The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1872-11-26

of mine-had had falling out of recent date,
which made it all the more surprising that she
should have cared to go with me that day.
She was one of those high-spirited girls who
never strike their colors.
1T happened one evening about week be-
fore. My aunt had lad party-for there
were settlers enough in the vicinity to give us
social evenings-and about a dozen people
were present. You may fancy, perhaps, that
we have no intelligent spirits on the prairies /;
but that is a mistake.
"Cordela and disputed about the relative
characteristics of men and women. She
claimed the sweet attributes of patience, pur-
ty and consistency, claimed them entirely for
her sex. / gave genius, persistency and
strength of character to mine. To vex her
still further, averred my opinion that women
were a mass of sentimentality, impromptu
shrieks and vacillation.
~ had gone too far. She took it seriously.
With a flash of scorn from her brilliant eyes
and heightened color, she arose, went to the
other side of the room and busted herself with
some old ladies.
retained her anger. More hurt at it than
would confess, l would gladly have begged
her pardon; but her manner repulsed all over
lures of reconciliation. Once, when l had ac-
cidentally caught hold of her hand she twisted
her own away and gave a scornful fling to
mine.
"Now you know just what our social at
mosphere was, when fate, that winter morn
ing, decided that we should start together ON
that long ride.
"The bells danced merrily, the air was
clear, the sky blue; all things were pleasant
except Della. Say what would, she was UNI
gracious and hardly answered me. I suppose
she wanted me to understand that she had not
come with me for pleasure, but to get the let
tiers. We had gone miles beyond the last set
tiers cabin that we should see until we came
into the vicinity of Bingleys Mills, when she
apparently Thought better of her behavior, and
spoke of her own accord cheerfully.
"a How natural it is for the greater part of
the people to attach themselves to home, let it
be where it maya
"'True'
"'Two years ago could not have believed
that l should follow my aunt's family West,
and be content to live on the utmost bounds
OF civilization. I'm sure wonder that you
stay, Mr. Wolfe?'
's' Do your How well Brown Bess goes to-
day.
''She always does. There's not her equal
in Uncle Dams stables
:" We arrived at Bingley's Mills-the largest
settlement Whereabouts and the post town-a
little after noon. Brown Bess had indeed
tossed her nimble heels well. Appointing
three hours for the mare to rest went about
my business, leaving Cordelia to do hers at
the post house, and to remain in the inn in the
middle of the village.
''Chatting with this one, chatting with that,
and getting through Uncle Dams commission,
the short winter day flew away like magic.
Meanwhile, the cloudless, ice-clear sky had
become covered over with a gray thickness,
that suggested the idea of another snow storm,
and ought to have warned me to get done
quicker But it did not. When Brown Bess
and the sleigh came round to the inn door, the
sun, wading for hours through snow clouds,
had sunk in bank of leaden hue, and could
not be more than an hour high.
"'A little risky, said man, glancing at
the cardinal points of the compass and shak-
ing his head slightly.
"Cordelia, her glowing cheeks nearly as
bright as her scarlet hood, came forward with
an animated manner AS drew the buffaloes
around her, / thought, how, a week or two
ago, / should have esteemed the privilege of
this close companionship invaluable. But |
did not seem to appreciate it now. She had
treated me too cavalierly, and | had grown
somewhat resentful.
eve dashed away. The air was damp and
cutting, and as we came upon the open prairie
it stung our cheeks like needles. Half an hour
after starting said to her, If the snow only
keeps off we shall get along nicely Cordelia
glanced up from her scarlet hood she did not
seem to think about it one way or the other.
s'Did you accomplish your postal commits
sions, Miss Cordelia?' a "a
e'Oh, yes, thank YOU
cat the very moment a particle of icy snow
that the mare had flung the particle from her
flying heels. But in minute more handful
of fine particles sifted over us BOTH Cordelia
gave me half startled glance.
81 spoke cheerfully to the mare, and tucked
the blanket in around my companion. A half
hour longer found the northeast wind steadily
and perceptibly rising, while the icy flakes
were tinkling on the crusty surface around our
way. Quite soon there were small whirlwnds
driving the dry, powdery stuff around, and
then spinning it up in little column. Dark
ness came down rapidly, but not before the
wind had increased, and the atmosphere was
white with tiny flakes that drifted by us in
loose, bullying folds. =
aCordelia did not speak she only tighten
ed the fur scarf around her neck and sat per-
fectly quiet At that moment / would have
given a fortune if the girl had been safe at
my uncle's, and breasting the storm alone.
We came to belt of woodland, just ten miles
of our journey through /; nearly twenty more
before as. Heaven it seemed like a voyage
across the world. And most awful fear was