North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-04-21
1 Nirht I'm A storm.

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nusbed back from the table with an inn
natient movement.
"No," he said abruptly, ~ cannot eat,
I-cannot drink. If believed in present.
ments, I should say felt warning OF
something disagreeable, if not horrible y
"Well, then, my dear nephew" said
the elder, " as you do not believe in such
things, why not make yourself eomforta>
BILE, and enjoy your breakfast? You are
not to start until tomorrow, any way, you
know"
The young man arose from his seat and
walked to the window, throwing it open,
and looking out into the frosty, brilliant
sunshine. The air was intensely cold, and
Redeemed his cheeks instantly. He drew
in his head, saying:
II shall start this morning. There's
: going to be storm, and must 20. Will
you accompany me to the station? The
train starts in an hour.'
The uncle shivered, and drew his Dress
ing-gown closer.
"No," he said, "I'll not leave the house
unless I'm obliged to. / did not leave
Englsnd to get frozen by Canadian win
ter. did not know you we're so senti-
mentally foolish. Alice will not thank
you for coming day sooner. Women
- don't like a, bridegroom around when the
wedding preparations are going on, no
matter how much in love they are. Take
my advice, and stay here until the time
appointed for you to start"
Robert Russell, the young man address
ed, listened with bare civility to his COM
panion's words. What was such advice
in comparison with the urgent cries of his
whole nature? He had left England, three
weeks before, to claim the woman of his
choice, who had been three weeks in Mon
treal, whittier she had emigrated with her
parents, carrying with her the love and
promise of one in whom she believed with
utter devotion.
Russel's uncle, and adopted father, had
accompanied him, and now sat smiling at
the impatience, and whims of youth.
"There's storm in the air in spite of
this sunlight" Russell said, still standing
by the window. 81 should not enjoy
being bloskaded in by snow on my jour-
ney."
Probably not: but you might as well
expect it in this climate"
swell, shall take Alice back to Eng
land as soon as possible" Russell said,
with his hand on the door. "Good bye,
uncle, then, good bye"
Russell was soon speeding from tbs
town, his eyes looking eagerly forward
over the vast stretches Of snow, as if he
would outstrp even the steam which bore
him.
He was not half through his isjourney by
rail, when from the west, where it had
fingered throughout the sunny morning,
!. rose the fimsy, white veil that is the her.
I'D of snow. Weather-wise people looked
out of the car windows, and shook their
heads, saying:
s'This will be hard one. It's just a
year ago since the horrible storm that
blockaded in this train"
Russell, looking, felt his face grow pal
lid in spite of his hopes, his youthful
energy.
lie did not fear the storm while in the
cars he knew they would get to their des-
tination before the storm would be sufI-
GENTLY advanced to retard them much,
but he remembered the twenty miles he
must go in cutter after the last station
! for Alice waited for him at the residence
of relative beyond Montreal. Her aunt
had persuaded her to have the marriage
there, where wealth could give its glow
to the ceremony, and what girl could re-
sist such an invitation
'If she were only in Montreal" mur>
INJURED Russell and the first few flakes
began to drift slowly downward. ;.
Soon the air was filled with fine, sharp
particles. 1t grew colder instead of warm
er,-or apparently 20, for the wind rose
and whirled the snow fercely.
It had showed two hours when Russell
9lighted at the station in Montreal 1t
Swas already dark, save that the gloom
WAS mitigated Ly full moon.
y He was half benumbed by ccld and sit
ting SO long, but he could not wait. Rea-
son told him he was day early, and
might easily stay in the city until to>mor-
.:inow; but some feversh, morbid haste ur-
3ged him on it was impossible for him to
rest quiet moment.
He stood few moments by the bright
= fire in the waiting room. Then he deci-
IA to go to the house occupied by Aliccs
PARENTS.
-. Arriving at the house. he learned with
dpmay that Alice had left two or three
hours previously. Oppressed with fear
fua forebodings, he hurried on, taking the
road which his servant supposed her dri-
yer had selected. As he emerged into the
ogen country, the runners of the cutter
sank deep in the snow. The horses strug-
gled desperately through the drifts, while
the bliniine storm and benumbing cold
almost oyerpowered him. To arouse
himself from the lethe"gy which he felt
was the precursor of death, he stepped
out of the sleigh and plodded on beside it.
Fot hours, it seemed to him, he travelled,
alternately walking and riding, the ami