The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-09-05
SANS STRATEGY.

was SO late. | must be going'
"Allow me to accompany you, Miss
Brown"
Let me see you home, Carrier"
Captain Logan and Fred Jones both
spoke at once.
Il prefer to walk alone" she said,
smiling on both cavaliers.
About the sleighing party to-mor-
row night" said Fred, anxiously,
"I-Ihave promised Captain Logan"
said the village beauty, a ros tint
suffusing her cheeks.
But, Carrie, Thought it was settled
between you and I weeks ago!" ex
claimed Fred with a frown.
Was it?"
You know it was"
I'm sure I had forgotten"
Fred was silent. Captain Logan's
soft voice broke the silence.
Il exact no promises, =" he said gal
lantly, "but if l am not punctual to
the hour and the spot, Miss Brown
may draw her own conclusions"
Carrie was silent.
Fred Jones had loved this pretty,
brighteyed damsel ever since they
were children together, and Captain
Logan, who had come down to spend
the holidays with his cousins, the
Hendricks, had become so fond of
those bright blue eyes and that golden
hair that he had prolonged his visit
into January.
'"Pon my word, she's a regular
beauty" siad the captain, staring
through the tiny window pane at the
~retreating figure of Miss Brown.
Fred Jones glanced quickly up at
him, as if he would haveIiked to knock
him ove into the fireplace; but he re,
Trained from any such demonstration.
"A beauty" went on the captain,
land its a thousand pitties she should
be wasted on any pumpkins that Yege-
tate in this wilderness. Sam, you
young william, are my boots BACKED
yet?'
The farmers hired boy, who had
just come in to warn his purple hands
at the merry red blaze, looked glum.
NO, they amt" said Sam.
why not?'
"Cause l 'ad no time"
"See you find time, then, and that
quick" said the captain. ,
Sam glowered after him as be went
gaiIy up stairs.
The next night was perfect for sleigh
ing and love-makiDg. The roads were
glistening, and silver crescent shone
brightly.
Couldn't be better weather" said
the captain. Sam, where are the
sleigh bells3"
Dunno. There's them old jingles
in the garnet that used to belong to
Deacon Joe Kendrick, of 1776, and
there's the two cow-bells that Mary
Jane might scour with ashes"
"Pshaw! what do you take me for?
There is a pretty little string some
where for I saw them when my cousin
went out yesterday"
81 amt seed nothin' on en-" said
the boy stolidly.
Come, come, Sam, don'tmake your
self out any more stupid than you are
By nature" said the farmer, laughing
nevertheless, for the captains airs
were wearing out his welcome.
81 guess they are out in the barn
oLD-,Hc. W., Io+4~r7 ~ with him
captain, if you expect to find 'em; our
Sans dreadful thick-headed when he
chooses to be-"
Come along my fine fellow" said
the captain, coliaring and marching
him off in the direction Of the old, red
barn. eve don't need any lantern in
the moonlight, that is n comfort.
Where are the stairs?" demanded the
captain, as they entered the barn.
"Ain't nome" said Sam. ITS a
ladder"
up with you, then" said Logan,
but Sam shrank back.
Il wouldn't not for fifty dollars, "
said Sam. "Old John Kendrick hung
himself from the middle beam four,
teen years ago, and folks say he stands
up there with a rope around his neck
every moonlight night"
Stuff and nonsense" cried the cap
tain in accents of contempt. 'You
cowardly lout, stay where you are,
then, and I'll go myself"
He sprang lightly up the rounds OF
the ladder and disappeared through
the trap door.
Where is it?' he called.
,tTba oboct2 Pirbt uD1nr the middle