The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1912-12-14

l~N"1 s'pose you're for Ferguson's
place." remarked the driver as he
turned the horses skillfully In the mar
row space.
Eyes," said the man rather gruffiy.
IT thought there would be a carriage
to meet u.s."
80 there has-so there has! Been
1 prancin' around her for two or three
hours, but guess they got disguised;
anyways, they left word for me to stay
here till the train came in and II any
one was bound for their place to bring
'em along. The trains four hours late
a. II 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 3d." was
the unconcerned reply.
The girl stihed 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 deSths
They had started forth that morning
80 joyfully--Polly Standish and Der
rick Gordon-newly engaged and bliss
fully happy. Things had gone wrong
from the very beginning. Polly's aunt,
who was to accompany them Or the
| short stay at Ferguson's hospitable
cYlntry house, had faile4 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.
Mice Christmas day." volunteered
the stage driver in his queer, cracked
voice. as they squeaked over the Srrd.
packed snow.
Very" returned Derrick, say castle
ally.
There was 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 hemlocks with a white powder.
They had reached the top OF steep
incline and we're rolling evenly over a
level stretch when suddenly, without
an instant's warning, the stag
crashed down and precipitated tn.
passengers and luggage in an ignomini
GUS heap under the drivers seat.
Are you hurt?" asked Derrick cold.
iy. as he assisted Polly to her feet
mo, thank you" she said stifiy, as
she peered out from the curtained win.
dow.
The driver was soothing the fright
ened horses and his nut-cracker face
was knotted anxiously.
Lost a wheel. by gorry!" he said,
ruefully Smashed 1t to fiinders!"
Derrick had crawled out and stood
beside him.
This Is the dickens Of a mess-how
are we to get to Ferguson's place? Are
we near telephone or where are we
anyway
Luke Sanders scratched his ear
thoughtfully. 81 took a short road
| acrcss-tain't the usual route to Fer.
| guson's and we amt near nobody! Ten
miles from anywhere. The only thing
| to do 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 keep warm You might build
| fireLtheres plenty of fuel" He
was embarrassing the horses as he
spoke.
"Why can't 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 Bob-white A
| jumpin' kangaroo amt nothin' to that
horse II 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 tree by the roadside. Then
from the space under his seat In the
stage he drew forth basket covered
with a white cloth.
This here basket has got Christ.
mas dinner inside-my wife fixed It up
for old Miss Benton down to the ford
but can stop and get another basket.
full for the old lady. You two are vel.
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 hts
shoulder before he disappeared around
q turn In the road.
Derrick did not dare to look at Polly
5tandish; he knew she was sitting
proud and defiant with q oontemptu-
Gus curl on her red lip. Instead, he