The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-03-09

upon Genevieve's arm for few steps,
then stopping her and letting the others
catch up with them. elbow far north
we seem9" she then exclaimed. "I am
sure the Arctic Sea is over that hill of
pines by the meadow. This exhil-
aratiug atmosphere makes me feel as if l
we're somebody else. Oh, we are ex-
plorersl Is that Polar bear or a snow
driftF' she concluded, pointing to a
white.banked gate post by the cattle
lane.
| Cecil Morton tried to shuttle the little
perty in such a way that he would come
next to Genevieve; but she evaded him
by sheer force of desperation. And as
luck would have it, al Balkan came up
to her with his fine, arty good cheer,
and asked her to walk ith him as far as
wide-spreading elm considerable
distance down the high ad, and Nellie
Featherly heard him sds it. Genevieve
was willing, and they started off at a
huge pace which the rest tried to initiate
but not too we'll, as everyone of the
girls thought that Balkan wanted to
propose to his companion, and deter
| mined to let him have a chance.
At last the two figures in advance
stopped under the delicate tracery of the
great bare elm tree and seemed to be
talking earnestly. Then a cry went up
from Nellie Featherly, for Genevieve had
sunk to the ground, evidently in a
faint, and Balkan kneeled at her side.
'.The walk was too rapid for her. u
exclaimed Nellie, off-hand. ooh, Mr..
Morton, why must you always be asking
us to 90 for constitutionals; they'll be
the death of usl" And Nellie whom nc
one had ever seen really provoked be-
| fore, gave him Cross glance, and then
went on a run, accompanied by the re-
proved Morton, toward her friend,
while the others followed more or less
ardently.
AS faithful Nellie ran she discerned a
strange black cloud rolling towards them
all down the snowy road. Soon the mo-
ton of two prancing horses became APP
parent, and as Nellie reached Genevieve's S
PROSTATE form in the middle of the
| road, over which Balkan was bending in
absorbed dismay, the plucky girl realized
that runaway team was in full swing
at a few yards distance, and quite un-
observed by anyone but herself and Cecil
Morton, who shouted to Nellie to have
a care and jump aside.
But this Nellie never thought Of do
ing. On she ran, beyond Genevieve
whose danger was so immenent-aud
what could she do to avert the danger4
| In her muff was ball OF snow, which
had been reduced by careful manipula-
tion-under Morton's instructions-to an
icy consistency, capable as her teacher
had explained, of killing anybody, if
rightly aimed. 1t is by no means easy
to swerve the direction of maddened
horse. But one of these was running
away because the other wanted to, and
he yet retained some common sense. At
any rate, Nellie drew forth her icy ball
in twinkling, and hurled it. by good
luck, at the saner horse=for they were
now close at hand-with splendid vigor
and true ann that it hit him on the nose.
He plunged aside, slipped on the hard
crust of the old snow beside the road,
and keeled over, carrying his rampant
mate with him into the ditch. They
were powerful team belonging to
Nellie's uncle, and were dragging an
empty wood sledge. Their driver was
hallooing in the distance, as he ran wear
lily along.
Nellie pondered a moment over the
success of her defence and gazed at the
auivering limbs of the foe, and then
turned back to Genevieve, painting. The
girls were on the bank at the other side
of the road.
Meantime Balkan had but just looked
up, realized the peril, and caught Gene
We've in his arms, while Morton threw
his weight wildly upon the young mans
struggling shoulders. 1t is always in
some such way that a person weak in
emergencies assists the real actors.
So swiftly did the runaway horses pro-
ceed that it seemed only an instant since
Genevieve had tainted.
Now all the girls swooped down from
their perch helpfully aud surrounded
their pale friend, whose swoon was so
much in earnest that she had not stirred
an eyelash. Nellie seized Balkans hand
told him she must speak with him in
stantly.
''Did you offer yourself9" she severely
demanded, when she had led him, per-
emptorily, out of hearing of the others.
"No," he gasped, gazing blankly, as
a man does who is confronted with
more Greek than he is prepared for.
"Didn't you proposel" exclaimed
Nellie, in the same indignant tone, which
showed Balkan he was a criminal, which
ever way he pleaded.
"Do explaini" he quavered, gently.
But Nellie was off to GeneyieYe with
impertinent haste, kneeling down at her
side, calling for soft snow from under a
drift and rubbing the beautys temple
and lips with it, while she explained to
Morton how to get Geuevieve's hands
warm; much to his satisfaction, for she
did not object to his covering them with
kisses.
The teamster came up, and Nellie
found time to scold him for his stupid
ity.
The horses were unhitched from the
sledge, and the young people undertook
to drag Genevieve home, which the stout
poles at the sides of the conveyance as
sisted them to accomplish, as the girls
could take hold and propel, while the
young men dragged the cumbrous con-
cern. The fair invalid was pillowed on
muffs and covered with newmarkets, and
was pleased to revive nicely. 1t was
iirst sunset and then deep dusk when