Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-12
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; SLEIGHBELL
MEMORIES
49,. BY INA TRAVIS 4
@ @ Q
BY INA TRAVIS


afternoon sun cast a dazzling light on
the first snowfall. ard above the clang
OF the cable cars sounded the faint
tingle OF sleighbels on the boulevard.
Buttoning his evercoat to the throat,
he strobe down the mosaic corridor.
past the brass cages behind which the
bank clerks were casting up the days
accounts, and threw open the door.
whose curtains had been tightly
drawn. As he stood on the threshold
a pleased light came into his shrewd
gray eyes. Round the corner. with
ciink Of silver chains and Jingle OF
bells. swept his favorite team Of
blacks. The present Mrs. Shepard was
most considerate Of her husbands
wishes and tastes. ;Sleighing was one
Of the bankers keeis>st pleasures. and
she had remembere6%the fact.
But as the horses fopped before the
bank Mr.. Shepard tAted the absence
OF his big English c'y Gilman. A tall
square shouldered figu !. sprang out and
tossed back the fur r, les. then waved
n familiar greeting to he man on the
step. II was Reginald
'Come on. father. fog dash on the
speedway. Everybody< out"
Where Is James?' III hired Shepard
as he climbed into the C ter.
AT the stables. lought-we-
might have the first rid$ Il the season
together"
IL the elder Shepard I'D not been
30 absorbed in studying set OF the
new harness. he might Fare observed
In his sons voice an anxious note and
In the adjustment Of the robes more
than ordinary filial solicituds.
Once on the boulevard. be!ond bust.
ness trafic and cable cars. he might
also have looked here and there on
dull brownstone houses whose rentals
flowed into the Shepard coffer,. When
the aTenue rose sheer above the
across the stream 20 his large holdings
In the Palisades. from which. Il was
predicted. the city would eventually
draw Its water supply.
But he was not thinking OF these
things. A faraway look came into his
eyes. and he paid no heed TO his sons
occasional comments on passing We
hicles until finally Reginald found
what comfort he could In his own
thoughts.
Amos Shepard sat with his arms
folded. studying with unseeing eyes
the scenery spreading out before them
Instead Of towering cliffs and stately
mansions. he saw a stretch OF mid.
west prairies broken by rail fences
and low farmhouses. The bloOded
trOtters were transformed Into a
patient gray mare drawing a high box
sleigh. The robe was a flannel lined
buffalo skin. and But did that mat
ter? She was at his side. and with
lips stiff. partly from cold and partly
from the fear that he was asking more
than she could give. he framed the
momentous question.
And that thrilling word of three let
tiers which seemed to change his whole
life-it carried him away from the old
farm to the busy city above the river,
where he meant to make a name for
himself and wealth for Kitty. Ii was
much harder than he had anticipated
He was almost ready to give up and
return to the farm when she wrote
that she thought she could help him.
and she was such a dainty. fragile
Kitty. After she came II was easier
1t was Kitty's encouragement and
good advice that smoothed out many
a business wrinkle. just as her soft
hand rubbed away the frowns and the
headaches at night
By Gnd by her hands were less soft,
for the work became heavier when the
babies arrived. And when. after he
mad achieved his first little success.
came the panic to sweep everything
before * E.:ty's wise head planned the
foundations for the new work. and
Kitty's small economies. ennobled by
her great love. made the upward climb
easier. He could see her now making
red flannel mittens for Reggie and the
wee checked pinafores she sewed for
Kathie under the green shaded lamp.
He drew in his breath quickly The
picture changed TO the day when he
brought home her first silk dress. How
her blue eyes shone when he threw the
giistening folds over her shoulders!
Later came the sealskin and the dia.
monds. but nothing that made them
half 80 happy as that first silk dress.
And day by day as he prospered he re-
allied that there was something which
his wealth could not buy back-the
fading health of his quiet. fragile wife.
When it was all over and for one
long. weary year Kitty had lain asleep
under the graceful marble shaft. q
handsome mistress came to the newly
furnished mansion on the avenue
Thoughtless people said 1t was 80 for.
tunate all round. for the first Mrs.
Shepard was not the sort Of woman to
preside over such a home or to cult.
waite the people who would he usefui
to a rising man like Amos Shepard.
The second Mrs. Shepard was admi-
rably adapted to the position. She
knew the schools which would give
the children the best social standing.
She presided over a dinner table with
indescribable grace and tact. and when
Shepard was elected to congress Il
was freely circulated that his wife's
diplomacy had been worth more for
campaign purposes than his goodly
check. Kathie's social debut was set