The Portland daily press., 1883-12-25

new direction, though he was afraid he was
golbg over the same ground more than once,
ioI All the world was to him one wild Wbirl OF
driving snow. Suddenly he stumbled, almost
1aillng. There was something there which had
caused drift. With throhbing heart he tore
at the snow and soon uncovered the corner of a
red shawl.
The wind came over the prairie with a
tiercer sting; the spirit of the blizzard seemed
to De driving him back from the attempt to
rescue its victim. Hugh worked now with
fresh will. In few moments he had pushed
the snow off the girls face. Yes, it was An
ME, and there was faint color yet in her
che aks: she was not dead, only sunk in that
sleep that precedes death by cold. Then what
81 put Hugh raised:
come! Come! Come! Here she isl I've
found her!' There was joyful tone in his
voice that sent the glad message to the others
more than the words, which they could not
hear.
He had drawn her up into his arms, nesting
her head on his breast, chatting her little bare
hands with his mitten covered fingers.
Whether it was this or the shout that reused
her, after moment Annie drew long
breath, and opened her blue eyes, and there
were the brown ones that she had thought
SO handsome on Sunday, looking straight into
hers. 1t must now be confessed that the situa-
ton was unusual. Here she was, awakened
out of sound sleep, to find herself in young
mans arms. Physicians tell us that our mer-
tai state has much to do with our physical con-
dltion, and / leave it to any young lady to say
whether she does not think that under such
circumstances she would be wide awake very
soon. Then, too the drifted snow had helped
somewhat to keep Annie warm, so that she
was not badly frozen in any way. Certain it is
that when the other men came running up
they found her sufficiently conscious to blush,
and to smile reassuringly as they crowded
about her. She was somewhat stiff of course,
and had to be carried to the house, where
some of Mrs. Jackson's blackberry cordial was
just the thing for her.
And SO she was safe iD her mothers arms;
and her mother cried as she held her, cried for
Joy; why shouldn't she, poor woman! there
was no need of keeping up any longer
Mrs Newton didn't have TO fire the gun.
The men anticipated that duty for her, run
ming up stairs where first one and then anoth-
or shot into the air, while the boys danced
with delight.
Bang! Bangl Bang! and then again Bang!
Why they couldn't help knowing that Annie
was safe.
the next day was Christmas, of course, and
Mrs. Newton insisted that all the Jacksons
must dine with them. The clouds were all
gone, the sun was shining with that brilliant
intensity that only the great interior plain of
our continent can show the snow, too, was all
gone, or going, for snow never lies in Nebras-
ka or vanishes in few hours of that cloud
less sunlight.
So, everybody came to the dinner, and IA
nous feast it was. They had no evergreens,
for there are no evergreens in Nebraska; but
Mrs. jackson brought a bunch of flowers from
plants that fourished in her parlor, and the
meat pie was at one end of the board, and two
turkeys at the other, and three toothsome
prairie chickens, and rabbits and pumpkin pies
that could not be beaten in New England.
Annie sat between Hugh and little frankie,
who seemed to think that he must hold fast to
her all the time, else she might be lost again.
She showed no traces of her recent exposure
SO rosy were her cheeks and so bright her eyes,
She could not look at Hugh without blushing
and as he could scarcely keep his eyes from
her, you may be sure she blushed a great DEAL
After dinner, when the old men were gossip
ing t0gether-for men do gossip-and the older
women were busy about the house, it so hap
pened that Annie and Hugh were seated in
a Widowed recess, where they were partly
concealed by the curtains The sun had set
with cloUdless beauty, and all the sky was tint
cd from yellow to crimson Within the cheer
full glow of the great stove made the room
warm and bright. Annie thought of the con-
trast with the miseries of yesterday.
81 have not thanked you yet,' she said look
ing timidly at her companion. sHow can I
tell YOU how grateful I am to you for saving
me?"
'No need of telling me- Hugh said gently.
II woald rather you would prove your graft
tude by actions"
sHowY''-Annie asked with look of sur
prise, but meeting Hughs eyes she dropped
her own
''By giving yourself to me for life," he said
boldly. He took her hand and she did not re-
sisU.
az want you for my wife, he whispered;
"and another thing, Annie darling, I might
my arms, but did not; may L now?"
What do YOU think she said?