The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-03-05
THE SLEIGH RIDE.

Bessie has had foolish quarrel, and so
refuses Jack Harvey's invitation to tho
sleigh ride, but accepts Guy Harrington's
instead, though he knows the latter's rep
utation a. male coquette.
The driver has sprained his wrist, and
in spirit uf 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 whirl-
ing along and shakes the weight of snow
from the heavily loaded branches over
head. Down it comes in glistening sheets,
directly on the backs of the leaders, and
as they rear and plunge the whole six
take fright and become unmanageable In |
such inexperienced hands as Harrington'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
ize only too well the danger.
Jack Harvey, seeing that Harrington
has lost all control of the animals. springs
to the seat to grasp the reins from his
hands, when, crash! they go into greut
dcift, upsetting the barge and throwing
the wheelers.
Jack is on his feet In an instant, and
wallowing through the snow waist deep
sheer strength OF muscle, thus saving the
lives of perhaps half the party, while Har-
rington, who dropped the rens and jump
ed ms they struck the drift, sits with chat
| tering teeth on the top of stump that
| shows Just above the weary waste of snow.
"All hands to help these horses up"'
shouts Bert Narncy, 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 timer All have escaped with
IA snow bath and a few scratches and
bruses-all except poor Bessie who lies
unconscious in the snow, with tiny red
stream trickliug from wound on the
white forehead.
'tJack, Jack ~ The startled cry IL from
Kittie. "Oh, Jack, come quick! Bessie
is hurtl'
Jack flies to the spot and is nearly fran
tic as he looks Mt the still white face and
closed eyelids, the long, dark lashes sweep
ing the fair checks.
"Your vinaigrctte. kittie=-haye You
one? Oh, for drop Of water"
} Harrington here comes to life sufficient
| ly 10 u SInHll lush VI bihlhS =
, which Jack accepts gladly, though he
knows the owner would have been the
worse for it before they reached home that
night had no accident occurred
lie pOurs Il few drops between Bessic's
. lips and soon has the satisfaction of sec
lug the long lashes tremblc n moment,
then lift, and n pair of frightened brown
eyes look into his
e. ".Iack-dear Jack - she murmurs soft
ly, then drifts again into unconsciousness
But she soon revlves, and as she real
lies that her head is resting on Jack arm
she makes an effort to rise. He lifts he
!, quickly to her feet.
!. What has happencde' she asks as sh'
. sees the anxious facca all about her, bu
!. before any one has time to reply She re
= members, and with n movement of he
= hand toward her wounded forehead ask
:" if any one else is hurt.
Though her wound is slight one, the!
all conclude they had better turn tuwar'
home IA the horses are very uneasy an,
A ready TO take fright on the least occasion
Is Harrington, to every ones relief, de
clines to drive again, and Jack takes hi
v place and does himself credit, He hold
the six well in hand, and all realize tina
the reins are in safe keeping this time,
Bessie sits between Bert and kittie NaI
ney, with Kittc's arm pressed Tight
about her, and though the others gradu
ally regain their spirits rs the music1
y bells ring out on the night air she sit
silent. having plenty of food for reelection
At last they reach town, and Jack drive
first to Bcs-ir's home. for which she
very grateful ns this ridS her Of llarrn'
=, ton. bert and Nilc 90 in with her tha
:" they may quiet her mothers fears
After they are all gone, liessi, sits Il