Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-31
A NIGHT ON LAKE WINNIPISSEOGEE
BY CLARA ArGuarA


light, and appearance gave promise of the cold
est night Of an unusually cold season. The up
train on the C Railroad was detained by
the immense drifts of snow which had formed
upon the lines and 1t was past 9 o'clock when
the putting locomotive came slowly and labori-
Ously up to the little depot at A., the north
ern terminus of the route.
As IL usual In country, as we'll rs in places
more thickly settled, quite a little company
had assembled in the principal room of the
building, to talk over the severe weather, and
discuss the probability Of the non arrival of the
train that night With the first sound Of the
OminOus whistle, the narrow door of the depot
was crowded with anxious heads, each striving
10 pierce farther into the darkness than its
neighbor.
The usual variety Of passengers alighted-
each one anxious about his or her baggage, and
each one particularly certain that it was in just
the place where the frelght-master protested it
was not but, as il is with only one Of this mot
ley assemblage that we have to do, we will pass
the others silently by. .
She was a young lady, our heroine, dressed
with extreme elegance. Springing hastily to
the platform, scarcely touching the extended
hand of the gentlemanly conductor she gazed
anxiOusly around for a moment. and then made
her way to the window of the Oficc, which was
pushed back to allow the official within to re-
ceiye the express boxes and separate the mails
The man started as her low musical tones fell
ON bis ear.
Can you tell me the distance to Wolfburn?"
- Twelve miles, marin; and no passage there
for i've days; roads completely blocked.''
And he was turning away. She put out her
hand to stay him. 80
"No passage?-it cannot be! I must be in
WOlfburn in four hours! My mother is dying
there''
"Sorry-very sorry, indeed; but it is an utter
impossibility to think of such a thing, Why,
marin, the thermometer stands ten degrees be-
low zero, this very minute, and twill be still
lower before midnight
81 know the cold is intense; l dare say the
way is replete with danger; but my mother
the mother who brought me into existence-is
dying there, and must go to her, ..
The voice of the young girl became choked
and broken as she ceased.
Its hard case, must admit; but it's no
use to think Of attempting to get to Wolf burn
tO-night-the coach road is impossible as
the Alps and the only track is across the lake;
but neither man nor beast could live on that
bleak route half the distance 1 am sorry,
marin; but only speak the truth about it,
The pale face of the young lady blanched
still paler, but her voice was firm.
Cold and psrilOus though it be, must go
TO my mother. Were l sick, she would move
heaven and earth but she would stand by my
bedside. cannot let her die, and so very
near her, and yet not in her presence. / must
20, if 60 on foot and alone ~
Rash girl it would be no better than sui
eide to attempt the passage of the Winnipisseo-
gee on such a night this, even with a strong
horse and an experienced guide and such cans
not be found, who will brave the horrors of the
night, for love OF money
Lady, will 20 with you 80 and the crowd
parted before the tall, finely built young man
who came hastily to the side of the strange
girl. - am unknown to you, and my station
in life is humble but if you will trust me- the
hall ho mis- H.
moved the cap from his head, and stood erect
and dignifed before her-a strikingly handsome
youth, clad in n rough garb of gray. There
Was the fire of lofty spirit burning in his
deep, hazel eye, and around the classically
carved lips dwelt an expression half stern,
half tender. The clear blue eyes of the lady
met his liked yet respectful gaze, searchingly-
she put her hand in his.
" God bless you, sir! There is one true
heart in New Hampshire. / will trust you"'
An expression of pride and gratitude swept
over the young man face, and he bent his head
low before her as he said In half an hour |
will return for yOu," and with firm, elastic
step he left the depot.
The young lady dropped into a seat by the
fire, and, covering her face with her hands
seemed lost in painful reverie. The listless
hangers-On' about the place gathered to-
gether in little knot about the Office window
there was a new subject t. discuss
Fool enough is Will Argensen to undertake
the crossing OF the lake tonight He'll be
frozen stiff in my opinion, afore the day breaks,'
exclaimed an old man, evidently the oracle of
the company
And the gal 9-its shame, though, for
she's sweet lOOkin' critter! Heaven pity
her, and take care of her for she II need some
body care before the nights through"
She's IN good hands, though" said a third
member of the cOterie, Withdrawing his pipe
from his mouth as he spoke, .'for Wills as noble
lad as ever breathed the air of Hampshire
lie knows every inch of the Winnie as wolI "a
know the road to mill; and his horse is DOW
erful deal more intelligent than many human
folks, any how ~
Argensen will do we'll enough If there amt
squall; but 1t strikes me the sky looks rather
haLy, and, depend upon it, this lull amt for
nothin"' said fourth peering anxiously out
into the darkness; land if thero should be
squall-a regular white eye' then-then''-
aud the speaker Involuntary shudder finished
the sentence. The men drew closer together,
as If for mutual protection, and there was a
silence OF few moments, broken at last by the
old man who had first spoken.
Only last winter, poor Henry Bleecher wa.
frozen to death on the shore of Rattlesnske
ldandi and then just a week afterwards poor
Cap Deer-been on the Lake all his lifetime
got bewildered in the squalls, and died out
there all alone In the dark and cold, and his
folks 10 home settin' up 10 daylight expectin'
but nOthin' 10 what it would be if a woman-a
young, tender, beautiful WOMAN tear wet
the hardy face Of the old mountaineer and he
turned 70 dry il on his coarse handkerchief
At this moment the brisk jingle of sleigh bells
was heard at the door and before the eager
listeners could spring forward to open il upon
the new conner, Will Argensen entered wrapped
up in a buffalo robe
Il am ready to attend you to Wolfburn, if
you still think Of going. he said, addressing
the lady She arose quickly at the sound Of
his voice, and accepting the large blanket
which the ticket-master kindly offered her as
further protection against the inclement
weather, she followed her conductor out into
the dark, piercing night, and was lifted into
the sleigh which awaited them. Argensen
wrapped the buffalo closely around her. aud
attaching the large glass lantern, which he had
carried in his hand, to the front part Of the
cutter, he sprans in. The horse was a large,
powerfully y-built animal, of a dark, iron gray
her avaa - L., IL H.