Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-11-12
Adventure on Lake winnepisseogee.

Evening SET IN cold and gray. Dntll
noon the sky had been clear, but as the sun
declined, thick leaden haze had obscured
his sickly sight, and appearances gave prom
Use of the coldest night of an unusually cold
season. The up train on the c rail
road was detained by the immense drifts of
snow which formed upon the lines and it
was past nine o'clock when the putting To-
comotive came slowly and laboriously up to
the little depot at A., the northern ter
minus of the route.
As usual in country places, as well as
those more thickly settled, quite little
company had assembled in the principal
room of the building to talk over the severe
weather and discuss the probability Of the
non-arrival of the train that night.
With the first sound of the ominous
whistle, the narrow door of the depot was
crowded with anxious heads each striving
| to pierce farther into the darkness than his
neighbor.
| The usual variety of passengers alighted ;
each one anxious about his or her baggage
and each one particularly certain that it
was in Just such place that the freight
master said it was not; but it is with one
of this motley assembly that we have to do
She was a young lady, our heroine, and
| dressed with extreme elegance.
Springing from the platform, scarcely
touching the extended hand of the gentle
manly conductor, she gazed anxiously
around her for a moment, and then made
her way to the window of the Office, which
was pushed back to allow the official within
to receive the express boxes, and separate
the mails; the man started as her low musi
cal tones fell on his ear.
"Can you tell me the distance to Wolf
burn?"
"Twelve miles, marm and no passage
there for five days; roads completely
blocked P' aud was turning away.
She put out her hand to stay him. "No
passage?-it cannot be must be in Wolf
burn within four hours, sir My mother is
dying therel"
"Sorry-very sorry, indeed but it is an
utter impossibility to think of doing such a
thing Why, marin, the thermometer
stands ten degrees below zero, this very min
ute, and twill be still lower before mid
night"
"Iknow the cold is intense dare say the
way is replete with danger; but my mother,
the mother who brought me into existence,
is dying there, and | must go to her |" The
voice of the young girl became choked and
broken as she ceased.
It's hard case, must admit but it's
no use to think of attempting to get to
Wolfburn to-night-the coach road is as i'm
passable as the Alps, and the only track is
across the lake; but neither man nor beast
could live on that bleak route half the dis
tance | am sorry, marin. but only speak
the truth about it,
The face of the young lady blsnched
still paler, but her voice was firm, as she
| said
"Cold and perilous though it be, must
go to my mother Were | sick, she would
move heaven aud earth, but she would stand
by my bedside cannot let her die and
so very near her. aud yet not in her pres
ence must go, if go on foot aud alone l''
crash girl it would be no better than
suicide to attempt the passage of the Win
nepisseogee on such night as this even
with strong horse and an experienced
guide; and such cannot be found, who will
brave the horrors of the night for love or
money"
"Lady, will go with you !" and the crowd
parted before the tall, tinely-built young
man who came hastily to the side of the
strange girl. al am unknown to you, and
my station in life is humble; but If you
will trust me, the confidence shall not be
misplaced p He removed his cap from his
| duu SbuOu cIcCb huu ulSulucu DClOlc
her-a strikingly handsome youth clad in a
rough garb of gray. There was the fire OF
lofty spirit burning in his deep, hazel eye,
and around his cassically carved lips dwelt
an expression half stern, half tender. The
clear blue eyes of the lady met his fixed yet
respectful gaze, searchingly-she put her
hands in his.
"God bless you, sir There is one true
heart in New Hampshire | will trust you. ,
An expression of pride and gratitude
swept over the young mans face, and he
bent his head low before her as he said
In half AN hour | will return for you," and
with a firm, elastic step, he left the depot.
The young lady dropped into seat by
the fire, and covering her face with hel
hands, seemed lost in painful reverie. The
listless changers on" about the place gath
cred together in little knots sabout the of
fee window-there was new subject tc
discuss.
"Fool enough is Will Argensen to under
take to cross the lake tonight He'll b,
frozen stiff, in my opinion, afore the da,
breaks !" exclaimed an old man, evidentl,
the oracle of the company.
"And the gal Its shame, though, TO
she's sweet lookin' critter Heaven pit,
her aud take care of her, for she'll neet
somebody's care before the night i
through !"
"She's in good hands, though" said
third member of the coterie, withdrawing
his pipe from his mouth as he spoke, $50
Win is as noble a lad as ever breathed tn
: air of Hampshire He knows every incl
; of the Winnie, as well as | know the roa'
+, to the mill and his horse is a powerful
deal more Intelligent than any human folks
! anyhow
"Argensen will do well enough if ther
5 amt squall but it strikes me the SIX
looks rather hazy, and, depend upon it, thi
l lull amt for nothin' !" said fourth, peel
ing anxiously into the darkness; "and
9 there should be a squall-then-then-
aud the speakers involuntary shudde
flushed the sentence.
: The men drew close together as if 70
mutual protection, and there was silenc
for few moments, broken at last by tn
old man who had spoken first.
"Only last winter, poor Henry Bleeche
!, a was frozen TO death on the shore of Rattle
i snake Island; aud then just week aite
wards poor Cap'n Deer-been ON the LAX
y all his lifetime, got bewildered in the squal
! and died out there all alone in the dark an
= cold, and his folks to home settin' up to da,
I light expectin' him Oh, it was awful
dreadful 10 think OF IL but nothin' to wha
it would be for woman--a young, tende
u beautiful woman" a tear wet the hard
old mountaineer's face, and he turned I
; !, dry it on his coarse handkerchief.
AT this moment the brisk jingle of sleigh
: bells was heard at the door, and before th
!, eager listeners could spring forward to ope
it upon the new comer VIII Argensen el
/, tered, wrapped up in buffalo robe
4 81 am ready TO attend you TO WolfburI
: if you still think of going" said he, addres
: ing the lady
4 She arose quickly at the sound of hi
voice, and accepting the large blanket whic
the ticket-master kindly offered her as a fu
ther protection from the inclement weathe
q she followed her conductor into the darl
Z piercing night, and was lifted into the sleig
y which awaited them. Argensen wrappe
: the buffalo closely around her, aud attaci
z ing the large glass lantern, which he ha
. carried in his hand, TO the front part of th
cutter, he sprang in. The horse was larg'