The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-23

Dr.. Wilder and this gentleman from Brentford--
~, aoh, yes; Mr.. Tiffany Isn't this DREADFUL Mr.
Tin another. The sleighing is very passable;
we shall reach Brentford by twilight. And you
will keep your situstion-or get another"
She hung back moment. | besitated no
more, but took her by her two little shoulders
and deposited her among the furs. and tucked
them all in about her; and as by that time
coaches and sledges and oil sorts OF conveysnces
we're on the ground Tor the others, | touched the
whip to the horse and we we're oil, the other
sleigh behind u.s..
"Do you know the way2" che asked, timidly.
81 can inquire, | answered.
"Btraigbt ahead" was the instruction given at
every farm. house gate and straight ahead we
went, gay and laughing now, and full OF enjoy
ment OF the pleasant bracipg air, the bells, the
swftness. At length we reached some cross.
roads, where the wind had overturned the sign.
poet. Which one of the roads was the right one
We took the most travelled way at a venture. II
wss the wrong one. L. led us on and on, aided
by pumpkin who grinned and said, SAY, ay," as
we asked If we were right for Brentford. The
sky was already olouding over, and it was late in
the afternoon when we reached village at whose
little inn we stopped Tor refreshment, Insisting
upon il, the other sleigh pushing on rather than
wait. We were far out OF the way, the landlord
told me- we must have made the mistake a
dozen miles back at the crossroads, but yet If we
changed our horse and persisted, it was still
quite possible to reach Brentford that night.
For my companions sake IL must be doEe.
Warmed and fed, and with additional robes, we
were on our way again. II was OF no use to stop
and speculate over DIR. Wilder and Mr.. Tiffany
they would doubtless find out The error and
get on the right road In time-before the snow
thokened, ii was to be hoped. II was beginning
to snow gently but steadily presently found that
the wind was rising. thanked Heaven and
Marcia for my umbrella, spread 1T, and secured it
behind us. Before long it WAS dark. Little Rose
had grown very quiet myself scarcely spoke. |
was anxious concerning her exposure TO the gath
erlng storm, concerning her solioitude. We were
in q hill country; now and then light twinkled
Jar up some slope, but passed no houses at all;
our hearts rose and sank with the unwinding
lengths OF the rising and sinking road. The snow
still fell and now it was drifting sadly; everything
was wierd and strange; 1t was no longer possible
to distinguish the way. left it to the instinct oil
The horse; be stopped stone still, at last, in the
middle OF hill pasture. on the edge OF wood,
unable to proceed another rod. struck my last
match, aud looked at my watch; 1t was already
half-past IL.
There was no help for it. Here We were TO stay
till morning, il we lived SO long. was full OF
apprehension, and, although had done my best,
I was m rtifed TO the quick. ut ia not your
fault, MIR. Ferguson" said Rose, tremulously. Il
ought not to have ventured 1t"
sand you can't imagine what Mrs. Burbank
will say" exclaimed, recklessly.
She burst out crying.
"Ob, what shall do2 What shall do2" she
said
got out and broke down The drift little be-
fore the horse, and then led him cautiously just
within the wood.
"How comfortable" cried Rose, between her
sobs. sit 10 almost like getting home"
1T il the heart OF tho great mother said l.
It was going under real shelter; the wind
hushed, the cold softened; only the great pine
boughs mnrmured. and the snow fell quietly.
unhtched the horse. blsnketed him, broke such
boughs as / could for his bed, and bent and
bound others partially over him. Aud as was
doing ii I heard voices listened. hallooed, and
the reply tlld me that the other team found Itself
In exactly our position. Crying that would be
with them directly, went back to Rose "Dr.
Wilder and his friends have brought up in the
wood, too" said l.
81 heard the M" said she.
"And that 10 more cheerful"
"Ob, not in the least" che said, Mrs. Bur-
bank will never overlook it, anyway. And IL will
kill Dr. Wilder. too-that old man In this winter
STORM"
swell, really, don't know this. am to blame
for bis being here said l.
"Oh, didn't mean that" she cried, starting
forward. "Oh. don't know what do say
what with the disaster and the ride and the
worry. Don't-don't you be vexed with me-"
.'Vexed with you'll" said l. " How absurd
AZ IL it we're possibe-the. poor tired child" And
beside her. "Rose," began, drawing off one
OF the email otter skin mittens-" how cold the
little hsnd is!" ...
"Oh, no, am very warm and comfortable"
Show cold the little hand is! and pressed
IL to my lips.
She took It away hastily, mo, no. no." che
murmured. "You mustn't speak to me go
here"
.And If IT were not here cried. crosse, you
will never dare to go back to Mrs. Burbank q
now 2"
She made no reply.
aThen why not go home with me 2"
$50 home with you ?" she repeated, like some
one in dream.
"With me-" said. "To stay with me. For.
ever"
sob, you would never have asked me il il had
not been for this |" she cried. "Do you think an
go small, SO pitlful as lhat2 It is my misfortune
that we are here; Tut shall not let it ruin your
life by burdening GU WITT wife you don't love.
II don't lover" / answered her-Heaven
knows what joy in my voice; and | told the rest
in the dark upon her dear, warm, dewy lips.
Five minutes later Tiffany and had pulled and
tipped aud tilted the other sleigh, with the doc.
tor 10 1t, to place beside my own.
''My dear young friends said the doctor
wi h whom had now exchanged q few sentences
"his IL very sudden and unexpected; but, indeed
as the son Of my old friend, and as one who has
been under my care, in some measure, since hel
childhood, I think / may say quite the best
thing. Quite the best thing under the c1rcum-
stances. / don't know upon whose parish may
be intrudipg, but think 1 may venture; and as
the State requires no license, and we have wit
ness" Aud here the old doctors voice broke
forth under the sonorous arches Of the wood in
he music Of the church service that
he knew by heart. We had heard it
lately 10 the midst Of flowers and light, and
friends organ strains and bell notes; but here in
tbs solitude Of the forest, and the great darkness
and the falling snow, as the Wedding prayer rang
out, 1t was inexpressibIy solemn. We felt as II
great spirits were the company before whom We
gave and pledged our troth, and II We did not
kneel to the blessing. nevertheless it seemed to
fall upon our bent heads like q tender hand as
that voice cried out Of the gloom and shadow,
"The Lord mercfully, with HIS favor, look upon
you and fill you with all spiritual benediction and
grace, that ye may 30 live together In this life
that in the world to come ye may have life ever
lasting"
"Are you sorry. my Rose?" whispered. And
for one moment two arms thrown about me, and
little cold cheek on mine, were more eloquent
than words.
Then Tiffany and proceeded to cut other
boughs and pile them round the horse and
sleighs. Destitute Of matches-for I had used
my last in looking at my watch-we could not
build fire; and, at length, we disposed ourselves
among the furs and rugs 10 our respective seighs,
to be merry as we could till sunrise, with the