Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-04-08
Mistellalreous,
The Snow Storm or, a Night on the
Lake.
BY CLARA AUGUSTA.

Evening set in cold and grey. Until noon
the sky had been clear; bit as the sun de-
scended, thick, leaden haze had obscured
his sickly light, and every appearance gave
promise of the culdest night Ot all unusual
ly cold season. the up train Oh the c.
ROAD was detained by the imm. Use drifts ot
SNOW, which had iorAct upon tue rails; and
it was past nine O'clock whent be putting
locomotive came slowly and laboriously up
to the depot al A.. the Northern lermin-
us OF the route.
As is usual in the country, as well as in
PLACES more III ckiy settled quite d little COM
pany had assembled in the principal roum
of the building, 10 talk over the severe
weather and discuss the probability o! the
non arrival of the tram that night. With
the first sound oi the ouInous whistle, the
harrow door oi The depot Vas crowded with
aLxious heads, each trying to pierce farther
lnto the dark than his neIghbUr. the usual
variety OF passengers si:ghted: each oGe
was anxious about Their baggage, and ca ch
one particularly t4in that it was Just The
place where the freight master protested. it
was Lot; but as it is with only one OF this
molly crew that We have To do, we will
pass the others silently by.
She WIS young lady, our heroine, and
was dressed with extreme elegance. Spring
ing hastily to the platform scarcely touch.
ing the hand o; the conductor, she gaZeC
anxiously around her Tor a moment, anc
then made her way to the window OF the
ofice, which was pushed back to allow the
official within to receive the express boxes
and separate the mails. The man stratel
as her low, musical voice lelI on his ear.
"Can you tell me tAe distance to Wolf
borol'
Twelve miles, ma'am; and no passage
there TO: five days; roads completely block
ed up" and then was turning to 90 away.
She put out her hand to stay him. IN,
passage!-it cannot be. must be in w
within four hourt, sir. Ny mother is dying
there!"
"Sory-very sorry, indeed, but i is al
utter impossibility, to think of doing such ;
thing! Why, ma'am the thermometer stand
10 degrees below zero this very minute, AM
it will be still lower before midnight"
..I know the cold is intense, [ dare say
the way is replete with danger; but my mo
ther-the mother that brought me into ex
Sstence-is dying there and | must 60 t
her!" The voice of the young girl becam
choked and broken as she ceased speaking
AIt's hard case, must admit; but it.
no use to think of attempting to get t
Wolfboro to night the coach road is as i'm
passable as the Alps, and the only track
across the lake; bu; neither man nor beas
could live on that bleak route half the dis
tance. I'm sorry, ma'am, but | only spea
the truthI''
The pale face of the young lacy blanche
still paler, but her voice wac firm as ever.
"Cold and perilous though it be- must g
to my mother. Were ! sick she woul
move heaven end earth, but she would stan
by nv bedside. l cannot let her die and
90 very near her, and yet not in her pre-
ence! / must go, If 60 on foot, and alone.
"Rash girl! it would be no better tina
suicide 10 attempt the passage of Winn
piseogee on such night as this, even vii
strong horse and experienced guide; al
such cannot be found, who will brave Il
horrors of such night for love nor none
-"
"Lady, | will 60 with you!" and the CROW
parted before tall, finely built young ma
who came hastily to the side OF the your
girl.
81 am unknown to you, and my station
life is humble; but il you will trust me, t
confidence shall not be misplaced. He I
moved the cap from his head and stood ere
and dignifed before her-a strikingly han
some youth, clad in rough garb of grey i.
There was fire of lofty spiri; burning
his deep hazel eye, and around his class
ally curved lips dwelt an expression h'
stern, half tender. The clear blue eyes
the lady met his fixed yet respectful ga
searchingly-she put her hand in his.
"God bless you, sir! There is one tr
heart in New Hampshire! Twill trust you
An expression of pride and gratitude swe
over the young mans face, and bending |
head low before, said-"In half an hour
will return for you," and with firm, elias
step he left the depot.
e The young lady dropped into scat by t
fire, and covering her face with her har
she seemed lost in painful reverie. I
listless changers on" about the place gath
ed together in little bnot before the of
window-thsre was a new subject to
cuss.
"Fool enough, is Will Argensen, to l
dertake the crossing of the Lake to-nig