The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-07

ny IEc' Dut tOcS any one VINO mas mol
tried it really know how a heavy fall o.
snow changes the aspect of the country
and makes landmarks snares and delu-
sions? ! learnt all about it then, once
and for ali. found, also, the snow Law
much deeper than thought could posi-
bly, be in so short time, and it still fell
in manner almost binding Yet /
went on brayely and merrily for some
miles. Then came bit of uncertain
ty-
Which Of those two roads was the
right one? This one, Of course-no.
tie other. There was 10 house near:
no one was likely to be passing in such
weather, so / was left TO exercise nv
free, unbiased chOice-a privilege |
would willingly have dispensed with.
However, l made the best selection |
could, and followed it for some two
miles. Then / began to grow doubtful.
and soon perSUading myself that / was
on the wrong track, retraced my steps
! was by this time something like =
huge whit plaster of-Paris figure, and
the snow which had az SIMULATED on the
old dog-cart made it eavier by half n
ton, more or less b the time | came
TO that unlucky junCture of roads at
which my m;sfOrtunes began, it was al
most dar.l; the sky as black as tar
paulin, yet sending down the white
feathery fakes 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 turning which
seemed 10 remember. and, rot without
misgiVings, followed it. Nv misgiv-
irgS increased when, after a 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 think 10 OF
making the best of my way out of this
flugh and unfre Juented road, when
there. don't know how 1t happened,
such things seldom occur to me-a
stumble, a fall on The part Of my tired
horse sent me flying over the dash
board. with the only consoling thought
that the reinS were still in my hand.
Luckily, the snow had made the fall
ing pretty soft. l soon picked myself
up and set about estimating damages.
With some difficulty | got the horse out
OF the harness and then felt free TO
inspect the dOT-cart. Alas, after the
manaGT of the twO-w heeled kind when
ever c horse thinks fit to fall, one shaft
had snapped off like carrot: SO here
VIZ, |, five mites apparently from any
Where, in the thick of binding snow
storm, left standing helpless beside n
should like TO know what Brand would
lave done under the circumstances.
As for me, reflected for some min
uteS - reflection in snow-stnrm is
weary work. reasoned, l believe,
logically. and 1T last came to this de
cision: l would follow the road. If, as
| suspected, it was but a cart track. it
would probably soon lead to habita-
ton of some kind. Anyway, | had
better try a bit farther. [ took hold
OF the wearicd horse. and, with snow
under my feet, snOw-fiakes whirlinC
round me. and wind blowing right
into my teeth, struggled on.
1t was a journey! | think / must
have been three-GuarterS of an hour
going about a quarter of a mile. l was
Just beginning TO despair. when l saw
welcome CLEAN of light. | steered
toward it, fondly hoping that my
troubles were at an end. | found the
light stole through the ill-f,ting Win
dOw-shutters of what seemed, so far rs
/ could make out in the darkness, to be
a small farmhouse. Tying TO n gate
the knOttcd reinS by which | had been
leading the horse. staggered up to the
door and knocked loudly. Upon my
honor, until leant against that door
post had no idea how tired l was
until that moment | never suspected |
that the finding of speedy shelter |
meant absolutely .aving nv life. Cow |
cred from head to foot with snow, my
hat crushed in, l must have been a |
pitiable object.
No answer came to my summons. 1t !
was only after a second and more i'm |
perative application OF my heel that |
the door deigned to give way a few |
inches. Through the aperture 4
woman's voice asked who was there.
Let me in l said. Il have missed |
my way to AIidcombe. My horse has
fallen. You must give me shelter for |
the night Open the door, and let me
in
shelter! You can't Get sheltered |
here, Mister" said a mans gruff voice. |
This amt an inn. so you'd best be off,
and 60 elsewhere.
But l must come in" / said. as
founded at such inhospitality; 1 can't
go step farther. Open the door at
oncer'
You be cursed" said the man.
lis my house, not yours
But YOU fool, l 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,''
lou won't come in here" was the
brutal and boorish reply. The door
closed.
That l was enraged at such incivilitv
may be easily imagined; but if l said 1
was thoroughly frightened, believe no
one would be surprised. As getting
into that house meant simply life or
death to me, into that house l deter
mined to get. by door or window, by
fair means or by foul So, as the door
closed, hurled myself against it with
all the might could muster. Although
j ride much heavier now than l 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 l fell forward
into the house, fully resolved to STAY
there whether welcome or unwelcome.