The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-11-28
MAJOR PENDALLAS.
A Christmas Love Story.
BY FRANK r. STOCKTON.

more enjoyment than I had counted on
for this Christmas.
A young man and young woman,
both Of lively disposition, good friends.
fellow workers, and nothing more, are
much more likely to have merry time
in case like this than if they were a
par of lovers, or even il one Of them
were lover. Tue love implies GER
tain seriousness, and is not infrequent-
ly conducive to occurrences.
The snow was deep on the road and
sometimes drifted, but the sleigh went
through it well enough. The horse.
however, probably not very good tray
eler on the best Of roads, made but slow
progress. But although he was an ami
mai OF deliberate action. possessing, as
Miss Weldon thought, an aesthetic turn
OF mind, which made him object to de-
stroy the virgin smoothness Of the snow
with his great hoofs, he was strong,
and that was the ma n point. With rea-
son to believe that We should safely
reach our journeys end, it did not trou-
BILE ne that we were making that Jour-
ney slowly, and my companion appeared
to be OF my way of thinking. The beauty
OF the snow-decorat, forests, fields,
and hills was enough to make our ar
fist hearts satisfied, even If the horse
should decline to do more than walk.
1t began to grow dark, and we had not
reached the hospitable mansion to which
we were bound, but there was beauti-
| full weirdness in the snow scenes, soft
ened by the dusky light, and our hearts
and the bells were still merry. But as
it grew darker and darker we both be-
gan to wish that we stood in the light
AMI the warmth of the Dolliver house.
l whipped the horse, who made few
bounds through the snow and then re-
lapsed into his former trot. 1t was no
use to try to hurry him.
Several times Miss Weldon hal as
sured me that she was not in the least
anxious, and that she was sure we
| should now reach the house in q very
short time. think she was about to
say something OF the kind again, when
suddenly she exclaimed in voice that
had q ring OF beatty cheerfulness in it,
very different from her previous express
sions of thoughtful encourage nent:
Here it is. Didn't l tell you? We
are at the very gate.
Sure enough, there was the gate with
a lamp on one OF the posts, and there In
the midst Of it's VII tened grounds was
the house, lis windows Lighted and q
lamp on the piazza.
When ] pulled up to the do r, at
tempted to bound from the sleigh, bu
my bound was poor one, for l found
that my legs were go Eewhat stiffenet
by tho cold. AS helpel Miss Weldon
TO alght, oo:;ld per Give that she waf
not nearly 50 active asI had generally
known her. The doo.. opened before WI
had time 10 reach il, and an elderl,
! woman. with Chri. tn as look abou
her, which was absolutely warming
stood in the broad portals.
i We stopped ON the piazza before en-
tering, stamping and shaking ourselves
for we were two figures of snow.
Our valises are in the back OF thu
sleigh" / said, and, to my surprise. m,
teeth chartered a little as l spoke. :"
think the morse will stand until som
one takes him."
We then went in Suddenly Mis-
Weldon stopped and looked from RICH
} to left, and, turning TO the good WON
J an, she exclaimed:
This is not DR.. Delivers house?
"Of course not, said the other; -di
, you think it was? Major Pendalla
; lives here"
Miss Weldon and 1 looked at eac
other in dismay.
I'VE have made mistake" said
How much further on is it to the Dol
liver placer"
, 1T isn't farther on at all, )" tn
, woman replied; 1T is not on this roa
) at ALL
) 1T is too bad" said. They tOl
5 us at Boynton it was a straight roat
) and we could not miss it.
e so it is; but three miles below hei
! there is fork that anybody might mis-
l take, especially at night. with the road
, unbroken. But come in and get warn
you must be half frozen. I'll have