The Falls City tribune., 1910-12-16

XVI EtA ANo pdcNtibtlb 1t ~ AAANl'
red station and then Numbered on its
busy way.
A long stage. rusty and ramshackle,
backed mp to the platform and the
drivers lusty "All aboard brought
the girl and the young man hurrying
into It's dismal depths.
Il s'pose you're for ~Ferguson's
place remarked the driver as he
turned the horses skillfully in the mar
row space.
Yes" said the man rather grufhy.
Il thought there would be a carriage
to meet us"
$50 there has-so there has! Been
%prancin' around her for " or three
hours but | guess they got disguised.
anyways. they left word for me to stay
here TIL the train came In and If any.
one was bound for their place to bring
EN- along. The trains four hours late
as It is. and | don't suppose them ser.
wants want to be kept away from their
Christmas dinner"
How long will II take us?" asked
the girl.
"A matter OF an hour or So" wal
the ~unconcerned reply,
The girl stined an exclamation of
annoyance and she drew still farther
away from the vicinity of the morose
young man. The latter turned up the
astrakhan collar of his overcoat and
dropped his chin Into It's de.ths.
They had started forth that morning
so 1oyfully-Polly Standish and Der
rick Gordon-newly engaged and bliss
fully happy. Things had zone wrong
from the very beginning. Polly's aunt,
who was to accompany ther' <br the
short stay AT Ferguson's hospitable
country house, had failed to put In an
appearance, and consequently had
been left behind. That was vexatious.
Then the train had been delayed by
snow drifts and during the four hours
wait IN the cold train Polly and Der
rick had quarreled.
Nice Christmas day" volunteered
the stage driver in his queer, cracked
voice, as they squeaked over the hard.
packed 10Y
"Veryl" returned Derrick. sarcastic
ally.
There was a long silence as the
strong white horses plodded up the
steep incline of the mountain. Here
the snowfall had been light and only
served to dust the dark green pines
and hemloeks with a white powder.
They had reached the top of a steep
incline and were rolling evenly over Il
level stretch when suddenly. without
- -
crashed down and preclpitated the
passengers and luggage in an ignomini-
Gus heap under the drivers seat.
Are YOU hurtPH asked Derrick cold
ly, as he assisted Polly to her feet.
No, thank YOU" she said stifly. as
she peered out from the c~nrtained win.
dow.
The driver was soothing the fright
ened horses ard his nutcracker face
was knotted %anxiously.
81 est a wheel, by gorry," he said,
ruefui1y. Smashed ii to h%indersi"
rcrr'ck had crawled out and stood
h Tie Elm.
IS tie dickens of a mcss-Aow
r" On e %rguson's placee Are
re .ore- or whore are we
gcetchea ~ ear
tiCUe 70 toet a short road
acres -tateat TIE rsua) route e Fer.
Eoeons and we amt nCar nono3 - Ten
miles from anywhere, The only thing
to 10 is for me to ride one of the
horses into the village and send back
another wagon. You and the young
lady better get out and move about a
bit and keen warm. You might build
a fre-there's plenty of fuel" He
was embarrassing the horses as he
spoke.
why cant we all ride-or better
still, Miss Standish can ride one OF
them and | will walk beside her. We
will get there much quicker and can
keep warm and have something to
eat. We're almost starved Derrick
glanced quickly at the stage where
Polly's pale face was framed in the
darkened opening.
Cant nobody ride B%ob-white. A
jumpin' kangaroo amt nothin' to that
horse # anybody gifts on his back
Just you stay here and make your
selves comfortable and warm and I'll
be back in the course of an hour or
So" He tethered the ferocious Bob
white to a tree by the roadside. Then
from the space under his seat in the
stage he drew forth a basket covered
with a white cloth.
"This here basket has got a Christ
mas dinner inside-my wife fixed it up
for old Miss Benton down to the ford
but l can stop and get another basket
full for the old lady. You two r well
come to it, He clambered on the
waiting horse and smiled as his horny
hand closed around the generous bank
note that Derrick slipped from his
pocket.
Merry Christmas to you and your
wife. sir" he called back over his