The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1902-04-03
Cupid on Runners
ruIEWoop PHILLIPS

4 a
- rlazi0n f0E Two years. ever since
he first met her at the HallsgeIls'
card party. He had 10 good reason to
doubt that bis love was returned. yet
50 fearful was be that be had misread
her feelings. 50 much did he dread her
refusal OF his suit. that he had never
limited that she was more 10 him than
any OF the girls be had met al the
church soclables 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 be was no
nearer the goal OF his desires to-day
than he had been when Cupid hrst
aimed his dart al him
So matters stood when a snowfall
that brought sleighing Ia It's wake Wis
tied Newington. and Littlewood be
came conscious Of the fact that he bad
actually asked Miss Harrington To take
q ride with him. OF course he must
perforee bring matters TO a crisis now.
He was afraid that Judge Harrington
would be asking his intentions and i
would be humiiiating 10 have such a
question come before he could refer
him to the girl for an answer. No. be
yond a doubt be must pluck up cour-
age enough to ask her 70 be bis wife
or else cease calling upon her-an al
tentative that chilled his heart.
! Littlewood handed Mss Harrington
into the sleigh. stepped in himself.
tucked In the robes. and chlrruped 70
the horse That intelligent animal did
not move. A flush Of modification Ger
spread the face Of the would-be loyeF
A balky horse. and at the start, What
chance would be have 70 deliver bis
precious message. He spoke again 10
the horse. but il stood still
You might unhlteh him. Mr.. Phn-
lips That would help" said MildreI.
In her sweet voice
'.Oh, yes-to be sure. / must have
tied him. Think did hitch him."
There seems to have been a hitch
somewhere" she answered
The frosty night seemed TO hare set
a seal upon her lips. for as they sped
over the crunching snow and left the
town behind them she was silent
Il must have offended her I've prob
ably made break Of some kind said
Llttlewood 10 himself How unfortu-
nate. But must tell her tonight IL
Is now Or never. This Afternoon Is too
marked 70 pass as mere courtesy VI
the winter season. She knows never
took anybody but my mother sleigh
/ riding before"
Then began process Of nerying him
self 10 the ayowaL Mildred And
then be stopped. lie 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 hlml lie 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
llps?"
Mister Phillips. All. then she was |
offended. To be sure, she had always |
called him that. but after his last re-
mark It must have an added slgnIf- |
canoe.
lido you Ike sleighridingT
Why. Of course. or else / wouldn't
have come"
NO. 10 be sure not. Thought that
was why you came"
/ Mildred turned her brown eyes upon |
him. I'm afraid / don't understand |
you"
That settled II. II 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 ravishing. the sleigh
bells jlngled tremendously. the horse
swept on with steady. rhythmic stride
and under the influence OF the sweet
surroundings Mildred at last said point
edly: lis 1t so that more people get en-
gagged In winter than in summer She
blushed as she spoke. 1t was unmaid-
emily, but he was such a dear stupid.
Now he would declare himself. But
she did not know the capa blllties for
self-represslon Of her two-year admir-
er.
He said to himself: "If l were un.
prlnclpled | would take advantage of
the slip o@d propose. but I would BIT
terly reproach myself forever, what.
ever her answer was. so he said. In as
matter-of-fact tone as he could mas
ter: IL really can't answer ofrhand. but
I'll look 1t up for you"
DO. Write letter to the Sum-
Her tones were as musical as ever
but Littlewood thought he detected a |
sarcastic ring in them. and he thanked
his stars that he had not yielded to his |
natural desire to propose at such an
inauspicious time
What was that Important thing you |
wanted to say?' asked Miss Earring
ton' after several minutes OF silence !