The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-11-22

and two or three hours spent in dane
ing while the horses rested, was pros
pect much too delightful to be resisted
by any young person with spark of
enthusiasm and vivacity about him.
The best horses to be had were engaged
for the ride. Tom had no desire to make
the trip alone with the coldly silent
Daisy and had persuaded friend to go
with him in double sleigh and take
Daisy s cousin Stella.
Sleigh rides like this have been de-
scribed so much better than can do it
that I shall pass over this part of the
story, as we'll as over the delights
which followed when the merry party
arrived at Calhoun's.
1t was after supper, while they were
dancing in the long dining room, that
the storm came up. No one noticed it
until it was nearly time for the gay
party to start on the homeward trip
and the jolly host had gone to the barn
himself to make sure that the horses
had been we'll cared for. When he came
back to the house he told his guests that
he believed there would be blizzard
before morning and that it would be
safer for them to remain at his place
overnight. Then the dancing ceased
and eager young people crowded around
the door and peered out into the dark
ness
"If there should be a blizzard" said
Stella, eve might be detained here for
several days. -
Daisy looked at her quickly, but said
nothing. She was thinking of her ap-
pointment for the next day with a
noted manager who had condescended to
try her voice If he pronounced it good
there was hope that desirable position
might be offered her. Daisy was decid-
ing that she should not remain over
night at Calhoun's.
do you think the storm is close up
on us?' asked Sander, who, for reasons
which will be easily understood by
those who have been in love, did not
like to miss the long ride home, under
the stars, in the comfortable little sled
which was just large enough for Alice
and himself.
81 can't tell replied Mr.. Calhoun,
olSplliuS5 1al away 11OLA lAO LOuSO
that he might get a better look at the
heavy bank of clouds in the northwest.
"Storms are dreadfully deceptive in
this part of the world" he added.
CHOW, when was back in York state
I could reckon on storm almost to a
minute, but here I've sometimes missed
it by an hour or two However, think
we shall hear from those clouds before
long. "
care you sure there is to be biz
zard?' asked Daisy, who put little faith
in the ordinary weather prophet, unless
ne happened to make prediction which
suited her desires.
Zone is never sure of anything in
this world, p" replied the old man. Zone
thing is certain, and that is there is
great deal of snow in the air already,
considering the clouds, which means
that a blizzardy wind is blowing. If
those clouds contain both wind and
snow"-
"Do you think it probable, Mr.. Cal
houn," interrupted Daisy, "that those
clouds will break over us in less than
an hour?"
"They may not; they look long
way off. ~"
"An hour would give us time to
reach the station" said Daisy, "and
we could go into the city on the cars
"But our rigs" interposed Sander.
"Leave them here, and send some one
after them," suggested Daisy.
81 am afraid to start when the sky
looks like that" said Stella,
"You might stay here, then," replied
Daisy. "For my part prefer to go.''
An excited discussion ensued, when
it was discovered that Daisy was the
only young lady who preferred to risk
| the dangers of the storm in order to
reach the city. She remarked, most po-
litely, but decidedly, in response to
Toms expostulations, that she meant
to make the attempt, but that she did
not ask him to risk his life by accom-
panying her.
81 am determined, she said, "to
meet Mr.. Gilmore tomorrow, and
| have no doubt that I can hire Mr., Cal
houn's stable boy to drive me to the
station"
"You will not be left to the care of
Mr.. Calhoun's stable boy, " replied Tom
coldly. In another moment he was in
side his overcoat
No further opposition was offered to
Daisy's plan. Mr.. Calhoun insisted on
loaning Tom a fresh horse-one that
knew the road-and told him he might
leave it with the hotel keeper at the
railway station, to be cared for until
the owner came to claim him. The
horse was hitched to Mr.. Calhoun's cut
ter, which had been made expressly for
travel over country roads, and plenty
of fur robes were wrapped around the
occupants.
The air had seemed almost SPRING
like when the young people left the
city, but biting wind had arisen which
blew directly in their faces as Tom
turned the horses head toward the rail
way station. They drove for some time
in silence, broken only by the chatter of
the horses hoofs on the frozen snow
and the dismal creaking Of the sled run
pers which is always to be heard in
very cold weather. The air was rapidly
becoming more dense with the frozen
sleet, which struck their faces like fierce
little darts. The wind was steadily ris-
ing, and it seemed to Tom as if it came
from every direction at once. In many
places the road was made almost i'm
passable by heavy drifts. Not star
was to be seen In the sky, not ray OF
iiobt anvUbera which cOuld have hean