Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-03-19
been nearer than to come to

Chrvsalis. - 49,
The drifts on that side the summit
is wuss nor on this side. / could jiss
git through when l come up. I beat
about too long on top O. the divide,
tryin' to git through in this direction,
an the snow blew down the little hollers
an closed in behind us. An elefunt
couldn't git through thar now.'
How many passengers are in the
coach?''
There's three men an q wummen,
besides the messenger"
''Is the coach in the drift"
mo. The coach is all right, but
I'm terribly Altered the passengers ull
git tired a-waitin' fur me, an ull try
to fine their own way, an eff they do
that they'll die, sure. BY jingo! l
must be gittin' along! The agents
got to send them passengers sumthin'
to eat, an to give 'em orders to stay
whar they is now till to-morrer. l
dunno who he'll send. Icoulden fine my
way back thar to save my soul. l
know every inch O. the road, but the
roads kivSered deep. A feller'd hev
to know the mountains to fine that
coach tonight"
II will 60 with you," said I to the
man, as he was about to depart.
Basil had listened intently to all that
had been said. Now he spoke in an
undertone to his mother.
'.Mr. Nicholas said she, Basil will
put the man on the road to town. He
wants you to stay here tonight
1 Hooked at the boy inguiringly. His
anxious, beseeching expression decided
me.
PUT the driver on the right road,
Basil. / will stay"
Basil went out with the man. In a
short time he returned.
Mother he said, Il am going to
the coach"
Not to-night?''
Eyes, mother, tonight"
''Are you crazy, Basil?"
Nervously and with great gravity he
answered
No, mother. What the driver said
is true, If the passengers get out of
the coach and try to find him, or to
come to town tonight, they will get
lost, and will freeze to death. Some
body that knows the mountains must
go to them. There's no one else knows
them as well as do
Almost in a whisper he added: eff
father was in such danger, mother we'd
want somebody to go to him."
Il will 90 with you, BASIL said l.
''Oh, no, sir! l want you to stay
with mother"
Mrs. Stout had great confidence in
her sons ability to take care of himself
in the mountains, and the allusion to
her husband had touched her heart.
If you must 60, Basil, the sooner
you get off the better"
PUT two loaves of bread and stone
bottle full of hot milk into my KNAPP
sack, mother. I'll put on my over
coat and get my sno&-shoes.
All was ready. Basil cast his eyes
about the warm and brightly lighted
room, then looked at his mother. 1t
was hard to 60.
"Oh, Basil! Must you go?''
Goodnight, motherr'
and strength of affection thrown into
the words 1 will never forget. He
kissed her. chung to her a moment, as
if he could not 60. kissed her again,
and was gone.
kfollowed him into the road The
storm was at its height. The tempestu-
Gus air was filled with binding snow.
The atmosphere was intensely cold.
My boy" | said, '.yOu had better
not 90. You may lose your life
.'Mr. Nicholas. | must go. l sent |
word to the agent by the driver that l
would. There is no one else that can
Then, almost under his breath. ''There
was One laid down His life for us all. |
VIII you please see that mother has
whatever she needs, sir. until 1 get |
back?'
IpresSed him to my heart and gave
the desired assurance, clasped his hand
for an instant, and lOnged to detain
him. Impulsively he embraced me.
and instantly departed toward the
The next morning the storm had
abated. With difficulty 1 plowed my
way through the deep snow to town.
Going to the coach office, learned
from the agent that strong force of
hands had been sent to cut a road
through the drifts to the lost coach.
''Ihe coach can not arrive" he said,
'till some time this evening"
When school was dismissed 1 went
again to Mrs. Stout's.
No she answered to my inquiry,
Basil has not come back. think he
viii be on the coach
| returned to town to wait FOR its ar
'ival. 1t got to the office at nine o clock
hat night.
The passengers spoke with admira-
ion of brave boy who hailed the
coach at about two o'clock in the
morning. The messenger had got
,ut to talk with him. The storm was
It its worst. The boy told the messen-
ser he had seen the driver. and had
,een sent by him to warn the passen-
,ers to remain in the coach until
he agent should send party to rescue
hem. If they should disregard this
counsel they would almost surely per-
sh. He then gave the messenger
,ottle of milk and some bread for all
Who were storm-stayed.
The messenger urged him to seek
efuge in the coach.
as there a sick man on hoerd2, no