The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23


inner side of the decreasing. Drawing
it forth, he found a few lines hastily writ
ten thereon:
''MR. ALwADE-when met you tonight I
knew that you were the one who once knew
Meltha Bayne under far different circum-
stances. / knew that you recognized me, and
doubtless felt grati6ed in your heart for the re-
yenge time has wrought you. OF course / can
not remain another day under this roof.
MELTHA."
There was not the slightest clew in
this brief note to guide his steps. There
were but few settlers in the woods, how
ever, and he felt that it would be an easy
matter to discover the whereabouts of
the missing woman.
Once more outside, the winter air
touched his cheeks with icy fingers, and
n shudder convulsed his frame as he
thought of poor. little, helpless Meltha,
exposed to the cold under a pitiless win
ter sky, with no home, no place to lay
her head.
II was his duty to find her before night
and offer her better situation than the
one she had but lately occupied.
A sudden snow-storm came up, which
soon filed the road, so that Alwade's
swift bays found it difficult to make any
thing but the slowest headway.
Down in feecy billows the snow sifted,
filling the air and covering the ground
completely.
The wind rose, whirling the snow up
against the pines in huge drifts. The
track was no longer visible.
Huge banks of snow blocked the way,
and the lumberman came suddenly to
full knowledge of the fact that it would
soon be impossible for him to proceed.
"Ughl what fearful night we're hav-
ingi' muttered the lumberman, as he
buttoned his great coat more closely, and
strove to peer ahead through the blind
ing storm. Suppose Meltha hasn't
found q shelter?" The thought sent a
chill to his heart.
On and on the horses foundered, the
drifts growing deeper, the storm fiercer,
meantime.
The wind rose to gale, hurting the
snow in sheeted masses through the air,
while the gloom of approaching night
settled down upon the forest.
Alwade consulted his watch in some
surprise.
$50 late?" he muttered. '1 did not
think was going at such a snail's pace.
NOW III III n IlX, 10 De sure.
His horses, struggling in q deeper drift
than usual, came suddenly to halt.
Alwade peered about him. The forest
looked strange and new to him. The
truth suddenly flashed upon his brain.
81 see; I've lost the main road, some
how, and this is some one of the many
old logging tracks, mused the lumber
man, forgetting Meltha for the time,
under the difficulties of his own situation.
Night was setting in rapidly. The
storm still ragged furiously. There was
no chance of finding the right road to-
night. If this was log-road, there must
be an end somewhere, and then he would
find shanties.
He touched his horses with the whip.
After several attempts, the noble ami
mails cleared the drift and moved slowly
on.
The storm seemed to increase in Jury
every minute.
If he found no shelter soon, Alwade
feared for the consequences.
Peering anxiously ahead, dark snow
capped pile met his straining vision.
The next minute his horses stood steam.
ing beside half-ruined log shanty.
1t was almost dark now, but Alwade
quietly unhitched from the cutter, and
drove his team under the friendly shelter.
This had once been used for barn
Across the way, some rods ahead, was
the cooks shanty.
Alwade found the door hanging on one
hinge, portion of the shanty roof fallen
in, but this shelter was better than the
snow and storm outside.
He had matches in his pocket, and on,
of these was quickly ignited. An ole
bunk stood next the wall. Quickly de
molishing this, the lumberman soon hat
brisk fire in the long unused fireplace
Removing his great coat, he stood
over the fire and warmed his hands
thankful for his lucky escape from deatl
at the hands of the frost king.
The fire blazed up brightly, lighting
the room throughout.
"Good heavenl what's this ?"
Wallace Atwood stood staring into tn
corner of the room, where a human forr
lay coiled upon the frozen ground.
Approaching, the lumberman stoo,
over the dark-robed figure, stood an,
gazed for a minute, spell-bound, int
the face of a woman.
"Meltha -
Bending down quickly, the stout ma
gathered the light form in his arms an
bore it to the fire.
'Deadr' he groaned, as he gazed int
the rigid face.
To his great delight, he was soon re
after by a sight of two great, frightene
violet eyes.
"Meltha Bayne," he whispered softly
"Where am II" she answered.
"Safe, Meltha. Thank heaven fc
sending me out of my road tonight,
said Wallace Alwade, fervently.
An hour later Meltha Bayne was alb
to sit up.
In few brief words she related h,
adventures of the past twenty hour
She had wandered off from the mai
road and had travelled on many by-road
through snow and storm, finally comm
, to the knowledge of the fact that she W,
: lost. Two hours before she had four
this shanty, and tired and cold, she hf
sank down to slumber, from which 81
! would never have walked, but for Il
{ coming of Alwade.
\ "Why did you leave Mrs. Watso
Meltha?"
l "After meeting you, could not r
n main," she said, simply.
s "After meeting me Can it be tn
o you still hate me, Meltha?"
Her violet eyes sought his face wo
deringly.
!, "Hate you, Mr.. Alwade, could nev
y do that. could not bear to see yo
and know that you were gloating ov
n the revenge that time has wrought
/, have hated myself many times for Il
= past in my life."
d He seized her hand and bent scare
], ing look into her thin. faded face.
y Meltha, 1 am content to let the pa
N lie buried. I am lone old bachelc
rich and crusty, but want wife.
is "Well?"
"Will you be that wife to me, M
tha?"
"After my treatment Of you, when