San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-07
A Winter uiglt;;
Found in a SnOw-Driit.
CHAPTER I.


Christmas eve, and the chill air full of
snow flakes, that fall softly, clothing all
things in silent, slroud-like way. The
NewpOrt-rOad, in Roath, a suburb of Cardiff,
was a sheer sheet of untrOdden snow, for it
fell fast; and the time was two o'clock in
the morning. The rough stone fronts Of the
pretty villas were frosted like fairy castles,
the trees reared their bare branches newly
begemmed by King Frost
A deadly chill was in the air. deadly 81
lence on the earth; and walking along,
weary, alone, was the tall slim figure of a
young girl wrapped in a long fur-Ined
cloak, the hood of which was drawn over her
head.
Her fair childish face was white and set
with look of determination mingled with
despair. Hers was desperate venture, and
she knew not where it would lead She
seemed possessed by one idea, and that to
get over as much ground as possible before
day dawned.
Her little bare hands, blue with the cold,
gathered her furs close about her; the snow
almost blinded her. Her knees knocked to-
gether; she was half persisted with cold and
fatigue.
pretty pleasant hOme-places to where the
road was edged on either side by snOw-laden
hedges, and the everlasting hills showed
family afar off, crowned with the purity of
the unsullied snow; the meadows stretched
away on either side smooth sheets Of white.
Nothing stirred in this still night-scasOn;
all was silent and cold as the grave.
Still, with undaunted spirit, the girl press
ed on, fire of indignant resentment burn
Ing in her poor heart, her head hot with the
wild excitement that had taken her out from
warmth, ease, and luXuriant living to pass
the night tramping the snow to whatever
destiny awaited her, since she had taken
fate in her own hands, and flown from what
she felt to be worse than a thousand deaths.
Truly, she was mad from life's history"
ali, and nearer than she knew to deaths
mystery" How cold it was, how hard to
breathe the heavy air! The girls chill lips
parted once to give vent to an exceeding
bitter cry:
"Oh, mother! you are near to God; pray
that He may give your child peace-merc-
full peacep
Then the pretty dimpled chin dropped on
her chest, and she staggered on. After
time she reeled unsteadily, and her head
felt daZed. She stood still moment, with
her hand TO her heart, then fell back in a
dead faint on asnOw-drift.
The wind walled above her, the bare
branches of bonnie oak dropping with
crystal-clear icicles hung above her like the
crown of cruel King Frost
"COnfound the snOwn said hOrseman
at the Cardiff end of the NewpOrt-rOad, as
his horse slipped dangerously.
A fine Newfoundland stopped as he was
urging on his mad career 10 come back with
bark of sympathy.
go ahead, Drift, good dogl We sha'n't
be home by daybreak. On, Blanche, bon
ME One"-this to his beautiful mare, with a
white star on her forehead.
The rider was noble-looking fellow of
about three-and-thirty, buttoned up to the
chin In fur-lined ulster, with yachting
cap of blue cloth on his head. He had a
clear-cut face, tanned by the sun, black hair
close-crOpped, a heavy mOustache, and clear
steel-blue eyes.
He was covered with snow, had tarried
too long at club at Cardiff, and was max
ing great speed for home, with a big doll
under one arm and bottle of cherry-brandy
under the other, given to him as a Christ
mas-box by buxOm ndady, who adOred
his clear boyish blue eyes, and felt for him
as mother, or one who would wish to be
mother under fit and proper auspices.
Blanche put her best foot forward; the
dog Drift ran on ahead; the hOrseman
whistled, He had ten thousand year.
Tiddy-folfol;" the snow fell faster; not a
window in all the genteel villas afforded q
light
Pierce Penfold lighted black pipe, wish
ed he had another glass of whisky hot SET
tied his square chin in his collar, and gave
his good black mare a flick with his whip,
with orders TO move on quick-sharp."
The road was heavy and long, and the sky
above was dark and dTeary. Pierce forgot
his newly-acquired funny stories and sharp
jokes, feeling desOlate and dull. A big
snowflake settled in his pipe, spluttered,
Kissed, and dampei its flame. Then came
a hasty whisper:
''0h, hang the snowl What COMPOUNDED
long road this isl On, Blanche, my beauty,
or we shall be frozen 10 deathp
But the mare stood still they had passed
the last public, and were on the dreary high
road with nothing but snow about them.
Drift barked Justify, and flew from the
sn0w-drift back to his master, and seemed
TO entreat him TO pause.
Pierce refined in his horse, and looked
where his faithful dog stood beside blot
on the whiteness of the snOw-bank, then ex-
claimed hoarscly:
"Merciful God, II is wOmanP
Hastily dismounting he bent over the
PROSTATE form. The whiteness OF the earth
qaamQd IN diffuoa a LIGHT about hpr