Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-07

see her. and hardly thinking Of what
he was doing be turned round and
drove slowly to the schoolhouse. When
he arrived. the place was crowded, and
the entertainment was in progress. He
managed to squeeze in at the door, and
after a time he discovered Mary and
Eakins sitting in the most uncomforta-
BILE place in the building the
big box stove. in which there was the
usual roaring fire. He smiled grimly
when he noticed that Eakins knew so
the country that he would accept seats
in such a part Of the building, for in
order to keep the people in the distant
seats from freezing it is necessary to
have a fire that will scorch every one
who is near 1t. But the color in Mary's
cheeks was not due to the heat solely.
He could see 1t come and go as her es-
cort leaned close to whisper something
f1attering. and it was torture to him
to watch the progress of the Irritation.
Mary was evidently enjoying herself
to the utmost and under the guidance
Of the witty Eakins was learning to
laugh at the foolish recitations and SEN
timental songs that had always de-
lighted her in the past. When the olio
was about half over, she looked around
and to her surprise met the reproach-
full eyes Of Harlow. She did not ex-
pect that he would follow them and
had kept from thinking of him by lis
tening to Eakins and encouraging his
satirical sallies. But now she could
feel that her honest country lover was
watching her, and the pain in his eyes
made her lose all further enjoyment
in the programme. So between the
heat of the stove and the stress of her
feelings she was thoroughly uncom-
Portable and when the programme was
completed was glad to escape into the
outer air.
Now it could not be expected that a
young city man like Eakins would
know how to make cutter comforta-
BILE for five mile drive on one Of the
frostiest nights of Canadian mid
winter, especially after they had both
been half roasted in the schoolroom.
For the first few minutes they both en-
joyed the change from the heat to the
cold and were chilled through before
they saw the necessity of wrapping
themselves as snugiy as possible in the
rugs and blankets. Had they been
more careful of their comfort they
might perhaps have enjoyed their
drive, for, after all, Canadian winter
night at degrees below zero is not
such a terrible hardship to face. The
moon shining on the snow made the
night almost as clear as day, and the
dry. cold air was so still that the
sleighbells made a music that could be
heard for miles. The stars above them
twinkled brightly and revealed the
farthest depths, OF heaven, and the
snow sparkled with myriads Of mimic
consultations. The runners creaked
and whistled in the silence while their
equipage raced with its own shadow,
and If they had been in proper condi-
ton to enjoy the invigorating air the
trip would have been something to talk
about in after days. But having come
SO carelessly from the overheated
schoolroom they were soon chilled to
the bone. AS a natural consequence
conversation tagged, and presently
Mary asked:
Cant you drive little faster?"
Eakins did his best to increase the
speed, but the horse-a livery stable
veteran-knew he was In the hands Of
a novice and did not propose to exert
himself unduly. At this time sleigh
bells were heard approaching from be-
hind, and few moments later Will
Harlow swept past them at full speed