San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-09-04

sIIaJ 10 break some one head would De re-
lief 90 me In my present state OF mind Of
course, a sensible man would at once have
got his horse between the shafts and driven
home. But, whatever ! may be now, m those
days | was not a sensible man-Band will.
i know cordially UliOTSc this nmaTl-th
accommodation Of the inn was not such ~ 10
induce one 20 lin EeT within It's precincts. hut
the fire was a Ti.- q good nu" and a drink,
which / skilltuliy manufactured out OF some
hot beer was not 10 be dpSpiS, Il. and proved
warming IN the body and soothing 10 the
ruffled temper So | fingered over the big
fire until began To feel hungry, and upon
the landlady assuring me that she could cook
TasheT, decided il would b. wiser to stay
where was until the violence OF the snow
storm was over; for coming down twas now,
and no mistake!
And il kept on coming down. About half
past three, when SOrTOwfully decided was
bound to make move, il was showing faster
than ever. / hameSSed my horse, and laugh
ing at the old wOman's dismal prophecy that
| should never get TO Mdcombe in such
weather, gathered up the rcinS, and away |
went along the white road.
thought knew the way well enough. In
fact had always prided myself upon re-
membering any road once driven over by me;
but does any one who has not tried il really
know how heavy fall of snow changes the
aspect of the country, and makes landmarks
snares and decisions? | learnt all ABOUT it
then. once and for all. | found, also. that
the snow lay much deeper than | thought
could possibly be in 20 short Il time, and it
still fell in manner almost binding. Yet |
went on bravely and merrily for some miles.
Then came a bit of uncertainty
Which of those two roads was the right
one? This one, of COuTSI'-nO, the other.
There was no house near: no one was likely
to be passing in such weather, 50 was left
to exercise my free, unbiaS d choice, a privi-
lege / would willingly have dispensed with.
However made the best selection | could,
and followed it for some two mis-. Then
began to grow doubtful and SOON perSuad-
ing myself that was on the w NJ track, IT,
traced my steps. was by this time some
thing like huge white paStrr-Ot-pariS Jig
ure, and the snow which had accumulated on
the old dOg-caTt made it run heavier by half
atom, more or less. BY the time ! came to
that unlucky junction of roads at which my
misfOrtunes began, ii was almost dark; the
sky as black as tarpaulin, yet sending down
the white feathcry flakes thicker and faster
than ever. felt inclined TO curse my folly in
attempting such drive, at any rate | blamed
myself for not having started two or three
hours earlier. I'll warrant that Steady-gOing
old Brand never had to accuse himself Of such
fOOliShneSS as mine.
Well, took the other road; went on some
way; came to a turning which | seemed to
remember; and, not without misgivings, fol-
lowed it. My miSgvingS increased when,
after little while, found the road grew full
of ruts, which the snow and the darkness
quite concealed from me until the wheels got
into them. Evidently | was wrong again. |
was just thinking of making the best of my
way out of this rough and unfrequented road,
when-thcre, | don't know how it happened,
such things seldom occur to me-a stumble,
fall on the part OF my tired horse sent me fly
ing over the dashboard, with the only cOnsOl-
ing thought that the TeinS were still in my
hand.
Luckily the snow had made the falling
pretty soft. | soon picked myself up and set
about estimating damages. With some diff
Guilty | got the horse out of the harness and
then felt free to inspect the dOg-Cart. Alas!
after the manner of the tw0-wheel kind
whenever horse thinks fit to fall one shaft
had snapped off like carrot; so here was ],
five miles apparently from any where, in the
thick of a binding SnOwstOrm, left standing
helpless beside a faded horse and broken
CART should like to know what Brand
would have done under the circumstances.
As for me, i reflected for some minutes
reflection in a snOwstOrm is weary work. |
reasoned, i believe logically, and at last came
to this decision: | would follow the road. If,
as | suspected, it was but q cart track it
would probably soon lead to habtatiOn of
some kind. Anyway, | had better try bit
further. / took hold of the wearird horse
and with snow under my feet, SnOw-ilakeS
whirling round me, and a wind blowing right
into my teeth, struggled on.
L
been three-quarters of an hour going about
a quarter of mile. l was just beginning to
despair. when l saw welcome CLEAN of
light. ] stecrcd toward it, fomdly hoping that
my troubles were at an end. ! found the
light stole through the limiting window
shutters of what seemed, SO far as | could
make out in the darkness, TO be q small farm
house. Tying to a gat" the knUttcd TrimS ny
which had beer leading the uGISr. STAG
gerCd up to the door and knD"kpd loudly.
Upon my honor, until ! lCant against that
dOOr-pOSt had no idea how tired | waS-uIl-
til that moment | never suspected that the
finding of speedy shelter meant absolutely
saving my life. Covered from head to foot
with snow, my hat crushed in, must hare
been a pitiabe object.
No answer came to my first summons 1t
was only after a second and more imperative
application of my heel that the do, + degned
to give way a few inches. Through the
aperture wOman's voice asked who was
there?
Let me in" said. 81 have missed my
way to NfidcOmbe. My horse has fallen. You
must give me shelter for the night. Open the
door and let me in"
"Shelter You can't get shelter here, mis-
ter" said a mans gruif voice. This amt
an Inn, so you'd best be OFF and 90 else
where"
But i must come in" said, astounded at
such inhoSpita!ity, II can't 30 a step further.
Open the door at Oncer'
You be hanged" said the man. my
house, not yours"
But you fool, mean TO pay you well for
your trouble. Don't you know it means
death wandering about on such night as
this? Let me in!'
You won't come in here" was the brutal
and bOorish reply. The door closed.
That was enraged at such incivilty may
be easily imagined; but if | said was thor
Oughly frightened believe no one would be
surprised. As getting into that house meant
simply life or death to me, into that house |
determined to get, by door or window, by
fair means or by foul. So, as the door closed,
l hurled myself against it with all the might
! could muster. Although ride much heav-
Ter now than did then, all my weight at that
time was bone and muscle. The violence of
my attack tore from the Intel the staple
which held the chain; the door went back
with bang, and fell forward into the house.
fully resolved to stay there whether welcome
or unwelcOme.