Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-03-11
THE DOUBLE ToBoGGAN.


1t was q toboggan Of renown, sinister
and matrimonial. Once given two per-
sons of opposite sex seated on its back
holding tightly on to it and to each 9th
er, and well started down some steep
| incline, and they two were doomed to
each others perpetual company for the
remainder of their natural lives.
The two most recent instances of this
| malign influence were particularly dis
| tressing The first couple were very
young and inexperienced, and had only
| known each other about week, when
one fine morning after a snowy night,
| they innocently agreed to try the near
est run together. and selected the double
toboggan for this purpose. Three days
| later he proposed to her and was ac-
| cepted, though she was not even certain
| of his Christian name at the time.
The other case was that of Mr.. Temp
kinson and the stout widow, Mrs. PUN
per- Mr.. Tompkinson was a middleaged,
shy, reserved sort of man, wintering
abroad for his health, and commonly re-
ported to be well off in the material
comforts Of this world. All the other
women agreed that the way Mrs. Pun
per set his cap at him was a disgrace,
though for while her efforts were vain.
How Mrs. Pumper managed it was ever
a mystery but the fact remains that
one fatal afternoon young Smith came
falling down the snow steps on to the
rink announcing in breathless tones that
Mrs. P and Mr. r. were Just starting
down the long run on the double tobog-
gan. Two hours later Mrs. Pumper
entered the hotel very red IN the face
and very breathless and before sinking
into an armchair loudly summoned
William. dear" to brush the snow from
off her skirts in front of thc whole
crowd OF afternoon takers.
This particular winter seasos- was
drawing TO close. For some lme past
the number of visitors had been q di
minishing quantity. till not more than
some thirty remained. And ON one point
they were all agreed. 1t was high time
that affair of Mr.. Frank Hutton and
Miss Maude Graham came to point.
He had come ouI for winter holiday
and had apparently fallen head over
cars in love at the first sight; she had
taught him skating; they had sleigh
drives together, and used to watch each
other furtively during the church serv-
ices on Sunday. And now everybody
was scattering to the four winds of
heaven and the proposal had not come
off! 1t was not to be endured.
Hence the council of conspiracy in the
smoking room Hence the arrival next
evening after dinner at the top of the
Boulder run of rather GREATNESS to-
boggan party, which had shed some of
its more short -winded members at va
rious points on the way up.
1t was here suggested to Miss Graham
that it would be safer if the one double
toboggan of the party started last; and
though this was not necessarily accurate
the lady did not demur Consequently,
in a few minutes she and Mr. Hutton
and the toboggan-~were alone.
II will sit in front and steer" Miss
Graham announced.
Better let me-" argued her compan-
ion. hurmedly,
Don't YOU think ] can do it ?" she
challenged in hurt astonishment
| Mr.. Hutton reflected swiftly that if he
sat second it was necessary for him to
| put his arms round the steerers waist;
also that if a spill came and she was
steering less responsibility would attach
to himself
Stop commanded Miss Maude, cold
| ", after the first few wards. They
pulled up. "What is it ?" asked her com
panion alarmed.
II don't think you need hold on to me
quite so tightly she said
! MIR Hutton was taken abacl1 His OBJ
jectionable hold relaxed almost too
obcdiently, lie apoogized abashed.
mind you don't fall off and get left
behind She next warned him, with the
| Inconsistency of feminine nature, as
they glidod on.
Maudc Graham really steered admir-
ably among the turns in the wood but
Nemesis was in readiness and congrat-
nlations were premature; for the tobog.
gan, travelling fast. made the last sharp
turn in splendid style and shot down
the incline SO quickly that both its rid
ers instinctively dug their heels hard
into the snow of the path to check its
speed. In theory this was correct. as a
matter of practice the four legs plowed
| up cloud of loose powdery snow. This
SO completely blinded their owners that
the tohoggan, rushing violently off the
straight and narrow way embedded it
self and all connected with it in one
glorious heap again in the deep snow.
Quite by chance two faces were in the
closest juxtaposition. so close. indeed.
that all things considered romantic
surroundings, the moonlight, the mutual
perils of strange sport in a foreign
| land-the inevitable became the natural
and occurred, He kissed her.
Save for little gasp from the lady
here followed a silence the most intense.
You mustn't" she began at length.
| He wriggled his shoulders.
''- lean so much to one side on the
toboggan when we're going SO fast" she
interposed, hastily
Sincere remorse is often speechless
4 violent hurry unaccountabiy seized