The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-05-12
in From Porter's Spirit OF the Times.
A'Night on Lake WinnipJsseogee.
M CLARA ApeusrA.

sickly light, and appearance gave promise OF
the coldest 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 it was past
nine o'clock when the putting locomotive came
slowly and laboriously up to the little depot
at A., the norti ern terminus Of the route.
AS is usual in country, IS well as places
more thckly settled, quite little company
had assembled in the principal room Of the
banding, to talk over the severe weather,
and discuss the probability of the non arrival
of the train that night. When the first
sound Of the omnibus whistle was heard, the
door Of the depot was crowded with anxious
heads, each striving to pierce further into
! darkness 'h~. ito nainhhnr Ti.0 usual varIe-
ty of passengers aliglued; each one anxious
about his or her baggage, and each one par
ticularly certain that it was in just the place
where the freight master protested it was not;
but, as it is with only one Of this motley as
semblage that wc have to do, we will pass
the Others silently by.
She was n young lady, our heroine, and
dressed with extreme elegance. Sprnging
hastily to the platform, scarcely touching the
extended hand of the gcntlemanly conductor,
she gazed nnxiousy around her for moment,
and then made her way to the window Of the
office, which was pushed back, TO allow the
official within to receive the express boxes,
and separate the mails. The man started as
her low musical tone fell on bis ear.
."Ban ou tell me the distance to Wolf
burn?"
Twelve miles, marin; and no passengers
there for five days; roads completely block
cdl" and he was turning away.
She put out her hand to stay him. "No
passage ?-it cannot be! must be in Wolf
burn within four hours, sir! My mother is
dying there"
"Sony-very sorry, indeed but it is an
utter impossibility to think of doing such
thing! Why, marin, the thermometer stands
at 10 degrees below zero, this very minute,
and twill be still lower before midnigltw
Il know the cold is intense; dare say the
way is replcte with danger; but my mother,
the mother who brought me into existence!
is diving there, and must GO to hcrw The
voice of the young girl became choked and
broken rs she ceased.
at is hard case, | must admit; but it's
no use to think Of attempting to get to Wolf.
burn to night-the coach road is as impassa
hlc a the Alps, and the only track is across
the lake, but neither man nor beast could
live on that bleak route half the distance!
am sorry. marm; but only speak the truth
about it,"
The pale face of the young lady blanchcd
still rnlpr, bni her voice was firm.
cold and pcrilous though il would ho,
mu@t 90 my mother. Were ] sick. shc
would move heaven and Garth, but she would
-,nnd bv my bedside! cannot let her die,
and so near her, and vet not in her pres.
cucc! must o., if go on foot and alone"
Rash er II would be no better n u
/ suicide to a,tcnpt the passage of the Wjnni-
! pisscogee on such n night rs t'is, oven with
"A -troug horse and and experienced guido;
and such cannot he found who viii brave the
| horror Of the night Cor love or money"
Lady, will 90 with YOU" and the crowd
,artcd before the tall. finely built voung man
who came hastily to the side of the strange
girl. IL am unknown to vou. and my sia
tion in life is humble; but if you will trust
ne. the confidence shall not be misplaced y
He removed the cap from his head, aud stood
erect and dignifcd before her-a striking
handsome youth, clad in rough garb cf
gray. There W. the fire Of lofty spirit
hulning in lis deep. hazel eye, and around
the classically carved lips dwelt an expression
half stern. half tender. The clear blue eyes
ol the lady met his fixed vet respectful gaze,
searchingly-she put her hand in his.
God bless you sir! There is ono tru"
heart in New Hampshire! viii trust You "
An expression Of pride and gratitude swept
over the young mans face, and he bent his
head low before her as he said-"In half an
hour will return for you," and with firm
elactic step he left the depot
The young lady dropped into seat by the
fire, and covering her face with her hands,
seemed lost in a painful reverie, The listless
changers on" about the place gathered to-
gether in little knot about the Office win
dow-there was a new subject to discuss.
"Fool enough is Will Argensen to under
take the crossing Of the Lake tonight =
He'll be frozen stiff, in INV opinion afore the
day breaksp' exclaimed an old man, evident
ly the oracle of the company.
"And the gal ?--it's a shame, though, fol
she's sweet lookin' critter! Heaven pity
her, and take care of her. for she'll neet
somebody's care before The nights through
"She's in good hands, thought! said I
third member Of the circle, Withdrawing his
pipe from his mouth rs he spoke, "for VIII
AS noblo lad as ever breathed the air o
Hampshire! He knows every inch Of tn
/. Winnie. as well as / know the road to mill
and his horse is powerful deal moro intelli
, gent than many human folks any howp
' "Argenscn will do well enough If ther
amt squall; but it strikes me the sky look
rather hazv, and depend upon it, this lu'
ain't for nothin'w y said n fourth, peering anx
r ously out into the darkness; "and Il thcr
should be a squall-a regular white eve
thcn-thcn"- and the speakers involuniar
; shudder finished the sentence. The me
:, drew closer together, as If for mutual protec
. ton, and there was silence of few mo
ments, broken at last by the old man VIII
e had first spoken.
'e "Only last winter, poor Henry Bcecht
was frozen to death on the shore Of Ra,il'
.; a. snake Island; and just week afterward