The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-06-28
A LUCKY SLIP.

ram, ana q sleepy statlOn-master and
porter giving the only indications Of
life,
Mr.. Hugh Lambert; as he got out Of
the train and went to look after his lug,
gage, felt very thankful that he had only
mile to drive before reaching home.
He was man of about forty, old for his
years and slightly gray; in figure he was
tall and well made, and his face had an
expression of cleverness.
AS a rule, few passengers alighted at
Beechwood by that late train; but on
this night there were two beside Hugh
Lambert-a young lady and her maid,
with goodly pile Of luggage. Hugh was
wondering a little as to where they
could be going, when he heard the girl
ask the station master if there was car
riage waiting from Mrs. Newton of
Priarton.
."Why, the road has bin blocked up
since six o'clock miss! There's bin
big landslip and they're working all night
to git it cleared. I don't think you'll
get to Priarton this week, what with the
slip and the foods"
'.What am TO- do?" exclaimed the
girl, with a face of blank despair. SIS
tuCAO AIO OCHSS 1OSSA W koI W TlaTLOul
Hugh Lambert. vas listening with
some interest. Mrs. Newton was the
nearest neighbor, and great friend of
his; this must be her niece of whom he
had so often heard. He approached
the lady and raised his hat courteously.
Il am sorry to say there is no other
road to Priartown; nor is there any way
of getting there tonight. I heard Of
the landship only about an hour ago,
and know that the road is completely
blocked"
"What can do?" the girl aske again.
'Is there any inn here, or must take
the next train back to the nearest
town."
'sThe last trains gone an hour; there
amt no inn in the country wide save
public" from the porter.
"You must let me arrange this matter
for you," said Hugh Lambert 81 think
must be speaking to Mrs. Newton's
niece, Miss Nayton?"
10y GU have guessed rightly" and Dor
othy Nayton looked up eagerly delight
ed to find some ono to whom she was
known. if only by name.
She was bright little body, pleasant
looking, though she could not lay claim
to great beauty--a brunette with clear
straight nose. She had crossed from
her home that afternoon, she told her
new acquaintance; and 80 OF course
he- aunt might not have expected her
to arrive so early.
"You must lot me take care of you,"
Lambert said. "My place is close by.
will take you there, and send a mes
sage to your aunt as soon as possible to
let her know that you are SAFE"
just at that minute horse was heard
galloping up the dark road, and pres
emily man came hurrying into the sta
ton.
rs there young lady here for Priar-
toni" he asked.
Dorothy went forward eagerly.
IF you please, miss. here's note
hours getting here; had to ride twelve
the floods are out / had to get a boat
at the low meadows, and borrow an
other horse on this side; and that has
delayed me in getting here"
Hardly waiting to listen to this long
explanation from the old coachman,
Dorothy tore open the note and read.
"MY DEAREST Child am in great dis
tress. The road between here and the sta
ton has been blocked by q tremendous
landslip; so it is impossible to send the car
ciage to meet you. I have therefore for
Lambert, asking him to send for you and
your maid shelter for the night, tin
we see what is to be done. he is the
only neig lbor that side of the landslip, and
is so charming that you need not mind 60.
ing to him; it is indeed the only thing to be
''Your loving aunt,
MARY. Newton"
The coachman had also given Hugh
Lambert note.
II was to have left it at Legion, sir"
he said" but heard you was coming
by this train"
Lambert glanced at the contents, and
then turned to Dorothy.
"Your aunt has kindly trusted you to
me; so now you won't mind accompany
ing me home. will your" he asked.
IT think it is you that ought to mind"
was Dorothy's answer. II am afraid we
shall be giving you so much trouble. 1t
is very good to you"
A minute later she was seated beside
him in the dog-cart, spinning along the
known country.
Dorothy was very tired, and was
thankful to reach the house and be ban
ded over to the care Of the housekeep-
err. Very soon she was fast asleep in an
old-fashioned oak-panelled room that
would have seemed very ghostly to her.
but that she was too mu IN fatigued to
take much heed of her surroundings;
and, beside her maid was in the dress
i1g-room and within call.
The next morning Dorothy vas down
for half past breakfast, and was shown
into bright little morning room, Mr.:
Lambert met her, and was 60 kind and
anxious to make her happy and at home
that she very soon found herself talking
to him as if she had known him for
ance of few hours only. She was
rather an unconventional little person,
and by no means stiff or cold. She had
warm-hearted Irish manners, and
looked at the world in a trustful way,
believing people and trusting in them
firmly, unless she found that they were
not to be depended upon, instead of
proving before trusting, as colder ma
tured and perhaps wiser folk do. She
had been brought up by an old uncle,
for whom her elder sister kept house.
They had no brothers, and their parents
had both died years before. Mrs. New
ton was their mothers sister-in.law; but
her husband had quarreled W tn the
S1Il NuCAo duu qua OAons ILL A<o{ "O4!s
so it was not till after the death
of the latter that Dorothy
and her sister had been allowed to 60
to Priarton. Now, however, they hoped
to spend good deal of time there; but
this was Dorothy's first visit.
Mary Nayton, her sister, was about
twenty-seven and exceedingly placid
and sensible; but she took things SO
quietly that Dorothy was always allowed
te 20 her own way and do whatever she
liked; consequently, at twenty-three she
had learned to think and act for herself.
and as her nature was impulsive and
m-hearted, she INDUCED in q great
many theories of her own, hated con-
ventionalities, believed firmly in Platoon
ic friendships, and not unfreQuently got
into trouble in consequence.
1t very soon struck Hugh Lambert
that she was different from most of the
girls he had met, and she interested
him accordingly.
1t was with a feeling of relief that he
had found the road would be impassa-
bic for some days; so he wrote to Mrs.
Newton, begging her to let Dorothy re-
main. with him instead of returning
home, and asked an elderly cousin who
lived few stations Oh to come and act
as chaperon. EL9 - -
The old lady accepted the invitation
and tho noat al1Otfo6 tn har. hnt al aho