Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-11-20
tly before Offering us a favor. Cousin !

tiy De1OTe OHeTlnB ub = LUVoFs SOubln
Reuben Alcott, an elderly man, and cau-
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 snowflakes, his eyes
bright and his cheeks flushed with the
cold. Sue felt her cheeks flush, too,
with irrepressible joy: hut she assumed
entire carelessness.
IL was jest a-sayin' thet 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, III take you home,
fer it's on his road, md | guess you
won't mind swappin' us old folks fer a
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 than n love affair to those concerned.
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 un.
limited consumption of nuts, apples
and cider, before the gathering finally
broke up. The storm gradually ceased
bowling and sank away to calm. so
that when the gcod-bys had all been
said, and the various teams were being
ho el., nl, ala
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 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 sign, after all.
The colt forged ahead through the
feathery, piled-up snow. On each side
the world stretched glittering and cold
under the frosty stars. The keen air
brought the blood to the cheeks, and
stirred every pulse of life to the
rhythm of the dancing bells on the har-
ness. Tom sat upright as a 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, and she never could-and she
must-and it was very unkind 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 moment.y, 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
blackness stood threateningly out upon
the fresh snow-and, in his swaying
SSh' fhC OhCl, anu Threw
both of the occupants into the nearest
snowdrift. Then he trotted peaceably
down the road toward home.
To be shot headforemost into 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 reassured as to his
safety.
Above them the last cloud had drifted
out OF the sky. The broad. starlit azure
arched over their heads with n 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, aud never even knew
that it was cold.-Priscilla Leonard, in
n. Y. Independent.
PROPHETIC.