The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-03-08

HER SNOW MAN
By CLARISSA MACKE
\COpyright.)

Il simply can't stay indoors" de
clared Alicia with her straight littl,
nose pressed against the window pane
Its too tempting olt there!"
1t was an alluring world outside thu
dignifled walls of tho Preble mansion
The heavily crusted snow sparklet
like carpet of brilliaats beneath thu
silver magic of the full moon. Inside
the Preble grounds the dark tree
trunks made black splashes against
the brightness, but beyond the iror
fence there stretched rolling field o.
scintlllating wilderness. There had
been heavy snow fall followed by 8
hard freeze. All day long the schoo
children had been coasting on the bill
next door to the Preble place. Alicia's
aunt, Miss Harriet Preble, had ex
pressed pleasure when she heard that
the hill would be deserted that night
Emma, the cook, had announced
that the whole town were to partici
pate In an ice carnival, on Barker
mill pond.
I'm very glad indeed" said Miss
Harriet severely. II know could not
sleep with that continual roar Of de-
scending sleds rushing past my win
dows.'
I'm rather sorry" admitted Alicia
timidly: 1T was such fun to watch
them"
my dear Alicia. I am surprised you
could find amusement In anything so
Juvenile as coasting. It is such mas
culine sport that I never was per-
mitted to indulge in it,
A dimple came into Alicia's demure
cheek. A vision of stiff-necked Aunt
Harriet coasting down Preble hill al
most overcame her awe OF the steel
bound maiden lady who had been her
guardian since her orphaned child
hood.
What are you smiling at, Alicia?"
asked Miss Preble sharply.
Il was wondering II any Of the
27ebles had ever coasted down that
hill" replied Alicia, her dancing eyes
fixed on her plate.
"Of course your father did when he
was lad-his sled is up in the garnet
now. 1t was considered a very fast
one-your grandfather bought 1t In
New York" Miss Preble's face soft
ened wonderfully and then stiffened
as she saw the eager interested look
In her niece's eyes. THAT was all very
we'll for boys. but I consider 1t ex-
ceedingly improper for females to in
du1ge in such sport-and very wrong
to encourage it as you did this after
noon by waving your handkerchief
whenever those girls led in the races
down the hill. am going to bed at
once, Alicia as I have severe head
ache-no you can do nothing for me,
thank you. Be sure to go to bed at
ten o'clock
Good night. Aunt Harriet wish
could do something tn help your poor
head" said Alicia as she returned the
cold pecking kiss of her only relative
with pressure of warm young lips.
Miss Preble had retired to her room,
and If she had been any one but a
Preble Of Little River one might have
said that she snored.
Alicia was standing there by the
library window looAing out into that
world Of white magic. TIE house was
very still-the servants had obtained
leave to 60 to the ice carnival and
Alicia was practically alone.
Il simply can't stay indooys!" de-
clared Alicia once more ard with that
declaration all the old-faehloned rules
which had cran.ped her up-briI ging
were irrevocatiy shattered. A kither-
to unknown toldness took possession
OF her.
She few up the thickly .:arpeted
stairs, through the hall past Aunt
Harriet's closed door and gained the
attic stairway. She shivered as a
little icy blast came down from the
cold space under the roof
Up IN the attic it was almost as light
as day. The dormer windows admitted
the moonlight in floods that left only
the corners unil]uminated She knew
In which corner were the playthings
that her father had owned when boy
She had seen the sled once years ago.
but that was before this new spirit OF
youth had taken hold Of her.
In few seconds she had it In her
eager hands and was carrying it down
the steep stairs. 1t was a heavy sled
brightly painted and bearing the name
clipper" In gold letters on the top.
Presently Alicia stood out in the
front path with the little sled drag
ging behind her. She had slipped into
long warm coat and had drawn a
knitted cap over her bright hair and
rcd mittens on her little hands. A pair
of fur-lined boots completed the cos
tune she had donned for this daring
expedition into the snowy world,
Alicia Preble was to break all pre-
cedent in the Preble family. She was
the first female of the family to in
dulge In the masculine pastime OF
coasting down hill
She gained the snow field next door
and found a promising hill that