The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-05-12

eager listeners could spring forward to opcI
II upon the new comer Will Argcnsen en-
tered. wrapped up in buffalo robc. =
al am ready to attend you TO Wofburn, il
you still think of going" ho said, addressin
the lady. She arose quickly at the sound ol
his voice, and accepting the large blanket
which the tickct-master kinly offered her rs
further protection against the. ince meni
weather, she followed her conductor out into
the dark piercing night, and was lifted into
the sleigh which awaited them. Argcnsen
wrapping the ,uffalo closely around her, and
attaching the large glass lantern, which he
had carried in his hand, to the front part of
the cutter, he sprang in. The horse was a
large, powerful-built animal, of dark iron.
gray, and his fry eyes, as well as his long,
slender neck showed him spirited and strong.
The eager crowd Of idlers left their war;
quarters by the inside stove, and geathercd
around the sleigh and its occupants, some
in setting out ." ON s'eh such %annSh abs twain
ing them goodspeed, and amid the murmur-
ed exc.amations, they drove IF.
Half mile on terra frma, and the horses
feet rang sharp and clear on tho solid ice of
the Winnipisseogce. The SUBMITS Of the
tall, blue mountains, which rose on either
side of our travellers, were shroudod in an
impenetrable mist, and the light wind which
blew was insufficient to break up the clowds
of rimc that filled the air.
Little or no conversation passed between
these two people, so recent, thrown togeth-
or. Argensen was occupied with thoughts Of
the pcalous undarkening before them; the
lady with images of her dying mother-dy-
ing without the kiss of her only child to
smooth her passage through the dark void
between time and eternity.
With anxious eve the young mountainccr
scrnned the the thickening air, and the terri
blethought ,ooMd fit across his brain-"y
the squalls should rise"
Nearly four miles Of the jourdey was pass
ed over in safety. They had reached the
dreariest part Of the road, and the darkness
became almost palpable. Mountains black as
Erebus completely walled in the shining track
ice, and by the pitching Of the cutter, and
the carful progress Of the horse, they knew
that drifts of snow and hilgcs Of ice obstruc-
ted the way. The wind steadily increased,
and cut tho face like a sharp icclc. The
breaths of our travellers CONCEALED almost be-
fore thew left their bodies, and the dark sides
of the horse were covered with feathcry
frost.
The cold became intense, permeatling the
thick buffalo skins rs if they hid become
moro cobwcbs, an the delicate frame Of the
Young girl was chilled through. Bravcly she
suppressed the death shivcrs that Voluntarily
stole over her, hut Argensen flt the effnrt,
=, l,. Ia .l. "a
low earnest tOne:-
"Ladv, we are strangers, but it is no time
to stand for Ger mony, when one is frcezcing! !!
Sit as close to me as possible, and lay Your
face here upon my breast; the wind is rising
to a gale, and the squalls will he upon us ere
longw
With ono powerful hand he guided the
horse; with the other one he held close TO his
side the little. trembling form Of Lis compai-
ion: an the noble gray, as If feeling that
evorv thing dapo, dcd on their reaching the
end of their journey before the breaking
# the squall over their heads, bore bravcly
on.
In vain in vain ! in vain! The mad wind
bore along the ehon clouds with the swi'tnpss
Of lighting. and scarcely more than five
thorn IN all ;ts fury. The dreaded "whtc
eve" cnvelopcd them. Hale and minute par
,iclos Of frozen snow, in thick continuous
sheets blended the owes of the brave Argcn.
son, ahl shut out the dim, overarhing sky.
Tho horse drew up under the ice Of wooded
island, and could he induced to 60 no farther.
Aro nscn clasncd moth arms about-hs para
j;zcd COMPANION. and awaited the progress Of
tb. storm. Heavily. and more heavily, she
leaned unon his shoulder, and at length The
fatal truth rushed over him with appealing
forco-tbe sleep tsnt invoriobly precedes
death by 'reezing ,oas upon her! He sprang
I'M wildly.
"For the love Of Heaven, awake. Rouse
yours If! To sleep IS DEATH"
A faint moan was the only response. He
tore off the buffalo robes which inveloped her,
and vigorously chafrd her cold hands, and
breathed upon her icy lips. For time he
feared that he held only death in his arms;
but nj last bv the dim light Of the lantern