Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-05-10
HIS LADY COMPANION.
story Of a Cold Ride ana a Ro-
mantle Ending.

.
had just finished a hearty supper
and had ordered my horse brought IN
to the door when the landlord Of the
country inn entered the room, rubbing
his hands in an awkward manner. as II
he did not know just what to say.
still continuing his rubbing, a thing
which always oxasperatea me. lie re-
piled TO my exclamation by saying
1T is an odd request ! have to make,
sir, considering the state Of the roads
but"
"Say what IS it?"
There is lady here tonight who
IS desperately anxious to get TO Brcn-
ton hy tomorrow morning"
"Why doesn't She go?"
That's the point, sir; She can't All
my horses are storm-staid somewhere
in the country, and you can't hire a
team hereabouts, as you may know"
How did the lady get here, in
Heavens Manner
"she came just before you did, Sir
with one horse.
Driving herself9'
mo, young fellow drove for her-a
silly-loolSing chap"
AS he brought her here it seems to
nc he might drive her there-ehT
Well, so he might, sir, but he's
almost killed the horse, and it would
finish it FOR certain to send 1t out again
on these roads. Itwouldn't be human,
would it?n
am not naturally disobliging, but
70 be asked to take lady in your
sleigh when the snow Is deep and likely
70 be drifted is not pleasant and a
woman is apt to be burden in case OF
any difficulty on the way.
Moreover, since Kate Mcdonald and
| had quarreled over the attentions
paid her by her handsome, rich cousin.
which she either could not or would
not explain, never cared for woman's
society
Where was Kate now, often won
dered. At her home in Kentucky, per-
haps, and married TO the rich cousin.
\ lot Of things may happen in two
years
The drive was now taking was on
special business for my head contrae-
tor. who said that certain papers just
received from England must reach his
partner. confirmed invalid living near
the little town of Brenton, by certain
day
''She really seems to be in great |
trouble, sir because she can't get on /
said the landlord as paused to con.
slider
Well, tell her to get ready. l sup
pose ] must say yes"
BY the way, sir, If you have not
been over the road before you want
when you get near the burned land,
zen miles from here. To keep a sharp
lookout to the right for a road that
.urns off there; take that The straight
'oad leads to Brenton. but nobody lives
IN it."
''All right. But tell the lady to hur-
y; the horses are coming"
When had donned my overcoat, fur
zap and comforter | caught glimpse
# myself in the glass, and laughed at
he thought that my intending pas
enger would not be able to tell wheth-
T she had a young man or an old
me for a COMPLIMENTARY, in
Iced, whether | was a black or a white
nan.
Going out to the sleigh I arranged
he robes to my liking, and was just
to get impatient to go when
n animated bundle of clothes, with
uggestion of femininity about it, came
ut followed by the landlord
The lady took her place III the sleigh;
sprang in beside her. the landlord and !
he hostler tucked in the robes, babe us
God night, and we were off under the !
Inning stars with much tinkling of
ellis, the sleigh runners singing over
he frosty snow. 1t was twenty-four
niles to Brenton and the loneliest road {
4 the state.
The going was heavy. but not espe-
tally 50, for the way lay through the 6
Drest and was not drifted. {
1t soon appeared that the road here
ras succession of drifts. not deep. r
ut solid. and that if any teams had '
cen over it during the day their tracks I
I'D long since been filed IN. T
The horses could no longer trot, but {
titled down to walk, the wind whist !