Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-11-07
CAUGHT IN A PRAIRIE STORM.


"Prairiss The sery ncne ear make
me silver. When covered with snow
they are trackless as IL the ocean TO an
unskilled navigator. would about as
soou cross the Sahara withousa guide as
to try to get over tbe suowy pl1ins of the
West and Northwest. The rea! fright
once bad in one OF these tracts. sir, was
bad enough to serve me for lifetime. {"
"Tell rs about it. captain"
'sEell, don't mind. Ny Uncle Dan
and his family wers stayingA st the d. scts
tlcmest, for he had taxed t6J NessA e~
yer. and they were ont there Uncle Dan
was a!ways specuiasor-though he did
manage to line his pockets we'll. He pur-
chased q vast tract Of land at D. with an
eye. it must have been. to such promises
as were held out to Abraham. Of old; for
acres and acres Of this land he could new
er utilize. though later he might sell it
again to personal advantage. I was out
helping him. The family consisted ofhis
wife. two growu-up daughters and two
young sons. and there was niece, Cor.
della. From the first moment | saw Cor
della Bardwell Thought great deal of her.
Perhaps that's why stay in the unciyil-
ICED place.
Z" 'Rolfc.' said Uncle Dan, one morn
ing in the latter part of the winter, it
looks like fine day. does it not ?
Clear and bright. sir, I believe
Aye, likely to last. What say you
to taking Brown Bess and going to Bings-
ley's Mills for ne 2
"'l will go with pleasure. Uncle Dan ,
The weather may break up any
week. now, Roife. and | must have tue
lumber ready to come down the river as
far as the forks with the freshets. There's
a master lot TO &c down next season. and
we shall have a vast deal of teaming to
bring it over here from the Forks. But,
Rolfe, l know it will be good specula-
tIoas, by erecting a number of cheap,
substantial buildings on sections of my
land. can advertise aud sell frst-rate.' ,
"'Wcll. sir, am ready to 60 over to
Bingloy's Mills for you. and to make wha.
arrangements you please about the tim
ber.'
. so Hector. boy, 60 out and get the
marc harnessei.'
d" Uncle Dan. may GO to Bingsley's
Mills, too ? cried pretty voice, as Hec-
tor !eaped of on his erraud.
II could hardly believe my cars. The
voice was Cordclia's.
:. The child must be crazy" cried out
aunt. DO you know the length Of the
journey. Della ?
:. It's lovely day, aunt. 1t won't
hurt me-
Yes, IL IS lovely day. mother, so
clear and calm cried ere of the other
girls-Myra-I tlinh-with quite an ca.
ger tcnc. 'and poor Della never goes any
where
THAT, was true but still felt aston
ishcd. Later knew that it was kind
of conspiracy. The girls all wanted to
get some trustworthy person to the post
office at Bins>ley's M;lls,,to post letters and
get some that were laying there, not in
tended for papa and mamma 20 read.
i" really don't know why Della should
not GO said the unsuspicious, sood-na-
turcd uncle. You will sure to take care
of her. Rolfe ?
g" III try to. SIR
$50 in less than half an hour from the
time it was first mentioned. | was gather
ing up the rcins. and Brown Bess was
tossing her head until the bells jingled
merriy.
4" ITS royal travelling called out Un-
Gle Dan. as We started. Don't be out too
late. Rolfe. for there has been a severe
snap of weather lately. and
"The rest was lost in the cronching of
the crusty snow, aud the ping, ping,
ping Of the cup-shap ped bells
This is an unexpected honor, Miss
Corlelia, began. as the sleigh went
smoothly along.
/" Susan and Almira voted me their
minister plenipoientiary,' she responded,
coldly.
Il and Cordelia-who was no blood re-
!ation of miue-had had a falling out of
recent date. which made it all the more
surprising that she should have cared to
20 with me that day She was one of
those high-spirited girls who never strike
their colors.
1T happened one evening about a week
before. Ny aunt had had a party-for
there were settlers enough in the vicinity
to give Us social ecenings-and about
dozen people were present. You may
fancy, perhaps, that we have no in,e.li-
gent spirits on the prairies; br. ,ha. Is
mistake.
"COrdelia and l disputed abou. the re-
lat;vc characteristics of men and women.
She claimed the sweet attributes Of pa
,ienee, purity and consistency, claimed
them entirely for her sex. l cate genius.
persisteucy and strength of character to
mine. To vex her still further, I averred
my opinion that women were a mass of
sentimeatality. impromptu shrieks aud va
cillation.
II had eone too far. She took it Sc
riously. With fash OF scorn from her
brilliant eyes aud 4 heightened color, she
arose. went TO the other side of the room
and busted herself With some old ladies.
The storm lad not blown over. Cor
della retained her anger. More hurt at
1t than would confess. I would gladly
have begged, her pardon; bu, her mauner
repu'sec sii overtures Of reconciliation. -
Once. when l had aeciient,y caught hold
Of Der band. she twisted her owa away
and gave scornful fling TO mine.
Nov you know jus, what our social
atmosphere was. when fate, that winter
ncrrifrr, decided wc should start .o-eth-
er on that long ride.