The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-11-10

Arnold's. perhaps nearer mile and a
half. Stella had been past there twice,
and knew the house and the way. per-
fectly. She set ont at, a rapid walk, for
there was cutting chilliness in the air
which penetrated to ones marrow. Be-
sides, the sky was of that peculiar
smooth, gray-white that betokens snow.
and the thought of being caught out in
the night and storm was not pleasant.
II was near four o'clock when she set
out; bv walking fast she could do little
more then get back by dark, the night
came down so early those late Novem-
Der days II was Just half past four
when she rang the bell at Tom Arnold's
pretty cottage. MIR. Arnold himself
answered it.
.Why Miss Blake!" he said in q sort
of hasty surprise. "come in, child"
and he hurried her into the dining-room
where there was a glorious wOod-fire
in an open fireplace.
A round-faced. black-eyed little wom-
an sat out chair directly in front of it,
and Stella sank into it a little giddy
from coming SO suddenly into the
warmth.
..It is Mr.. BIontford's girl. Miss
Blake, Mrs. Bugbee. and she has
walked over here in this cutting wind
on some foolish woman's errand, I'll
warrant. Get her something nice and
hot Mrs. Bugbee, right off," Tom
Arnold gave the fire a poke as he
stopped speaking. which sent the sparks
up the chimney in soft, crimson
shower
Aren't you most chilled to death,
poor child? Why your checks are pur-
ple" he exclaimed.
II found the wind very cutting, and
it is beginning to snow. l came for
some patterns for Miss Montford. Some
embroidery patterns that"
Didn't say twas some woman's
foolishness" he cried, half angry and
half laughing.
"Miss Althea Montford it was who
sent me-" Stella interrupted, remem-
bering the "good word she had re-
solved to speak. Her sister, Miss
Fannie, demonstrated, and begged her
to wait till tomorrow, but Miss Mont
ford isn't used to waiting. This fur.
which Miss Fannie wrapped me in so
carefully, kept me from much suffer-
ing"
"A sensible girl that Fannie Mont
ford. always said So" he interrupted.
At that moment Mrs Bugbee came in
with the patterns and the hot tea. Miss
Blanche was in town visiting some
friends, and had left the patterns to be
sent up the first opportunity. For some
reason that young lady was not SO init
mate at Montford House as formerly.
1t showed quite hard when Stella
came to the door, but the wind was at
her back now, and she could soon get
home. she thought. But the twilight
somehow shut down all at once, and the
wind baffied about and turned and
doubled upon itself. and whirled the
snow in her face till she was nearly
blinded. And then how dark it grew!
She could hardly see the road, and only
now and then a light cleaning through
the thick storm. kept her from losing
her way altogether.
The wind increased momentarily. and
the storm grew thicker and thicker. 1t
seemed to her that she had travelled far
enough to be near Montford House.
She stopped. bracing herself against the
wind rs well as she could, and tried to
peer through the storm and darkness.
But 10 her alarm no light was visible
anywhere so far as she could see-not
even the faintest and most ghoStly
glimmer of light.
A sudden wild terror took possession
of her, robbing her of strength and
courage. Suppose she was lost on the
prairict To be sure it was not far to a
house anywhere along there, but she
could see such little way, and she had
turned round and round, trying to find
light, until she had no idea which way
to 90. A numb sort of feeling seemed
10 be getting possession of her faculties.
1t was not only an effort TO move. but
the desire to move seemed rs torpid and
numb as the limbs themselves. Was
she congealing. body and brain? She
asked herself this question in dull,
drowsy way. With a powerful effort
she forced herself to look out once
more in search of light. but it was all
thick, misty-white, and impenetrable in
every direction. She would sit down
and rest. she thought, she was so tired
and ., SO sleepy!