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

ant except Della. Say I !. -.
was ungrscious aid hard v0u'o sne
4 ! suppose she wanted m< e1ed me:
! that she had not come - oerstand
ure but to re. the lestsr6 = roe pleas
miles beyond the last 81 na gone
We should see until We cso,n 'nas
cini.y of Birgsley's MiI 1'o ,ne VI
psrently thought bestee1 & . sue ap-
and spoke of her Own er oensv,er'
Jsy.i T. + .:'s!s @''s'i' 70 soss, ss'.
.ss sAss.-s
IeFeJ y1sssssl fsfl IAN.
lily West, and be content f FDHA the
utmost bounds OF civilization. Nm sure
Iswonder that you stay, Mr.. Rolfe.'
y; DO you? How well Brown Bess
goas-to-day!'
:" She always does. There's not her
equal in Uncle Dams stables
"We arrived at Bingsley's Mills-the
largest settlement theteabouts and the post
town-a little after noon. Brown Bess
had indeed tossed her nimble heels well.
Appointing three hoars for the mare to
rest. vent abou. my business. leaving
Cordelia TO do hers at the post house, and
| to remain in the inn 10 the middle Of the
, village. e
Chatting with this one, chatting with
that, and getting through Uncle Dams
commission, the short winter day few
away like magic. Meanwhile .se cloud
less, ice-clear sky had become covered
over with gray thickness, that sugges-
ted 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 sleig came round to the inn
door, the sun. wading for hours through
snow clouds, had sunk in baak of lead
en- hue, and could not be more than an
hour high.
\ little risky said man. glancing
at the cardinal points of the compass. and
shaking his head slightly.
"Cordclia, her glowing cheeks nearly
as bright as her scarlet hood, came for
ward with an animated manner. As
,ire~ the buffalocs around her, though
how, week or two ago. should have es.
teemed the privilege Of this close compau-
ionship invaluable. But did not seem
to appreciate it now. She had treated
me too cavalierly, and I had grown some
what'reseniful.
I'VE dashed away. The air was damp
aud 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 of VIC
Shall get aloag nicely Cordelia glanced
u2 from her scarlet hood she did no,
seem to think about it oae way or the 9TH
er.
Did you accomplish your postal com
missions. Mrs Cordelia 7
Oh. yes, thank you"
AT the very moment a particle of lev
snow fell on my glove. would not be.
lieve but The mare had flung the particle
from her flying heels. But in a minute
more handful of fine particles sifted over
US both. Cordelia gave me half startled
glance.
II spoke checrfully to the mare, and
tucked the blanket in around my compan-
ion. A half hour longer found the north.
east wind steadily and pcrceptibly rising.
while the icy fakes were tinkling on the
crusty surface around our way. Quite
soon there were small whirlwinds 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 atmos-
Phere was white with tiny flakes that drift
ted by US in loose. bulging folds.
''Cordelia did not speak she only
lightened the fur scarf around her neck
and sat perfectly quiet. At that moment
| would have given fortune If the girl
had been safe at my unclc's. and l breast
Ing the storm alone. We came to a bel,
OF woodland. just ten miles of our journey
through; nearly twenty more before US.
Heaven :! it seemed like voyage across
the world. And a most awful fear was
tugging at my heart.
"A white gloom was let down all around
Us. On and on we went. I did not
speak to the mare nor whip her; there
was no need. She was trotting like a
race horse. her tail streaming over the
dashboard of the sleigh.
Another hour passed. The light snow
was mounting above the runners, and
driving obliquely across our laps in blind.
ing. smo,hering thickness still we were
getting on well; hoped We we're near
ing home.
" Are you colds ? I asked, drawing
Cor6elia close to me.
q" Nothing to speak Of she cheerfully
replied. But felt = strong shudder shake
her from head to foot.
Presently the sleigh pitched consider.
ably. although had tigh, rein.
Z" 'Rolfe.' she began. and thought
again felt her frame trcmble, although hel
voice was cool ard steady. 'the wind doe.
not strike Us just as it did. peither did we
pitch this morning rs We are doing now
Have We lost the road =
:" by Heaven. you hate spoken m,
thoughts. Cordelia,' I calculated. while ,
damp. ley coldness broke out from ever,
pore in my skin. She shuddercd again
but said nothing.
Il knotted the reius and threw then
over the dashboard. This ~as why ,h,
mare had held 50 hardly-she knew bet
ter than I. / must trust to her inss;nc.
In twenty minutes she had swung arouns
so as TO bring the wind on the old quar-
ter with Us. II was blowing heavy.
put my arm around my companion 10 hol,
the blankets in place.
.-Jass then faint sound reached m
startled ear. A swist shudder shook me
and | came near cryins aloud Ahc,he