both of
lively dispositions. good friends fellow work
ers and nothing more. are much more likely to
have merry time in a Ike this than il
thet we're pair of lovers or even il one of
them veIe a lover. True love impliesa certain
seriousness and is not infrequently conducive
to iempreness
The snow was deep on the road and some
times drifted but the sleigh went through il
well enough. The horse, however, probably
not very good traveller on the best of roads
made but slow progress. But although he was
an animal Of deliberate act ion possessing a.
Miss Weldon thought an esthetic turn of mind.
which made him object TO DESTROY the virgin
smoothness of the snow with his great hoofs he
was strong and that was the main point With
reason 20 believe that We should safely re acb
our journey end II did not trouble me that
We were making that journey SLOWLY and NV
companion appeared 10 be Of my way Of think
Ing The beauty OF the snow-decorated
forests helds and hills enough to make
our artist hearts satisfied even should the morse
decline TO do more than walk
It began TO grow dark and We had not -es cke,l
the hospItable mansion TO which we we're bonpd
but there was beautiful wierdness in the snow
scenes softened by the dusky light and our
hearts and the bells were still merry But a.
" grew darker and darker we both began 10
wish that We stood in the light and the warmth
OF the Doiliver house / whipped the horse
VINO made few bounds through the Snow and
then re!apsed into his former trol IL Was OF
no use 10 try 70 hurry him
Several times Mss Weldon had assured ms
that sine was not in thc least anxious and tina,
see was sure We should now reach the house in
q very short time. / think she was about n
say something OF the kind again, when sud
denly she exclaimed in voice that had a rims
of hearty eheerfulness IL IT. very different
from her previous expressions Of thoughtfu
encouragement:
..Here i. is. Didn't tell your We are q
the very gate"
sure enough, there was the gate with lamI
ON one Of the posts. and there in the midst o
lbs whitened grounds was the house. it, win
dows lighted and q lamp on the piazza
When pulled up to the door I attempted .,
bound from the sleigh, on. my bound wa
apoor one, for found my legs were somewha
stIdened by the cold As helped Miss Weldon
70 alight could perceive she was not nearly .,
sssss - l bad generally known her. The doo