The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-03-10

most indignant with her, he discovered
that he loved her with love which he
could not reason away nor live down.
He was more bitterly enraged with her
than ever to-day, as the cars rapidly
bore them toward the mountains. He
cursed himself and his folly in having
joined them. No one seemed TO want
him. Maud, with her usual perverse-
ness, had given him careless greeting,
and turned away to lavish her brightest
smiles and merriest speeches on Gilbert
Livingston, o msn 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
children's madness, SO she clung to
Thornton with instructive trust in his
sober strength. He never dreamed,
being blind as men are, that Maud saw
every motion that he made, that she
had so placed herself as to hear every
word he spoke. He only cav. with
wrath and shame, that she was flirting
openly, desperately, with that soulless,
brainless Livingston.
But even Thornton shook off his
gloom when they came among the hills.
The highest peaks were white with
snow, rejecting the setting sun with
dazzling brilliancy against the marvel
Gus 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 sleigh
ing, to Maud's regret. It was an ex-
hilarating drive. The clear air made
each inhalation an increasing Joy. The
laughter and the sweet, ringing voices
Of the girls no longer Jared upon him;
he was boy himself, and startled
them by his wit and gayety. Maud was
delighted. She warmed toward him,
and left poor Livingston shiverirg out
Of the sunlight Of her favor. 1t was all
going to be 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
q siege. 1t was closed, except few
rooms on the ground floor Of the west
and south sides. On the north and
east every blind was securely fastened.
"Have you had an east blow yet"
asked Maud, as they dashed up to the
door.
"No, miss; not yet," said the land
lord. 81 guess we will hev, pretty
quick, though. The maountings hey
kinder looked like it all day."
II hope it will come. should con-
slider our whole trip failure il 1t
doesn't"
Mr.. Little shook bis head and emi,ed
doubtfully. ~ gness when you've seed
one you won't be likely to want to see
another very quick"
The next day was gloiiously clear.
There was no wind stirring as yet. II
was this stiffness that reused the fore
bodings Of the landlord. His guests
had magnificent walk, they said: they
climbed part way mp Starr King and
hsd q view hundred times mora gu
psrb than they had ever imagined it
could be. 1t had been hard work
climbing over the slippery rocks and
they came back to the house delight.
fully tired and in undiminished spirits.
The general hilarity tagged not dur
ing the ooEy evening round the huge,
open fire, and one and all pronounced
their satisfaction and delight-all ex-
cept Mrs. Wellington, who had not
stirred from the fire all day, and who
grew more and more nervous IS the
talk about the expected east blow con.
tinucd.
In the morning Mr.. Little's pre-.
dictions we're verified. The city peo-
ple's ears were startled by what he had
so often described AS the "roaring of
the msountings" This strange, steadi.
explicable, filed some with alarm, some
with most enjoyable excitement. Mr..
Little called them to see the "churn-
ing of the clouds up the chnsm," and,
looking, they forgot to smile because
he pronounced the ch Of the last word as
he did in the first. 1t was sight not to
be forgotten. d grand, terrible sight, as
the angry clouds came up, rolling over
and over, as it seemed, through the gap
which opened out toward the east.
Within the house there were hurried
preparations. Mrs. Little and her sons
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 last
them till the storm had passed for
when it had reached its height, neither
man nor beast could stand against it.
Thornton, George and his classmate
prepared to go down to the barn and
help them, for the time seemed very
short. Every moment the tempest in
creased in violence. Quick as thought
Maud wrapped herself in her fur cloak,
and said she would 60 with them. Her
mother was so distressed that she would
have desisted, but that she caught
Thornton's look OF disapproval and dis
gust, she thought, and then nothing
could have prevented her. Seizing her
brothers hand she rushed out Of the
house. The barns were west OF the
hotel, some little distance down the
hill. The wind carried them on as il
they were straws, and drove them
breathless against tho building. Maud
had never dreamed OF its force. When
they were inside III Iavn, and The door
had been closed W h niculty. Thorn
ten ssid H. her. very st.,nly:
"This Is perfect folly. II you do
not 60 back TO the house instantly you
will not be able to go at all"
Mr.. Little said the same the storm
roared 30 they could scarcely hear each
other even then. Maud was bitterly
ashamed Of her folly, but not one whit
afraid. Even Thornton could not help
sdmiring even while he blamed her. He
asked Little to take her and "the boys"
back to the house. He himself, being
strong and large, would stay and help
the men. 1t was the best plan. The
four had hard fight to return. Hold
ing each others hands. one keeping
behind the other as much as possible,
they struggled up the hill. Once they
fell fiat to the earth, but regaining their
feet after moment they toiled on aud
reached the protection Of the house.
Little said he had never seen the "blow
come on so fast" There was no use in
his trying to 20 back to the barn the