The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-01-13

seemingly staggered at studded revela-
tion. -.
eyes. She must have slipped off in
the night some time," said Mrs. Watson,
looking her surprise at the strange inter
est her employer took in the little faded
cook. cit don't matter great deal,
though" continued Mrs. Watson ''My
husband can hunt up another woman
right quick"
Wallace Alwade stood warming his
hands by the fire.
''She went in the night, you say?"
:. :"Yes. or very early this morning."
"Why did she go?"
Cant say"
perhaps she left some word, q note
or something?"
"Not O thing"
''She must have been brave to dare
cold winters night for the sake of leaving
here unseen"
'It's queer, very queer" muttered the
woman. ''Melth and agreed perfectly.
L can't see what cause she had for
leaving"
Alwade turned hurriedly to depart.
AS he did so his eyes caught sight of
white edge of paper peering from the
inner side of the door casing. Drawing
1T forth, he found few lines hastily writ
ten thereon:
"MR. ALwADE-When I met you Tonight
knew that you were the one who once knew
Meltha Bayne under far different crcum-
stances. l knew that you recognized me, and
doubtless felt gratiied in your heart for the re-
venge time has wrought you. OF course 1 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
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.
Tt 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 filled the road, SO that Alwade's
swift bays found it difficult to make any
thing but the slowest headway. =,
Down in heecy pillows the snow sifted.
filling the air and covering the ground
completely.
q 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 a
full knowledge of the fact that it would
soon be impossible for him to proceed
ugh! what fearful night we're hav-
ing" muttered the lumberman, rs he
buttoned his great coat moro closely, and
strove to peer ahead through the blind
ing storm. Suppose Meltha hasn't
found u shelter?" The thought sent q
chill to his heart.
On and on the horses foundered, the
drifts growing deeper, the storm fercer,
meantime.
The wind rose to a gale, hurling the
snow in sheeted masses through the mir,
while the gloom of approaching night
settled down upon the forest.
Alwade consulted his watch in some
surprise.
$50 late?" he muttered. 'tI did not
think was going at such q snaiPs pace.
Now I'm in fix, to be sure"
His horses, struggling in 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 n 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 ani-
mals cleared the drift and moved slowly
on.
The storm seemed to increase in fury
every minute.
If he found no shelter soon, Alwade
feared for the consequences.
Peering anxiously ahead, q 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, a 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 these was quickly ignited. An old
bunk stood next the wall Quickly de-
mollshing this, the lumberman soon had
brisk fire In the long unused fireplace.
over the fre 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 heavenl what's this ?"