The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-03-05
THE SLEIGH RIDE.

Ill CLkAlO11 1llDlI.
Bessie has had a foolish quarrel, and so
gefuses Jack Harvey's invitation to the
sleigh ride, but accepts Guy H~arrington's
: instead, though he knows the ~iatter's rep
utatiOn as a male cOquette.
The driver has sprained his wrist, and
in q spirit OF foolish bravado Harrington
has undertaken to guide the six horses.
All are laughing at some joke when, as
: they sweep under another group of treach-
| erOus pines, a gust Of wind comes wbirl-
ing along and shakes the weight of snow
from the heavily loaded branches over
head. Down it comes in glistening sheets.
directly OF the backs of the leaders, and
as they rear and plunge the whole six
take fright and become unEp a~naGeable in
such inexperienced hands as H~arriDgton's.
On and on, now in the road, now out
Of it, the great barge swerves from side to
side, and the girls sit with white faces
and compressed lips, while the boys real
i've only too well the danger.
Jack Harvey, seeing that Harrington
has lost all control Of the animals, springs
10 the seat to grasp the reins from his
hands, when, crash! they go into a great
drift, Upsetting the barge and throwing
the whcelers.
Jack is on his feet in an instant, and
walloWiDg through the snow waist deep
he reaches the leaders and holds them by
sheer strength of muscle, thus saving the
lives Of perhaps half the party, while Har-
r!ngton, who dropped the reins and jump
ed as they struck the drift, sits with chat
tering teeth on the top of a stump that
shows just above the weary waste Of snow.
"All hands to help these horses upi'
shouts Bert Earney, and snow covered
forms hasten at the bidding. But Har-
ringtOn clings to his stump.
The wounded driver takes Jacks place,
holding the leaders with his one good
hand, while Jack assists in tightening the
outfit.
But what of the feminine portion Of the
party all this time? All have escaped with
a snow bath and a few scratches and
bruises-all except poor Bessie, who lies
unconscious in the snow, with a tiny red
stream trickIing from a wound on the
white forehead.
'Jack, Jack" The startled cry is from
kittie. "Oh, Jack, come quick! Bessie
is hurt,'
Jack flies to the spot and is nearly fran
tic as he looks at the still white face and
closed eyelids, the long, dark lashes sweep
ing the fair cheeks.
"Your viDaiore+ta Kit+ia bova Won
oncy Oh. for q GroD of waterr,
Harrington here comes to life su ficient-
" to produce a small fasl, of brandy
which Jack accents gladly. thouoh he |
knows the owner would have been the
worse for it before they reached home tina |
night had no accident occurred.
He pOurs a few drops between BesSie's
lips and soon has the satisfaction of see
the long Iashes trembla q monant
then lift. and a pair of friohtened brown
ewes look into his.
".Jack-doar lack y, she ,onrn,nrs sof+-
II. then drifts aoain into
But she soon reviyes. and as she real
ICES that her head is RESTING nm .Jack's arm
she makes an effort to rise. He !ifta her
quickly to her feet.
HWhat has haDnpncIsn \ asks as che
sees the anxious face, All about her. hut
before any one has time tn renIv she pa
hers and vitb . ,oo,o,ntnt % hc.
hand toward her wounded fr1abood o,Te
If any one else i hurt
TbOuoh her wound il a SLIGHT o,a +bor
all conclude they had better tur, toward
home. as the horses are verv nnaaev and
ready to take FRIGHT on the least occasiaD
HARRINGTON. to every ones relief de-
to drive again. and Jack takes his
and does hir,saIf cradi+ Ha boIIa
the six well in hand. and all realize that
the reins are in safe keeDiDg this time
Bessie sits between Bert and Kittie Var
with Kittie's arm pressed tiohtIr
her. and though the others oradn.
ally regain their shirts as the n5neiaal
cells ring out on the niybt air she sits
silent having D1eu+ro of fno1 for rogao+ion
irSt ia BesSie's home. for which She il