News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-12-03

She tried to smother the giggle in the
sleeve of Joel's great rough coat and
then continued:
"There hasn't been a soul along until
you came. l was scarf to death.
Everything was so white an still, an
in the woods the moon was lookin' at
me through the dark branches of the
trees for all the world like queer
face. II don't believe l could have
stood it much longer"
BY this time Joel was chuckling over
his rivals predicament, and Susannah
sat up in sudden dismay.
but you won't tell anybody, will
YOU, Joel? The whole town'll be laugh
in at me-"
Joel turned serious on the instant.
mo. they won't laugh at you. If they
do, they'll have to answer to me. Be
sides, the joke amt on you. It's on
Ed"
But Just at this time Ed was having
fresh troubles of his own. Careening,
svaying, he drew near Hufflesburg at
a racing gait, utterly unconscious that
Susannah was no longer clinging to
the seat before which he still stood,
Juggling at the reins. Occasionally he
threw an encouraging word over his
shoulder or told her how brave she
was not to scream and add to their
danger. The horses would soon run
themselves out, and the road before
them was clear.
But alas, just as he turned into the
town a sudden obstacle appeared in
their track-Farmer Schneider's big
sleigh, laden with the rosy checked
Mrs Schneider and three equally rosy
DAUGHTERS! At Eds warning shout
Schneider drew his placid white mare
to one side, but the flying team caught
the rear of Schneider's sleigh, and a
chorus of feminine shrieks was watt
ed to the fleeing Ed. The drift was
deep, and the five Schneiders, when
disentangled, found themselves unin-
iured, but nevertheless Wrathful at
the reckless driver.
In the meantime Ed had reached the
center of the town, and his horses, eX-
hausted and steaming, finally respond
ed to the rein. With a feeling of in
tense relief Ed turned to his compan-
ion. CONSERVATION seized him. Where
was Susannah? Caught in the mael-
strom of Schneiders? No. his cutter
had not been injured in the collision.
He remembered with horror that she
had not spoken since the horses first
g, ho n
been back there in the woods all this
time, frozen, perhaps attacked by
tramps? Ed was too frightened to be
logical. With a curse he turned his
tagged horses back into the road and
whipped them on at mad gait. Again
he passed the Schneider family, and
as the farmer once more pulled out OF
his way, this time more successfully
his goOdwife murmured:
81 did not think Marcy Johnson's
wine was so strong as that"
Half mile farther he met Joel anC
stopped at the latter's vigorous hail.
Good evenin', Ed" said Joel, will
a cheerful smile for his discounted
rival. "Are you goin' to look for Su
sannah? She's here, safe in my sleigh
an you can just bet she amt goin' tc
make such a mistake again."
Ed ignored the complacent Joel and
making his best bow-that is, the bes
he could make while trying to hold the
| two astonshed and trembling horses
| said:
I'm awful sorry l had such an acct
dent, Miss Peters; but if you aren'
hurt it don't matter so much, an
hope you'll let me see you safe home
Susannah choked back persisten
giggle and chung to JoePs arm.
"You see, Mr.. Sparks-Mr. Herrick-
| l mean Joel-an' I-we-I'm just al
much obliged
Joel took up her faltering eXplana
ton and made it clear.
81 don't mind tellin' you. Mr.
Sparks, that hereafter Susannah an
I'll do our sleighin' together for al
time, but if you want recommends
ton to any other girl Susannah shell
give it, an we won't mention this her
little affair"
And Mr.. Sparks, with a dignifed up
lifting of his fur cap and few unin
telligible words, whipped up his horses
swung around in the road and race
back to town.