The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-11-28


ulster, he went out OF doors.
The state of the case was this: Miss
Weldon, the lady by the stove. was on
her way to join a Christmas party at the
house Of her uncle, Mr.. Deliver, some
seven miles from the station, and /, in
vited to the same house, had been de-
lighted to meet her on the train. We
were good FIR ends, and had studied art
together in Paris When we left the
city in mo ming train, O little snow was
beginning to .all, and as we iourneyed
northward we found the snowfall heavier
and heavier, and we had arrived at this
little village Of Boynton at O'Clock in
the afternoon, an hour tehind time.
From Boynton to the Dolliver house
we we're to go by stage coach, but the
driver had left more than an hour pre-
vious, hurrying away before his orii-
nary time for starting for fear the road
would he blocked up before he could get
to his home, good twelve miles away,
and assuring himself that there would
be no passengers for him on such day.
1t was reasonab.e enough that we
should be perplexed, for we could not
see, nor at fret could tho station master
see, how we were to get to our journeys
end fiat day. II we could wait until
next day, he told us, the stage driver
would be back in q sleigh. He said he
would be sure to come-for Christmas
packages, il not for passengers. But
we could not wait until next day. 1t
would be better 10 return TO the city in
the next down train, il, happily one
should come. We could not hope that
the Delivers would send for US, for IL
they saw the stage pass without stop
ping, they would be sure we hal not
come by the train.
The station master was good man
and did his best to get us out OF our
trouble. He had douots about another
train coming down that day-it was
country road with one track-and he
thought 1t would be a great pity II the
Dolliyers should DO deprived OF the
company of two OF their Christmas
guests: lot OF them had come up the
day before Nobody in the village made
a business OF hiring out vehicles or car
rying passengers, but an idea had
struck the station master, and he had
gone oat to see what he could do with 1t.
In about quarter OF an hour he re-
turned.
aWeA. sir. be said, @there is just one
thing you can do. There isn't anybody
In this village who will go to Dolliver's
to-day. for there is no chance OF getting
back to night but the man who keeps
the store here, Mr.. Peter Chase, has
rot horse and sleigh, and il you choose
to hire that OF him and do your own
driyin I, l think you can get n, you
are willing to pay him something extra,
for he'll have TO send man over to-
morrow with the stage driver to bring
Il back. and besides, in rough time;
like these, people always charge some
thing extra.
and she did not hesitate to say thai
rather than take the risk OF being
obliged TO remain in the village, where
there were no accommodations fol
strangers, she would take the risk Of
letting me drive her to the Delivers. !,
at is only seven miles, she said
aand IL the horse is good enough, l don
see what there is to happen.
/ tramped through the snow TO Petel
Chase's store, and quickly Arranged
with him for the hire OF his horse ant
sleigh.
sFiye dollars may seem good deal
sir he said. for trip like that, bu
this is pretty deep snow. ana we al
ought to remember that Christmas comes
but once year I'll have the sleigi
around at inc StdtsOh IA eSu AAtss ~ss~'
In half an hour little sleigh, draw
by big brown horse, came up to tn
station.
Il would have been here sooner, SAT-
Mr. Chase. "but it was good while be
fore could find the bells, and knowe'
Won wouldn't want to take Christina
Sleigh ride without bells.
did not complain OF the delay, al
though / hal been getting dreadfut.
impatient. The station master had has
a Telegram from up the tine, stating ina
n down train with snow pillow was o.
its way, and was very much afraid thu
Miss Weldon would conclude to wait an
fake this train lack to the city. 50
without loss OF time, we bundled II
The Christmas minded Mr. Chase ha
/. brought two heavy fur robes, our vaiise
were hacked in behind, the sleigh De-n
of the box variety. and we were read
"There is no mistaking the way sal
Mr.. Chase. You so straight ahead IN
iii yol come to the house.
~ hi,.h know perfectly well, aide
Miss Weldon. and away we jinSsed. :.
TIE snow was still falling. but we al
not miud that. and now that we ha
started OF. was glad that Mr.. has
had waited 10 find the bells Thel
merry iugle suited my spirits we'll.
jolly sleigh ride with Clara Weldon wa