The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-11-25

tly before Offering us a favor. Cousin
Reuben Alcott, an elderly man. and eau
tious as to his chronic enemy, the rheu-
matism, began to worry over the con-
tinued storm. Finally he disappeared,
and held long consultation with Mr..
Wilcox; and as Tom Kellogg came by
for the second time on his road home
the two hailed him, and brought him
in, covered with snowfakes. his eyes
bright and his checks flushed with the
cold. Sue felt her cheeks flush, too,
with irrepressible joy; but she assumed
entire carelessness.
Il was jest a-sayin' tibet twas too
stormy fer men Abby to drive home to-
night. Sue; so we'll stay over till ter
morrer," announced Cousin Reuben.
Tom Kellogg, here, II take you home,
fer it's on his road, md | guess you
won't mind swappin' US old folks fer
young beau"
Cousin Reuben cackled at his own
joke, and the rest Joined in. Sue and
Tom laughed, too, but hardly with
effusion. There is nothing more serI-
| GUS IMAM ii lONG d nan " liIOSC NOHNCl hCNA
1t seemed TO both of them that the next
| hour or so would never be over. The
| games were all done by this time, but
singing was still in order, and the I'M
| limited consumption of NUS, apples
and cider, before the gathering finally
broke up, The storm gradually ceased
bowling and sank away to a calm, so
| h0t ,x,ha bo baI oil haop
said, and the various teams were being
harnessed, the sky was almost clear,
and only a few drifting clouds OBJ
scured the stars.
Tom was so afraid that Cousin Reu-
ben might reconsider that he brought
the colt and cutter up before the rest
of the teams were ready. The colt was
prancing and eager; Sue, well wrapped
in shawls and hood, was tucked in hur-
riedly; Tom jumped in, and they were
off. Sue gave a little sigh of relief in
the depths of her hood, for she had
been afraid of Cousin Reuben, too. And
yet, now that she was safely beside her
lover, her old tormenting spirit rose
within her, and she resolved she would
not make a sign, after all.
The colt forged ahead through the
feathery, piled-up snow. On each side
the world stretched gIittering and cold
under the frosty stars. The keen air
brought the blood 20 the checks, and
stirred every pulse of life to the
rhythm of the dancing bells on the har-
ness. Tom sat upright as statue,
looking neither to the right nor the
left. Sue waited two minutes for him
to speak fve-ten. They would be at
home IN half an hour. He expected her
to begin, ard she never could-and she
mustard it was very unllind of him
and he was right-and oh, she
couldn't! Having arrived at this point,
two big tears rolled down her cheeks,
and she said, in very trembling voice:
Toni"
Tom, who had felt his resolution Slip
ping away from him momently, and
whose heart was one ache of tender
ness toward the willful little bundle of
shawls at his side, turned rapturously,
with a jerk. The colt felt the rein
slacken, seized his opportunity, SHE'D
wildly at fallen branch whose twisted
blacllness stood threateningly out upon
the fresh snow-and, in his swaying
rush, turned the cutter over. and threw
both of the occupants into the nearest
snowdrift. Then he trotted peaceably
down the road toward home.
To be shot headforemost into a snow
bank is confusing. Exactly what hap
pened, Sue never knew; but the first
thing she found herself doing, when
she came to her clear senses. was hold
ing on very tight to Tom, and asking
him, tenderly and incoherently, if he
was hurt. And Tom was laughing.
I'D be willing to have every bone in my
body broken, Sue, to know that you
care so much" he whispered, and
caught her so close in his strong arms
that she was quite treasured as to his
safety.
Above them the last cloud had drifted
out of the sky. The broad, starlit azure
arched over their heads with a friendly
clearness and calm. Family, yet draw
ing nearer. came the Ginning bells OF
another sleigh, far down the road. And
sitting in the snowdrift the lovers
kissed each other. and never even knew
that it was cold.-Priscilla Leonard, in
n. Y. Independent.
PROPHETIC