The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-02-28

" lIILEWOOD PHILLIPS had
JlA been in love with Mildred Far
rington for two years, ever since
he first met her at the Hallowells'
card party. He had no good reason to
doubt that his love was returned, yet
80 fearful was he that he had misread
her feelings, so much did he dread her
refusal of his suit, that he had never
limited that she was more to him than
any of the girls he had met at the
church sociables and card parties In
NewingtOn. Innumerable chances for
"A declaration of love had offered them
selves, for he was a regular caller at
the Harrington mansion, but he was no
nearer the goal of his desires to-day
than he had been when Cupid first
aimed his dart at him.
SO matters stood when a snowfall
that brought sleighing in its wake Wis
tied Newington, and Llttlewood be-
came conscious of the fact that he had
actually asked Miss Harrington to take
a ride with him. OF course he must
perforce bring matters to a crisis now
He was afraid that Judge Harrington
would be asking his intentions and it
would be humllating to have such a
question come before he could refer
him to the girl for an answer. No, be-
yond doubt he must pluck up cour-
age enough to ask her to be his wife
or else cease calling upon her-an al
Tentative that chilled his heart.
Littlewood handed Miss Harrington
into the sleigh, stepped in himself,
tucked In the robes, and chirruped to
the horse. That intelligent animal did
not move. A flush of modification DER
spread the face of the would-be lover
A balky horse, and at the start What
chance would he have to deliver his
precious message. He spoke again to
the horse, but 1t stood still.
you might unhitch him, Mr.. Phil
lips. That would help" said Mldrel
In her sweet voice.
"Oh, yes-to be sure. | must have
tied him. think did hitch him."
"There seems to have been hitch
somewhere" she answered
The frosty night seemed to have set
a seal upon her lips, for as they sped
over the crunching snow and left the
town behind them she was silent.
81 must have offended her. I've prob
ably made n break of some kind" said
Littlewood to himself How unfortu-
nate. But must tell her tonight. 1t
is now or never. This afternoon Is too
marked to pass as mere courtesy of
the winter season. She knows l never
took anybody but my mother sleigh
riding before"
Then began a process of nerving him
self to the avowal. Mildred" And
then he stopped. He had never called
her Mildred before. Il have something
of the greatest Importance to say to
you"
Did he imagine 1t, or did she nestle
closer to him? He must have been
mistaken. and to show that he was
quite sure he edged away from her as
much as the somewhat narrow confines
of the sleigh would allow.
what do you wish to say, Mr.. Phil
iips?"
mister" Phillips. All, then she was
offended. To be sure. she had always
called him that. but after his last re-
mark 1t must have an added signih-
canoe.
do you like sleighriding?"
'Why. of course, or else l wouldn't
have come"
mo, to be sure not. Thought that
was why you came"
Mildred turned her brown eyes upon
him. 'Pm afraid 1 don't understand
you"
That settled 1t. If she didn't under
stand him when he talked of nothing
In particular, he must be blind In his
utterance, and he could never trust his
tongue to carry such heavy freight
as declaration of love. No, there was
nothing to do but postpone it. After
all, her house was the best place for
it.
The night was ravishlng, the sleigh