Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-05-03

bore them toward tho mountains. lie
cursed himself and his foll in having
Joined them. No one scored TO want
him. Maud, with her usual perverse-
ness, had given him a'care ess greeting,
and turned away to lavish her brightest
smiles and mcrriest speeches on Gilbert
Livingston, man whom he cordially
hated and despised. Mrs. Wellington
alone seemed to need him. She was
nervous, weak and timid, dreading the
journey, and unable to control her chill
dren's madness, SO she chung to Thorn
ton with instructive trust in his sober
strength. He never dreamed, being
blind as mon are, that Maud saw every
motion that he made, that she had so
placed herself as to hear every word he
spoke. He only saw, with wrath ana
shame, that she was flirting openly,
desperately, with that soulless, brainless
Livingston.
But even Thornton shook of his gloom
when they came among the hills. The
highest peaks were white with snow, re-
flecting the setting sun with dazzling
brilliancy against the marvellous blue OF
the sky. 1t was very cold, but clear and
still, when they left the cars for their
drive of few miles. Mr. Little met
them with his six-horse stage; the wind
had not left enough snow on the rising
ground for sleighing, to Maud's regret.
II was an exhilarating drive. The air
was like wine, and made each inhalation
an increasing joy. The laughter and
the sweet, ringing voices of the girls no
longer Jared upon him; he was boy
again himself, and startled them by his
wit and gayety. Maud was delighted.
She warmed toward him, and left poor
Livingston shivering out of the sunlight
of her favor. II was all going to be q
perfect success, she thought, and blessed
herself for the inspiration.
The hotel, when they reached it, after
the stars had come out superbly in the
clear air, looked as if prepared for n
siege. II was closed, except few rooms
on the ground-foor of the west and
south sides. On the north and east ev-
cry blind was securely fastened.
Have you had an east blow yetp"
asked Maud, as they dashed up to the
door.
"No, miss, not yet" said the land
lord. Il guess we will hev, pretty
quick, though. The maountings hev
kinder looked like 1t all day."
81 hope it will come. / should con-
slider our whole trip failure If it
DOESN'T
Mr.. Little shook his head and smiled
doubtfully ~ guess when you ve seen
one, you won't be likely to want to see
another very quick
The next day was gloriously clear.
There was no wind stirring rs yet. 1t
was this stiffness that reused the fore
holdings of the landlord. His guests
had magnificent walk. they said: they
climbed part way up Starr King, and
had view hundred times more SUI
perb than they had ever imagined II
could be. 1t had been hard work climb
ing over the slippery rocks, and they
came back to the house delightfully."-
tired and in undiminished spirits. The
general hilarity tagged not during the
coy evening round the huge open fire,
and one and all pronounced their salts
faction and delight--all except Mrs.
Wellington, who had not stirred from
the fire all day, and who grew more and
more nervous rs the talk about the ex-
pected east blow continued.
In the morning Mr.. Littles predic-
tions were verified The city peoples
ears were startled by what he had SO
often described as the "roaring of the
maountings." This strange, steadily
increasing roar, which seemed so mex.
plicable, filled some with alarm, some
with most enjoyable excitement. Mr..
Little called them to see the "churning
of the clouds up the chasm," and, look.
ing, they forgot to smile because he
pronounced the CHI of the last word as
he did in the first. 1t was a sight not to
be forgotten, grand, terrible sight, as
the angry clouds came up, rolling over
and over, as it seemed, through the gar
which opened out toward the east.
Within the house there were hurried
preparations. Mrs. Little and her son:
went about making everything as fast
as possible, while her husband and his
two men went to the barns TO give the
cattle and horses food and water to las
them till the storm had passed; for wher
it had reached its height, neither mar
nor beast could stand against it. Thorn
ton, George and his classmatc prepared
TO go down to the barn and help them
for the time seemed very short. Ever,
moment the tempest increased in VIC
lence. Quick as thought Maud wrapped
herself in her fur cloak, and said sht
would GO with tb I'm. Her mother wa
so distressed that she would have de
sisted, but that she caught Thornton
look of disapproval and disgust, sh'
thought, and then nothing could have
prevented her. Selling her brother
hand, she rushed out of the house. Tn,
barns were west of the hotel, some littl,
distance down the hill. The wine
carried them on rs if they were straws
and drove them breathless against th,
building. Maud had never dreamed o
its force. When they were inside tn
barn, and the door had been closed witt
difficulty, Thornton said to her, yer.
sternly:
This is perfect folly. If you do no
60 back to the house instantly, you vii
not be able to 60 at ALL"
Mr.. Little said the same; the storm
roared so they could scarcely hear eacl
other even then. Maud was bitterl
ashamed Of her folly, but not ono viii
afraid. Even Thornton could not he'll
admiring even while he blamed her
He asked Little to take her and 18th
boys' back to the house. He himself
being strong and large, would stay an,
help the men. 1t was the best plan
The four had a hard fight to return
Holding each others hands, one keep
ing behind the other as much as posi-
bic, they struggled up the hill. Ono
they fell fiat to the earth, but, regaininI
their feet after moment, they toile
on, and reached the protection Of tn
house. Little said nc had never see
/ the "blow come on SO fast" Their
was no use in his trying to 90 back {
the barn; the men would do what wa
necessary, and his strength was hal
used up by his efforts already. Afte
, Maud had regained her breath she wer
to the window, and would not stir @
speak. Her eyes were fixed on tn
barns. The others gathered round th
fire in awed silence. The terror Of tn
A 4