Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-11-24
Adventure on Lake
Winnepesaukee.

sun declined, thick leaden haze had
obscured his sickly sight, and appear
ances gave promise Of the coldest night
of an unusually cold season. The up
train on the c. railroad was detain-
ed by the immense drifts of snow which
formed upon the lines; and it was past
nine o'clock when the putting locomotive
came slowly and laboriously up to the
little depot at A, the northern ter
minus of the route.
AS usual in country places, as we'll as
those more thickly settled, quite little
comnanv had assembled ;n +h~ r,-.;-,e;,.al
room of the building to talk over the
severe weather and discuss the probabil-
ity 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 dark
ness than his neighbor.
The usual variety of passengers alight-
ed /; each one anxious about his or her
baggage, and each one particularly GER
tain 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 young lady, our heroine
and dressed with extreme elegance.
Springing from the platform, scarcely
touching the extended hand of the gen.
tlemanly conductor, she gazed anxlously
around her for 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 musical tones fell on his ear.
"Can you tell me the distance to
Wolfburn 2"
Twelve miles, marm (; and no passage
there for five days; roads completely
blocked % and was turning away.
She put out her hand to stay him
mo passage Pit cannot be | must bt
in Wolfburn within four hours, sir! My
mother is dying there p
"Sorry-very sorry, indeed but it il
an utter impossibility to think of doing
such thing! Why, marin. the ther
mometer stands ten degrees below zero
this very minute, and twill be still low
er before midnight"
81 know the cold is intense dar
say the way is replete with danger bu
my mother, the mother who brought m
into existence, is dying there. and
must 90 to her !' The voice of the youn
girl became choked and broken as sh
ceased.
''It's hard case, | must admit; bu
it's no use to think Of attempting to g
to Wolfburn to-night-the road is g
impossible as the Alps. and the Onl
- track is across the lake; but neitht
2 man nor beast could live on that blea
in route half the distance am sorr,
marin, but l only speak the truth abo'
OF it."
- - The face of the young lady blanche
n still paler, but her voice was firm as sh
said:
m "Cold and perilous though it be,
;" must 90 to my mother. Were | sic
do she would move heaven and earth, b
she would stand by my bedside | ca
~ not let her die and | 80 very near he
ho and yet not in her presence | must G
of if l 90 on foot and alone !''
a Rash girl it would be no bett
ne than suicide to attempt the passage Of t
Winnepesaukee on such night as tn
N even with strong horse and an e
t,o perienced guide; and such cannot
lry found, who will brave the horrors of
an night for love or money p
len Lady, l will 60 with your and
crowd parted before the tall, fnely-bu
,n5 in1 young man who came hastily to the s.
nov of the strange girl. 81 am unknown
tile you. and my station in life is humb
hat but if you will trust me. the con6de
10 shall not be misplaced !" He reno
- his cap from his head, and stood Ell
a and dignifed before her-a strikin
ton Uaa handsome youth clad in rough gart
! he gray. There was the fire of Il
the spirit burning in his deep, hazel {
} be and around his classically carved
way dwelt an expression half stern, half
der. The clear blue eyes of the !
3aq 3,ns met his fixed yet respectful gaze, sea
nror ingly-she put her hands in his.
he "God bless you, sir! There IS
dge. true heart in New Hampshire /! |
lror' trust you." An expression of pride
) aO 70 gratitude swept over the young m
face. and he bent his head low be
doe. her as he said: .In half an hour |
'low return for you," and with firm, eli
u 2 step. he left the depot.
saS sSi The young lady dropped into
offs5 by the fire, and covering her face
piled her hands, seemed lost in a pal
ke it reverie. The countless changers
about the place gathered together
why little knot about the Office windc
you -, no. ,av snhiact To discuss.