Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-02-03
There was breathless and frlght0ns

There was breathless aud frightened
silence among the spectators until
faint, far shout came up from below,
betokening that the adventures were
safely landed.
Then clutching maternal hands re-
laxel and the young people scrambled
for the next start.
Will, with his usual brightness, had
ordered every available family sleigh TO
be waiting at certain point to bring
the tobogganers back, and, as fast as
toboggan came whizzng to the bottom
amid a perfect cloud OF snow crystals,
they piled into the vehicle and were
dragged up the highway behind the
jingling bells.
In short, everything was perfect and
the event was a hugh success, and at the
festive board when it was all over a vote
of thanks was rendered to Ella for her
inspired idea.
The sleighs drove off one by one with
tired but happy children, and the Wal
drons were the last to leave. They were
Just getting into their sleigh.
''1'm sorry it's over" said Ella, look
ing wistfully toward the shoulder of the
hill. I could keep it up all night long"
"Enal the ideal" exclaimed Mrs.
Waldron.
"Tll tell your cried Will. "Why
not 90 home on that tObOgganl We
finish Just behind your house you know.
I'll take you down and walk back. /
don't mind, for l am not tired bit"
Ella jumped at the idea and NJ and
Mrs. Waldron finally drove of, leaving
their daughter behind.
Somehow when Ella and Will again
stood at the top of the moonlit hill for
their last essay, they did not appear to
be in any hurry to move, aud so whe1
Mr.. and Mrs. Waldron arrived at their
house. there was no daughter to meet
them at the door, though Mrs. WaIdron
Immediately exclaimed at the fact that
every window seemed to have light
behind the shades.
When they had let themselves IN with
toe latch key, there was the hall light
ablazs and noisy With the over pressure.
"Ella!" called Mrs. Waldron.
No answer.
Bridget"
No sound came Dacg.
"What can this meanT exclaimed
Mrs. Wadron, making a start for the
kitchen stairs, below which the servant
should have been waiting up.
Mr.. Waldron, with an anxious look
on his face, followed more slowly.
When he reached the head Of the stairs
be heard Mrs. Waldron below utter
piercing scream, aud he sbrang down
into the kitchen three steps at a time.
When the distant sleighbells and
shouts had finally diel away the solemn
stiffness warned Ella that it was too late
10 daily longer on the hilltop.
She seated herself on the toboggan,
tucked in everything securely, and then
Will behind gave the necessary push, a
great snowy spray rising up in their
wake and sparkling in the moonlight
like a shower of tiny brilliants.
There is no motion just like that Of
the toboggan with its electric speed, its
direful roar, and the sense of plunging
forward into space, which is part OF It.
There is Just enough OF that sinking
sensation Of fear in the progress to give
the sport a most fascinating excitement.
They we're almost down, almost be.
hind the Waldron house when their
hearts suddenly stood still with thrill.
OF genuine fear.
A figure, black against the snow, was
speeding across their path toward the
woods.
A cry sprang from Wills throat, the
figure stopped, looked, sprang away, and
forward into the air flew the two tobog-
gaus as II shot from cannon.
Will found himself face downward,
with his arms plunged deep into the
snow. He scrambled out quickly and
ran to where Ella was wildly aoundering
on her back not far away.
! He quickly assisted her 10 rise.
care you huTt:' he asked breath
lessly.
mo, think ooc. I'm trembling so,
though, can ha;dly stand. What hap
pened''
"l don't know; it was SO sudden
couldn't Sec
at seemed to me as if some great
black rock rose up before us-look
there. What is thatl"
Will turned and looked up the hill,
and saw a shadowy mass lying close
to the spot where they had been upset.
1T doesn't look like the man. he
said. SHE seems to have been scared
or. Let US see what it is. "
First recovering their toboggau,
which was smashed along one side, they
climbed the few PAGES necessary to reach
what seemed to be the object with which
they had cOllided.
SITS bag" said Will, after orieI