Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-01-11

IhXNSS$9HWHEM ARE you Walk
!: !: &: ]
ANN, ss.Sn.I IAN ing for wager? p
MAANN\,5% MlE he asked, as be
'WEM NEETkxAE& came up. II have
NkhNHESHAE akN bee looking fol
&MAAAT 2ANkM you all the morn
WMEN(fS%& ing. We are get
NV - NM ting up sleighine
party-will you go?"
EYES," I said, "you might have
counted on that. Where is it?"
ave meet at Hulda Whipple's-at
her fathers, I mean, and we drive to
the Red Farm, and have our dance
and supper there. As usual, you in.
vite whom you please to share your
sleigh, always providing it is lady,
and But you'll meet with us to talk
it over tonight. I'll not detain you
here any longer.
was in haste, I told him, and
promised to meet them; and went my
way. 1t was the same way that it had
been-the short cut to tho house where
Hetty Harrow lived.
I had fashion OF going that way
about twilight, when the school was
closed and she the teacher) had gone
home for the evening, telling some lit.
tie story as to how II happened to
pass, and thought I'd STOP"
Any other young fellow would have
owned to coming on purpose, and
would have spent more time with her
and said something more to the pur.
pose than I-any one who liked Hetty
as we'll as I did.
Liked that was a cool word for it
Il loved her.
1t frightened me to know the truth ;
for how could she like me? Twas not
hideous, perhaps. A tall, straight,
angular Maine youth, with yellowish
hair and blue.gray eyes. But / was
certainly not handsome. Then we were
poor-mother and I. / was too poor
to marry, certainly; but after I had
felt conld only be happy if Hetty
liked me, Iresolved, come what would,
to make some effort which would lift
us above the condition which bordered
so closely upon poverty. If I could
only first obtain her promise to be
mine.
Yet it seemed also impossible to
speak to her ON the subject. I had
resolved to do SO dozen times, but
her presence awed me.
But that evening, having spoken
with StudIey of the sleigh ride, went
on with lighter step. I could muster
courage, ! thought, to ask her to 60
with me.
The long sleigh ride, fast and furi-
ous, with jingllng bells and merry
laughter, each fellow with the girl he
likes best nesting by his side, with q
chance, for once at least, to say what
be chooses to her.
If Hetty would go with me, when I
had her all alone with me- under the
cold stars might whisper what had
only dared to dream thus far.
was very brave until I stood face
to face with her. Then my courage
deserted me. But I found, when I
went away, that l had asked her to
ride with me and that she had agreed
to 60.
whistled merrily all the way home,
and after had met Jem and the rest,
and we had settled matters, I could
not help turning into the shed where
our little red sleigh stood, and looking
at it. It was shabby, and the cushions
needed patching. took it in for
m Okhor ~ d.
otis shabby" I said, "confounded-
ly shabby"
"That's most swearing, Almon, :"
said my mother. "What's the matter
with the sleigh? 1t used to be good
enough. Coin to take girl out?"
"Nho ever went on q sleighing
party alone?" asked.
"Twould look funny" said moth
er. LA, those sleighings. wa, fond
Of EN- once. Wrap up we'll, Almon.
There's many death caught a.sleigh-
ing. You remember speaking of my
Uncle Eben?"
eyes" said l. "Did he catch his
death sleighing?"
"No," said my mother. "He pro.
posed a. sleighing. It was dreadful
thing for him. What life she led
him Who are You going WITH"
Miss Harrow"
Don't wonder you talked of the
sleigh's being shabby" said mother.
"They say she takes on airs. I never
saw such bonnet One that puts all
on her back isn't the wife for poor
man. I hope when she marries il will
be rich one."
II hope SO, too" said !.
"Eh?" a?ked my mother, sharply.
Then she went on with her knitting
with puzzled face.
After mother had gone to bed went
up stairs and brought down my writ.
ing desk. There were some sheets oil
paper and envelopes, which had been
there for months stored within.
] took them out and began to write
Dear Miss Harrow-I am coward. Not
hope, In one sense, but certainly rs re.
CARDS you. For year have loved you.
Yet no more would have dared to say SO
than would have dared had you been a
queen. Tomorrow you and I will ride to-
gether. Tomorrow had made upmy mind
to try my late, but know shall not dare ia
speak. So write. will give you this let.
ter to read at home II the answer be "No'
1t will be- easier for both Of US. Will you try
10 think we'll enough Of me to DO my wife
some day2 II am to have that hope, give
me some stgn-a line, your name only, any.
thing to show me what you mean. II I am
to be miserable-well, then, make me no an.
swer. Silence shall mean. NO.
''ALNoN CRAIa."
I sealed this note and wrote Hetty
Harrow's name on the back, and hid
II and the desk from mothers eyes,
sharp eyes that looked after me