The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-04-25
THE OLD RED SLEIGH.

THE OLD RED SLEIGH.
After mother had gone to bed !
went up stairs and. brought down my
writing desk. There were some sheets
of paper and some delicate envelopes,
which had been there for months
stored within, and silver pen and
pen handle which had been birth
day present in my school days.
I took them out and the ink bottle
also. The ink was thick, (for we
did not write much, either of us) and
1 brought the vinegar cruet from the
closet and thinned it to my liking.
Then sat down and looked at the
paper; then I went to the stairs and
listened to see that mother was not
coming then 1 actually seated N.Y.
self, squared my elbows and began to
write. This is what 1 wrote
DEAR Miss HARRow.-I am a
coward. Not, hope, in one sense,
but certainly as regards you. For a
year l have loved you yet would
no more have dared told you than 1
would had you been a queen. Per
haps because do not cherish hope
that you like me. Tomorrow you
and / will ride together. Tomorrow
I had made up mind to try my fate,
but 1 know shall not dare to speak,
SC I write l will give you this letter
to read at home. If the answer be
No. it will be easier for both of us.
Will you try and think enough Of me
to be my wife some day.
II love you better than l do my
life, and l will do all man can to make
life happy for you. With little
hope 1 can make my way in the world
as other men do. 1 am young and
strong and not utterly ignorant. If
l am to have that hope give me some
sigma line-your name only-any-
thing to show me what you mean.
If | am to be miserable-well, then,
make no answer. Silence shall mean
No, I could not bear to see you or
9r<..Fe< tO you after that. Ttsfe IL s.n
NV = ~ - = ---T7r e - -
am not used 10 writing letters OF any
kind of late. l never wrote or said
word of love to anyone before; that
must be its excuse but were it ever
so elegant, it could not mean more !;
for offer all the love in my heart
the only love 1 ever felt or shall ever
know. ALMoN CRAIG" +"
/ enclosed this note in the daintiest
envelope / possessed, sealed it up,
wrote Hepsey Harrow's name on it
and hid it in the desk from mothers S
sharp eyes that looked after me
anxiously as 1 drove away with old
Dobbin and the little red sleigh the
following evening.
She was ready for me. My mothers
hint was in my mind, and I looked at
her dress. All discovered was that
it was blue; but her furs were good
i could judge of furs.
"She must marry rich man or one
on his way wealthward," I said.
"She shall, too. I've more to start
with than Washington had" And
l tucked her into the sleigh and drove
off to the meeting.
1t was pleasant drive and merry
dance and supper but as the time
went on I felt glad that I had written
the letter, for could not have said
what it said for me. 1t was at the
last moment when we were driving
homeward that I mustered courage to
ask her for the little reticule she car
ried, as the other girls did, with a
brush and some flowers in it, l think,
for they had to touch up their curls
and braids after the windy ride, before
the dance.
"Why do you want it 7" she asked.
"To put something in it which you
must not look at till you reach home,
said.
"You arouse my curiosity" she
answered. "I shall look the instant
I have lamp"
And as she spoke dropped in the
letter and snapped the clasp. Not
word more could I speak; but at the
door / tried, for the first time, to kis.
her. Her lips eluded mine and
dared not repeat the attempt.
I took the red sleigh home anc
waited hopefully, as knew
afterward-for an answer. None
came-a day, a week, month. Ther
all hope was over. I had seen her
She had given me little cold, smile
less bow. l was rejected.
"Mother," said that night, "w'
must have some one to farm tn,
place am going to some city,"
"Why?" she said.
"To make my fortune" said.
For that girl, the school ma Fam ?
asked my mother, bitterly.
mo" said "never for her."
Mother knelt down beside me as
sat on low stool. She put her hand
on my shoulder and looked in m,
face.
"She didn't dare refuse your"
she said. 'Boy, know you are il
trouble. I'm your mother. Tel
me-"
"She did not accept me" I said.
"The heartless mink - exclaime
nv mother. "I-" Then she burs
into tears.
"And that's to part us?" she said
"Not if you'll go with me-" l an
swered.
But she would not leave her home
and / went alone. In the frost
morning as I turned to look back a
%ho litfIo x,i11ooe from, the ton Of th