The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-30

Ildt OrlN the new livery
oval, l don't keer, / never see no ham
somer calvalier N Arthur, an thar amt
no bewtifuller maiden n Babe-less it's
Laura, an she's different, an anyawy
don't think -"
"Nancy l can smell the bread a burn
ing" exclaimed Aunty.
Nancy fed 10 the kitchen, from where
could be heard the doleful histories and
monrnful ends OF Nellie Gray" and
''Iillie Dale" and other unfortunate fe-
males sung in q most lugubrious manner
and high-keyed, rasping voice all the att
ernoOn.
1t was a deep-snoT winter-one OF the
old-fashioned kind that hid bushes and
fences and everything else less than six
feet high, and the crust was so thick and
strong that it would bear horse. The
road lay wherever YOU chose TO drive; over
fields and fences and anywhere that was
not too steep was better than being in the
broken and rough highways.
Babe and Arthur were in high spirits
and enjoyed immensely the crisp air and
the swift, smooth motion Of the cutter.
They talked and laughed-laughed most
ly, for il is wonderful how much two
strong, healthy young people find to laugh
at at such q time. The rolling landscape
glittered and glistened in the sunshine
like white foam frozen instantly into vast
and irregular pillows, broken occasionally
by the half-buried iarm-houses and build
iugs, and the deciduous trees standing
alone in solemn lines along the road like
gaunt skeletons, or gathered in dark
groups or IN black masses Of woods.
Il feel just like shouting with all my
might" said Babe.
go ahead. said Arthur 'I'll look out
for the horse. Come now, both together;
one, two -" and they both gave
whoop that frightened the horse into
run. and of course that was very ridiculous
and So very funny that they laughed more
than ever.
Arthur did not tell Babe that he had
/ first asked Laura to take the ride and that
/ she had visitors and could not 20; but
Babe was only young girl and they had
! been go familiar that 1t wasn't really nee
essary to mention it anyhow. She
wouldn't have minded that. Still after
thinking of it, 1t was strange that be did
not speak about it. He was about to, but
he looked at the animated face with the
merry eyes and the full red lips curling
into smiles and newell. he didn't. but
was thoughtful for q moment and then he
exclaimed:
"Why. Babe, your almost a young
lady"
Fifteen in April, and I expect Ira will
be here by that time to stay said Babe
The fact that Ira was expected had
nothing to do with her age; only that day
| they talked whatever was uppermost in
their minds regardless of any particular
subject; and so they reached Cherry
Bridge almost before they knew 1t. Az
thur left Babe at the tavern and in half
an hour had finished bis business and was
back again.
I'VE followed the side Of the road
pretty closely coming over" he said,
land it will he dark before we can get
back home that way. What do you saw
to cutting cross lots and striking the road
about half wav back"
ANY way you please" said Babe.
There are some pretty steep hills;
won't you be afraid ?"
"Tm not afraid TO ride anywhere you
dare drive" she answered. They passed
safely over some dangerous places, but by
and by they came to a steep hill.
81 darent drive down there, said Ar'
thur "we'll get 90 going so fast that II the
horse should slip or the crust give way he
might break the thills or his legs or our
necks, either of which would be annoying;
IN have to unhitch and lead him down
and take down the cutter aitorward.'
ECO ahead said Babe.
"You stay in tho cutter till come back
and well take it down together" SAID
Arthur.
Babe sat still until Arthur had nearly
reached the bottom OF the hill, then sho
jumped out and tied tho long hitching
strap TO the end OF tho thills. and drawing
the cutter 10 the edge OF the hill got back
in and lifting the thills by the strap, gave
a hitch forward and tho cutter started
down tho descent. Arthur heard the
noise and turned and watched the laugh
ing girl and the cutter come lying down.
She dashed past him with a "hurrah
and the momentum oi the cutter took 70
part way up another hill and then 10
stopped and started backward down again.
Babe Jumped up and leaned over the back,
: gailv waving her hand TO Arthur but her
weight caused the sharp back.ends OF tho
, runners 10 stick into the crust, and the
cutter promptly turned bottom side up.
This unexpected ending OF tho otherwise
iollv slide was little startling. as the girl
had entirely disappeared, and Arthur
dropped the lines and ran 20 see II che
, was hurt. She crawled out from under
, the robes and blankets looking anything
: but frightened or hurt but the rogulsh
twinkle in her eye suddenly changed and
= she exclaimed. go, Arthur there goes
7 the horse
r Sure enough, there was the horse a
quarter OF mile away going at fun trot.
p "Confound him" exclaimed Arthur,
1--WE are ia IA hy now
3 "Do YOU suppose he will 80 clear homer
asked Babe. anXiously
"Tm afraid he will, unless he's caught"
"My, won't grandma TOO frightened II
I she sees him going like that! she
, imagine everything has happened TO MS.
I Il wonder where We areg said Arthur.
I 81 think we're this side OF Gamers cor
ner" said Babe. Arthur couldn't help
: smiling at such an answer given seriously.
' "Wel. there may be some satisfaction
r in knowing that we are not on any other
| side OF the corners, but which side ls this
4 side?"
0 90. you know what / mean, said Babe,
7 turning red, IS she always did, when Ar
a thur badeered her. There's widow man
< "a widower, mean-who lives near who
comes TO sec Nancy"
: "Well. Babe, I'm sorry all this has hap
!, pened. but guess we had better hunt ur
i this widow man-widower-and see II We
can get horse of him."
Z 20 don't care il grandma doesn't ge
: frightened; it's only fun-but YOU stoI
= making fun of me.
: When they got in sight Of the road the J
N.-H.H H.. 81 asaWA