The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-23

| w uy dro YOU HUI dSiccp, wv, NAioo AASP
burn? You are not afraid?''
"No But 1 cannot sleep. Is it yer!
cold out there?
"Not very. At least we manage tt
keep warm with hard work., +" he replied.
81 wish we could help you, said Margie
81 feel as though it were SO selfish in us te
sit here warm and safe while you arc out il
this terrible Storm"
"We are quite contended with knowing
that you are warm and safe. Don't bt
troubled about u.s." for he somehow guess
ed from her tone that she was troubled.
care we nearly at our journeys end p
she asked.
"Well-no. To tell the truth, we are
only little more than half way. But
don't be discouraged" he said.
care the horses. very tired? asked
Margie.
Rather. But they can pull us through
think. This is dreary Christmas eve
for you, Miss Hepbourn.
81 don't mind it," said Margie, quietly.
In fact it was not drearier for orphan
Margie out in the cold stormy night than
it would have been in the shelter Of her
aunt's house. Fire and lamps cannot make
light and warmth in the heart, and the
kindness of strangers was better than the
GOODNESS of her who should have been kind
"We are stopping a long time" Mr..
Winston said, "to rest the horses. We
have a long hill before us now. advise
you to go to sleep, too"
Then he closed the door, and with snort
and plunge the six bays breasted the waves
of snow on the steep mountain road. With
many stoppages and much shouting (Which
walked the slumbering inside passengers,
and great deal of prying at the wheels
with rails taken from fence, which was
fast disappearing under the snow, the top
of the hill was reached, and the descent
began.
"Thats over" said Emmie, in relieved
tone, and she sank back amongst the
shawls and cushions for another nap. The
when violent lurch, shout from the
driver, d crash, and the stage lay on its
side in a gulley, while the horses struggled
mad to escape from the tangled harness.
but Mr.. Cross, though standing on his
head in snow drift, still held the reins,
and in moment the frantic animals were
seized and held by three or four pair OF
strong arms, each busted in obeying the
drivers directions, "Cut the traces! Cut
everything that holds them. Darn them.
they'll have us over the bank in second if
you don't"
When the horses were released, and
stood trembling and starting in the road
the next care was to release the terrified
inside passengers. To do them justice, the
girls had "behaved like BRICKS" as Tom
expressed it.
No one screamed except Alice, who was
thrown into Margie's lap, and uttered
shrek after shrek at first, till Margie
slenced her by quick "For mercy's sake,
don't scream. You will only frighten the
horses, and make matters worse.''
Leslie dragged open the door with a
breathless inquiry, "Are all the rest of
you killed? don't hear anybody scream
ing but alice" And the peal Of laughter
that greeted this speech assured him that
no one was seriously injured. But, though
no one was hurt, it was apparent that very
serious mischief had happened to the stage.
When the girls had been lifted from the
vehicle, and stood laughing and shivering
in two feet of snow, Mr.. Cross walked
round the stage, and solemnly came back
to give his verdict.
"She's off the handle now, anyhow
Things amt held together. Ladies, I'm
sorry for it, but we won't get through to-
night" In the dismayed silence that fol-
lowed, he went on to say: You see l
hadn't counted on having whole trees flung
at the leader heads, as that one was that
lies across the road there 1t skeered the
critters, and they slowed round right
towards the edge of the mountain. hadn't
no fancy for taking a load of passengers
down precip!ce hundred feet high, so l
slowed them the other way, and we went
into that gulley quick as winking. There
anin't no harm done-oh, no! Nothing
but wheel ground up against a rock like
it had been through coffee mill-a bless
ing it wasn't one of your pretty heads
the axle tree broken,-and the devil to pay
everywherev' And Cross waved his arms
wildly, as if words failed him wherewith
to express the utter ruin and smash that
had taken place.
Here was situation. Nine o'clock of a
winters night, wild mountain road, a
fierce storm raging, and ten people, up to
their knees in snow, blown about by the
driving wind, and stiffening already with
the cold.
sis there balcksmith's shop at the foot
of the mountain?" asked Mr.. Winston.
"There used to be-"
YES" said Leslie, "but there's no use
trying to mend anything tonight
"Of course not" exclaimed Mr.. Cross,
"But Jim Bailey has snug house down
there that will shelter us all, and my advice
is that you all travel down there as quick
as you can. 1t amt more than fifty yards
We couldn't have broke down in better
place. What's that about the trunks, Miss
Alice? Bless the women. you can't skeer
nor freeze the love of their clothes out of
'em. They are covered up tight in the
boot-not snowflake can get to 'em.-
Now, I'll go ahead with these critters, and
break the way, and you all follow after
me-
1t was wild journey. The girls could
not keep their feet in the wind, which
came tearing down the mountain, bringing
miniature avalanches with it, and Margie,
who as usual found herself the special care
of Mr.. Winston, could only cling to his
arm, and suffer herself to be almost carried
through the drifts. When they reached
the blacksmith's log cabin, all was dark
and still, and Mr. Cross shouts and knocks
were for long time unanswered.
"Drat the man. Is he dead or drunk, l
wonder ?'' growled Mr.. Cross, pausng to
listen for an answer.