The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-05

Hey" drawled the astonished Phil.
She amt gone alone?"
BLESS you, no. cried the doctor. Hi
ram Bah just came in his new sleigh and
took her. l tell you what Phil, HIS go
ing 70 cut all you boys out with that new
cutter of his"
Phil climbed BACK into the old hign-
back and drove away without word. He
was dazed and bitterly disappointed. He
was half-minded to turn back and not go
10 the school house at all. But then pride
coming to his rescue, he would not do that.
He thought once of going around by some
other girls house and splicing Myrtle
in that way. But Phil was first of all.
just; there might be a mistake. Myrtle
might have thought he was not coming.
Perhaps she mad been told he was not.
He believed Hi thoroughly INSCRIPTIONS.
So he drove on alone to the school house
and hhched Black Bob to the rail beside
HIS handsome new turnout II was a
pretty cutter-rather too light for country
tTavel-and he could scarcely blame any
girl for wanting 10 ride In it,
The other fellows had gathered around
and thought" many things when Phil
drove in alone, but nobody cared to chaff
the big fellow. mastin is usually good
natured, but there are some liberties that
even a mastih will not allow
The boys and girls seldom sat with each
other-unless II was a well understood fact
that they were engaged-and Myrtle was
in the midst of bevy of chattering
friends when Phil entered. She seemed 10
talk all the faster as he appeared, and an
unmisiakable blush rose to her cheek.
Secretly, the Doctors daughter knew she
had treated her old friend meanIy
Phil calmly took his seat, but before the
evening was over he found an opportunity
to speak a moment with Myrtle in priva te
"WiH you ride home with me, Myrtie?'
he asked.
20, must go back with Mr.. Ball" she
said nervously. Il have promised"
You knew l was coming for YOU" he
said, quietly. win you go back with
me?"
I'm be glad TO come with you next
week. Phil she said
Il don't want you next week" he said,
flashing fire. II want you tonight"
Very well; if you don't want me next
week you are not Obliged to have mer' re-
sopnded Miss Myrtle, with her head up
The red and yellow cutter stopped at
the doctors gate the next Friday night;
Pills high-back went around by the other
road. There was nothing more said by
either neither could their friends pump
anything regarding the estrangement out
of them. And Hiram Ball, wisely sealed
his own lips also.
Phil did not miss a session of the singing
club. He seldom called for or drove any
of the girls home; if he did IL was always
somebody who otherwise would have been
neglected. He told himself that Myrtle
should see he was no weather-cock. And,
in truth, If he could not have the girl OF
his choice he wanted none a all.
The winter drew toward spring. There
had been a thaw in February which al
most spoiled the sleighing; but when II
grew cold again the hard-packed snow
froze solid and the runners fairly hum
med over the roads. The wiseacres, too,
declared that the winter was by no means
over. There was big storm due, and the
longer il delayed the more severe it would
prove when it finally came.
One Friday, late in the month, the snow
banks began to pile up around the horizon,
and the farmers FASTENED to get their sheep
into the folds and make ali secure for the
night. There was little wind, however,
and the storm grew slowly. Phil was
late at the singing club that night. IL
was we'll under way when he entered, and
as he came in he brought with him a sud-
den cold blast of wind. The first flakes
of the coming storm spanked on his bear
skin coat.
"You had better close early Mr.. EN-
cry" he whispered to the master as he
passed to a seat. There is going to be
heavy gale"
But it is hard to break up merry party
of young people. The fine snow sifted
down about the doorstone. Had they been
without they would have heard now ard
then the swapping of the over-laden
branches of the forest trees behind the
building The schoolhouse stood upon
the verge of a wood.
BY the time the session broke up the wind
had risen and was moaning angrily
through the forest. It swept the snow
fierceiy into their faces as they breasted
it, too. Ii was astonishing how much
had already fallen.
Everybody but Phil and the master hur-
ried to get away. The latter lived at the
nearest farmhouse-almost within stones
throw of the schoof-and Phil had a ques-
ton or two in algebra he wanted explain
ed Although the young farmer did not
attend regular sessions of the school he
nevertheless spent his evenings at home
in studying such books as he had previous
ly had no opportunity of dipping into.
Come Phil. you'd best hurry along
yourself" said Mr.. Emery, going to the
door and receiving the fun strength of the
gale in his face. "Why, it's a blizzardw
''Tn see you home first" said Phil.
laughing. Black Bob is the best horse
home all right"
They dug out the old box sleigh and
backed the big black out of the horse shed
The others We're already out of sight and
hearing. Phil and the master tumbled
into the sleigh and Black Bob quickly
drew them through the fast drifting snow
TO the masters abode.
You'd better spend the night here,
Phil" said Mr.. Emery.
NONSENSE responded the young fellow
with laugh.
"WeH, you've a good horse and just the
sort of sleigh for the storm. The wind
viii be behind you most of the way, too.
That light cutter of Balls will fare hard
tonight"
The teachers last sentence repeated it.
self over and over in Phils mind as he
drove toward home. Perhaps that was
why he turned into the road which passed
the doctors house, instead of taking the
more direct route home. There was littc
difference in the distance; but Phil had
not been in the habit of using that ROAD
of late. The storm was phenomenally
fierce.
Black Bob breasted the snow nobly and