Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-13
CHAPTER Y.
The Horse Racing on Moon Run.

CHAPTER v.
The Horse Racing on Moon Run.
1t had been an open winter. For SIX
weeks the roads had been half-spoke deep,
not with mud, but with that thick, yellow
smear that clings like birdlime There had
been flurries of snow when the wind had
roared and when the black ring about the
Heller cabin had stood out sharp and vivid
in the drifts, but there had been no sleigh
ing. The snow had gone as quickly as y
had come, flooding Gum Run Gap until
mile of road and barring Karl ketchline
from his Sunday service for weeks at
time. The valley creek had spread far out
on the bottoms, and the voice OF Roaring
Run. always dominating note. had be-
come a hoarse below that echoed even
into the remotest hooks Of the valley.
On the evening OF the day on which Rose
had discovered Jim Farthing's little horse,
the winter came on in earnest 1t began In
a smother of wet snow-a foot of 1t-hke
raw putty. A cloudy day when ROADS hao
packed hard and smooth, fierce drop IN
the night Of forty degrees, and on We'd
nesday morning the sleighing was perfect.
It is not sure who first thought of the
trip; 1t may be doubted If any one did, 1t
was one of those spontaneous anairs Wnere
all awake at the same moment ana nnu
that they are thinking the same Thought
Why not a sled-ride over Moon Run and a
chicken and waffle supper at the old Sny-
evening not one had dreamed OF 1t; on
Wednesday evening every young person III
the valley was ready.
When Jim Farthing got the news MS
first thought was Of Rose. He would taks
her with his colt; he would drive right
down and invite her now. Within ten min
utes he was in front of the HartsWick
mansion.
Judgment Front doors are of little use In
the Seven mountains; they are for the min
lister and the doctor and funerals. But TINS
was Hartswick Hall, and he hesitated only
a moment however. Who was he That ne
should 20 to the front door OF week day
and in the forenoonf He heard brlsk.
light step, seemingly started by mis- Knock
then Rose herself stood framed In the door
..Ah. good morning" She looked down at
her costume and laughed. Her sleeves were
rolled to the elbow and her dress was con-
cealed by a Bingham jumper There was
a touch of flour on her cheek and more
than busting of It in little lock tna'
had struggled rebelliously from its moor
ings. .,, CT.
'Come right in. Want to shake? She
held up her fioury hands, laughing the
while.
jovially. seizing her hand with hearty grip.
Take this chair, Mr.. Farthing.' she
pushed him a kitchen rocker.
mo; no chair. I'm not making call.
Keep right on with your work.
"Ob. I'm going to-" She looked up at
him with bright eyes and laughed in
way that thrilled him nightly. I'm
making bread: and you can't stop, you
know. after once you've begun" She
turned to her heap of dough and began to
knead with vigor Young Jim could have
watched her all day.
II dropped in to ask II you were gong
on the ride tonight 1t took courage, but
1T was not his way to loiter and wait Tor
hints.
"Sure, wouldn't miss 1t for anything.
She paused a moment and looked up az
him with girlsh enthusiasm. Karl phone,o,
up that he was going with his new horse.
ooh"
you know-the one he bought over Al
toona way three weeks ago there i, round s
here He's a perfect bay, so Pap says;
seven years old, fifteen hands high. and
weighs thirteen hundred HoWs that!
And you're going with Kari
Yes. wouldn't miss it for farm.
You're going, aren't YOU with the n''ie
colt?'
suddenly gone dark. 1t came to him with
O hitter rush that he was out OF ms place
Tha nrosperous Keichline had every ad-
vantage. She had herself expressed the
difference; the one dr mttee colt That in.
Saad VOC the proportion. He turned to 60
Don't hasten, Mr.. Farthing. she urged
sweetly, turning from her bread and LOOK
fng into his eyes as frankly as chiiu'
i9u ,,',st r9 can't stay. I must get to
,,or,. she went with him to the door,
and laughed aloud when he shook her
..See YOU on the ride" she called merrily.
,nd he was down the path and In tho
road and driving pell-meil nome peiore ne
realized just what he was ABOUT;
The cloud that was to snadow young
Inns life had arisen now, and II was rae
ing. black and threatening, to the zenith.
me sledee-ride began auspicfousiy. IL
was beautiful night. thick at nfst w, viii
stars that glittered In the still cold Tnen
the moon came up, rolling. large and round
over the snags Of Turkey ridge. castine
long. shadows down the valleys. and then
flooding all with that marveious glory ina.
comes only with the SNOWY Ihsne anu 'iie
radiant moon
But the focal point OF all the landscape
was the "bob-sled," q long-bodied anair
half full Of straw and packed ugnt win a
abandoned themselves to the witchery OF
the hour as only youngsters can In front
and behind were the single couples-boys
who had rig of their own and a girl,
and staid pairs at the critical junction be-
tween courtship and matrimony.
Up at the head of the line was Karl
Keichline, with Rose beside him In his
smart new sleigh. His horse was indeed
magnificent one-a mettiesonle, hard-bitted.
Iong-geared fellow that kept his driver con-
stantly on the alert. 1t was evident that
the sleek postmaster remained with the
group only through courtesy. A single word.
a loohening of the reins, and-zipi he would
be out OF the landscape In q
twinkling. 1t was understood that on the
home trip Rose was to drive, and they
were to have free road.
At the rear OF the procession, utterly un-
noticed and unthought-of, were the Earth
ing brothers and the little colt. Tom was
driving. and jim sat curled down black and
wanted 10 drive the horse.
Through winding valleys, between the