The true Democrat., 1896-10-24

more enjoyment than I had counted on
for this Christmas.
A young man and a young woman,
both Of lively disposition, good friends,
iellowworkors, and nothing more, are
much more likoly to have q merry time
in a case like this than il they We're a
pair Of lovers, or even if one of them
were a lover. True love implies GER
tain seriousness, and is not infrequent-
ly conducive 10 occurrences.
The snow was deep on the road and
sometimes drifted, but the sleigh went
through it we'll enough, The horse,
however, probably not very good trav-
eler on the best of roads, maGo 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 tho ma n point. With rea-
son to believe that wo should safely
reach our journeys end, it did not trou-
tie NE that we were making that jour
ncy slowly, and my companion appeared
to be OF my way OF III mixing. The beauty
of tho snOw-decorat. forests, fields,
and hills was enough TO make our ar
tist 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 werc bound but there was a beaGti-
full weirdness in the snow scenes, soft
encd by the dusky light, and our hearts
and the bells were still merry. But as
it grew darker and darker we 10th be-
gan to wish that we stool in the light
and the warmth of the Dolliver house.
! whipped the horse, who made a few
bounds through the snow and then re-
lapsed into his former trot. 1t was nc
use to try to hurry him.
Several times Miss Weldon hal as.
surcd me that she was not in the least
anxious, and that she was sure We
should now reach the house in 4 very
short time. think she was about tC
say something Of the kind again, wher
suddenly she exclaimed in a voice that
had Il ring Of hearty cheeriulness in it
very different from her previous expires
sions of thoughtful encouragement:
Here it is. Didn't l tell you? W.
are at the very gate. .
Sure enough. there was the gate with
; lamp on one CT the posts, and there il
the midst Of its VIII tened grounds wa:
the house, it's windows lighted and ;
lamp on the piazza.
, When l pulled up to the docr, I at
/ tempted to bound from the sleigh, bu
: my bound was poor one, for toun
, that my legs were somewhat stiffene'
| by the cold AS helrel Miss Weldo
r to alight, could per, eve that she wa
3 not nearly 50 active as I had general
5 known her The door opened before W
had time TO reach it, and an elderl
t woman, with a Christmas look abou
4 her, which was absolutely warming
2 stood in the broad portals.
t We stopped on tho piazza before en
+ tering, stamping aad shaking ourselves
: for we we're two figures Of snow.
. "Our vaises are in the back Of tn
sleigh" said. and, TO my surprise, III
n teeth chartered a litt!o as l spoke.
l. think the morse will stand until SON
r one takes him."
u We then went in Suddenly Mi
9 Weldon stopped and looked from rig
o 10 left, and, turning 10 the good won
g an, she exclaimed:
$ This is not DR.. Delivers house
Q "Of course not, said the other; d
% you think it was? Major Pendall
r lives here"
d Miss Weldon and I looked at ca
a other in Gismay.
t.. I'VE have made mistake l sal
q How much further on is it to the Dt
liver placer"
le 1T isn't farther on at ALL" t
ly woman replied; 1T is not on this ro
s at all.
ly 1T is too bad," said. They tt
ps US at Boynton it was q straight roa
rs and VIC could not miss it"
Sc 80 it is: but three miles below NJ
IN there is fork that anybody might m
ou take, especially at night, with the roa
a, unbroken. But come in and get war
o. YOU must be half frozen. Ill have
ns