Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-05-17

ing here unseen
Its queer, very queer nuttered the
woman. Meth and I agrt ed perfectly
l can't see what cause she aad for leav-
| ing.'
| Alwade turned hurriedly to DEPART
AS he did so his eyes caught sight OF
white edge of paper peering from the in
ner side of the door casing. Drawing ii
forth, he found few lines hastily writ
ten thereon -
MIR. ALwADE-When met you to-
| night l knew that you were the one who
once knew Meltha Bayne under far diff
ferent circumstances. [ knew that you
recognized me, and doubtless felt graft
| fled in your heart for the revenge time
has wrought you. Of course 1 cannot
remain another day under this roof.
"MELTHA."
There was not the slightest clue in
this brief note to guide his steps. There
were but few settlerain 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
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.
1t was his duty to find her before
night and offer her better situation
than the one she had lately occupied.
A sudden snow>storm came up, which
suon filled the road SO. that Alwade's
swift bays found it difficult to make
anything but the slowest headway.
Down in fieecy pillows the snow sift-
ed, filling the air and covering the
ground completely.
The wind rose. whiriing the snow
upon the pines in huge drifts. The
track was no longer visible.
Huge banks of snow blocked the way
and the lumberman came suddenly to a
full knowledge of the fact that it would
soon be impossible for him 20 proceed
having!' muttered the lumberman, as
he buttoned his great coat more closely
and strove to peer ahead through blind
ing storm. Suppose she hasn't found
shelter?' The thought sent chill tO
his heart.
On and on the horses foundered, the
drifts growing deeper, the storm fiarcer,
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.
so late?' he muttered. i did not
think | was going at such snaifs pace.
Now I'm in fix, to be suro.'
His horses, struggling in a deeper
drift than usual, came su ldenly to 3
halt
Alwade peered about him. The fores:
looked strange and new to him. The
truth suddenly flashed upon his brain.
L see; I've lost the ma n road, some
how. and this is some one Of the many
logging tracks, unused the umberman
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 light road to-
night. If this was log road, there must
bean 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 slow
ly on.
The storm seemed to increase III fury
every minute.
If he found no. shelter soon, AL
wade feared the consequences.
Peering anxiously ahead, dark
snow capped pile met his straining Wis
ion. The next minute his horses stood
steaming beside half-ruined log shan
| ty.
It was almost dark now, but Alwade
quietly unhitched from the cutter, and
drove his team under the friendly shell.
ter This had once been used for barn.
dc
the cooks shanty.
AIwade 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
one of those was quickly ignited. An
old bunk stood next the wall. Quickly
demolishing this, the lumberman soon
had brisk fire in the long unused fire
place.
Removing his great coat. he stood
over the fire and warmed his hands,
thankful for his lucky escape from death
at the hands of the frost king.
The fire blazed up brightly, lighting
the room throughout.
"Good heaven what's this p
Wallace Alwade stood staring into the
corner Of the room, where 2 human form
lay coiled upon the frozen ground.
Approaching, the lumberman stood
over the dark. robed figure, stood and
gazed fer minute, spell into the
face of woman.
"Melthan
Bending down quickly, the stout man
gathered the light form in his arms and
bore it to the fire.
Dead y he groaned, as he gazed into
the rigid face.
To his great delight, he was soon re-
warded with a groan, followed shortly
after by sight of two great, frightened
violet eyes.
'Meltha Bayne,' he whispered softly.
Where am I?' she answered.
Safe, Meltha. Thank heaven for
sending me out of my road tonight,
said Alwade, fervently.
An hour later NJ eltha Bayne was able
to sit up.
In few brief words she related her
adventures of the past twenty hours =
She had wandered off from the main
road and had travelled on many by. roads
through snow and storm, finally COM
ing to the knowledge of the fact that she
was lost. Two hours before she had
found this shanty, and tired and cold,
she had sunk down to slumber, from
which she would never have walked,
but for the coming of Alwade:
Why did you leave Mrs. Watson,
Meltha?'
After meeting you, I could not re-
main.' she said simply.
After meeting me! Can it be that
you still hate me, Meltha?'
Her violet eyes sought his face Won
deringly.
Hate you, Mr.. Alwade, could never
do that. / could not bear to see you ano
know that you were gloating over the
revenge that time has wrought. L have
hated myself many times for the past
in my life'
He seized her hand and bent a search
ing look into her thin, faded face.
'Meltha, am content to let the past
lie buried. 1 am lone bachelor, rich
and crusty, but 1 want wife!