The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-02-14


if there had been room, and as the run
away tried to do so his sidelong spring
threw both himself and the light frame
work behind him so heavily against the
larger sleigh that they both were rolled
over and over in the drift, and not only
the horse and cutter, but the man in
the latter, who should have been guild
ing them. Sophie's driver sprang out
and in an instant more he had the
painting runaway on his feet, while his
master picked himselfout of the drift,
and revealed the undamaged but crest
fallen features of Manoah Putnam.
rs that you, Sophie?" gasPed he
"Have you been run away with ?"
"No, have not" returned Sophie
"and am glad enough that | refused to
go with you. might have had my neck
broke.
Manoah turned and looked ruefully
at his establishment, and then set to
work in silence to put it once more in
shape.
"No use," hoarsely remarked the
stranger "the runners broke, and SO
is the shaft. Pitch il out there on one
side, hitch your horse on behind here
and jump in. You can come back for
it."
Manoah obeyed mechanically, al
though he hardly knew if he was glad ol
not to find himself and his gay bearskin
robes transferred to the elevated seat
where Sophie archly made room for him
After that the oxen had a very silent
trio behind them; but they were soon
halted in front of Sophie's own home.
Manoah refused to come in, although
Sophie really urged him and even while
she was talking at the gate-for she had
sprung out, without waiting to be lifted
the stranger had opened the great gate
into the yard and the first thing So
phie knew, he was guiding in the oxen,
sleigh and all, followed by the pony.
"Sure as Pr alive" exclaimed Sophie,
as she turned her eyes from the retreat
ing form of the discounted Manoah, Sits
ouI sleigh, after all, and it's Sans own
oxenl Ifthat ain't queer. Why didn't
think oft before?"
With more than little wonder in her
head, she made the best Of her way into
the house, and proceeded to take off her
things. Never before had she been so
slow about it, for between each two artic-
les she stopped to consider the remarka-
bic events Of the morning.
sophie" said her mother, "what in
all the world has come over you? Didn't
you and Manoah have pleasant ride p
81 didn't 20 with Manoah."
"Oh, somehow I'd got it into my head
that you did. Seems to me Sans long
time putting up his oxen"
at wasn't SAM" said Sophie.
"Not Sam exclaimed her mother.
"Then who on earth was it2"
Just then the side door opening into
the sitting-room, where they were, was
famiIiarly thrown opOn, and voice by
no means so deep or so hoarse as the
one which had shouted at the oxen re-
piled
"Only me, Mrs. Williams. reckon
Sam and his father II get home before
night"
"Eph Haddam?"
"Oh, Eph"
Mother and daughter were alike as
tonished, for, now the fur cap was of
and the frost and snow cleared away
not even the beard and mustaehe could
disguise the features Of their old ae,
quaintance.
"Well, now, If aint't glad 10 see ye r
heartily exclaimed the old lady.
~Oh, Eph, vas it you all the time %
half ruefulIy quer led Sophie, as she held
out her hand.
"Yes, Sophie; ard l was glad enough
to find you driving the pony by yourself
when you might have had better com
pany than space. Won't you forgive
me ?"
Somehow or other Sophie was glad
also, although she did not say il; and il
filial duty did carry Eph Haddam ovei
home for a few hours, he came back tc
spend the evening; and, on the whole
she ever afterward considered that the
very best sleigh ride of that or any Other
winter.