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

cho nm iti eyes, rs well db HIS lOnKs bltD-
der neck, showed him spirited and strong.
The eager crowd Of idlers left their warm
corners by the stove and gathered around
the sleigh and its occupants, some expostu-
lating on the madness Of the twain in set
ting out on such night--others wishing
them God-speed and amid the murmured
acclamations they drove off.
Half mile on terra .frmd, and the horses
feet rang sharp and clear on the ice of the
Winnipisseogee. The summit of the tall,
blue mountains which arose on either side
Of our travellers were shrouded in an i'm
penetrable mist, and the light wind which
blew was insufficient TO break up the clouds
of rime that filled the air.
Little or no conversation passed between
these two people, so recently thrown to-
gether. Argensen was occupied with
thoughts of the perilous undertaking before
them the lady with sad images Of her dy-
ing mother-dying without a kiss of her
only child TO sooth her passage through the
dark void between time and eternity.
With anxious eye the young mountaineer
scanned the thickening air, and the terrible
thought would fit across his brain-"If a
squall should rise !"
Nearly four miles of the Journey was
passed over in safety. They had reached
the dreariest part of the road, and darkness
became almost palpable Mountains black
as Erebus completely walled in the shining
track of ice, and by the pitching of the cut
ter, and the careful progress of the horse,
they knew that drifts of snow and ridges of
ice obstructed the way.
The wind steadily increased and cut the
face like a sharp ioicle. The breath of our
travellers CONCEALED almost before it left their
bOdiaQ and fha dorr cfIao Of ha borca
covered with feathery frost.
The cold became intense, permeating the
thick buffalo skins as il they had been mere
cobwebs, aud the delicate frame of the girl
was chilled through. Bravely she sup
pressed the deadly shvers that involunta-
rily stole over her, but Argensen felt the eff
fort, and drawing his arm around her, he
said in a low, earnest tone:
Lady, we are strangers, but it is no time
to stand for ceremony when one is freezing
Sit as close to me as possible, and lay your
face upon my breast the wind is rising to
gale, and the squalls will be upon us ere
long"
With one powerful hand he guided the
horse with the other he held close to his
side the little, trembling form OF his COM
panion and the noble gray, as if feeling
that everything depended on their reaching
the end of their journey before the breaking
of the squall over their heads, tore bravely on.
In vain in vain in vain The mad
wind bore along the ebon clouds with the
swiftness of lightning, and scarcely more
than five miles of the way were passed ere
it burst upon them in all its fury. The
dreaded "white eye" enveloped them. Hail
in minute particles of frozen snow, in thick,
continuous Sheets blinded the eyes of brave
h'senasn, sr, anu shuo ou1 'ne uiui' oVer-arching
oNy' ne nurse u's" uP unuer ,iie iee vi
"ooeeu lsianu, anu could oe ihuuceo 10 go
no 1artner' Argensen clasped both arms
ABOUT MS paralyzed companion, and awaited
the progress OF the Storm Heavily, and
more heavily she leaned upon his shoulder
ana al iength tne latal truth rushed over
MIN with appalling torce-the sleep that In
variably precedes death by freezing was
upon her lie sprang up wildly.
For the love OF heaven, awake Rouse
yourself 10 sleep IS deah.
faint moan was the only response. lie
tore OIL the buffalo robes which enveloped
her and vigorously chafed her cold hands,
and breathed upon her icy lips. FOR time
he feared that he held only death In MS
arms; but at last, by the dim light oil the
lantern he saw flush steal over her lace,
'"A i SJNh'' oi0"iy "'S -. -,
sis 1t my mother holding mei' she said
dreamlly; then, as II remembering all, she
drew herself away from the arms that sup
ported her. Argensen soothed and encour-
aged her, until the storm broke and the
clouds were swept away. A few faint,
struggling stars burst through the billow OF
vapor, and like angels eyes looked down
upon the wild desert oil snow Two nours
suspenseIere .ne hoorv Hv!i9 lorse oou'u oe maue
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