Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-13

heartily indorsed by tho young people OF
their acquaintance. Silas Calhoun was
the proprietor Of large hotel built on
the shores Of little lake miles away
from nowhere-at least that is the way
it was described by the enthusiastic
guests who congregated there every sum-
mer for rest. It was so secluded that 80
ciety, with its unceasing demands, new
or found it, and the favored few who
kept its location secret enjoyed them
selves as unconventionally as possible.
The nearest railway station was five
miles distant. The young people, how
ever, did not propose to 60 to Calhoun's
by rail The roads we're in prime con"
dition, and sleigh ride Of 30 miles, d.
vided in the middle by hot supper
and two or three hours spent in danc-
ing while the horses rested, was a pros
peot much too delightful to be resisted
by any young person with a 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 I can do 1t
that I shall pass over this part Ut 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 1t
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 well cared for: When he came
back to the house he told his guests that
he believed there would be blizzard
before morning and that 1t 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 blizzard, said
Stella, eve might be detained here tor
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 1t good
there was hope that a 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.
"I can't TELL" replied Mr.. Calhoun,
stepping farther away from the house
that he might get better look at the
heavy bank Of clouds in the northwest.
"Storms are dreadfully deceptive in
this part Of the world" he added.
"Now, when I was back in York state
I could reckon on a storm almost to a
minute. but here I've sometimes missed
it by an hour or two. However, I think
we shall hear from those clouds before
long"
"Are you sure there is to be bliz-
sard2" asked Daisy, who put little faith
in the ordinary weather prophet, unless
he happened to make prediction which
suited her desires.
"One is never sure Of anything In
this world" replied the old man. Zone
thing is certain, and that is there is a
great deal of snow in the air already,
considering the clouds, which means
that blizzardy wind is blowing. II
those clouds contain both wind and
mow"-
"Dc 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 a long
way off,"
"An hour would give us time to
reach the station" said Daisy, "and
we could 60 into the city on the cars"
"But our rigs" interposed Sander.
"Leave them here, and send some one
after tbem," 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 I prefer to CO."
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 l
have no doubt that 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 fresh horse-one that
knew the road-ard 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.