Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-12-23

So Margie thought too and with a
feeling of envy she could not quite
control, she contrasted the dreary
prospect before herself-the cold well
come to a strange home, and her life
of loneliness and toil-with Emmie' g
glowing description of the home love,
and luxury, and gayety awaiting her,
But in a moment she put away the
feeling and answered cheerfully the
questions Emmie asked about herself.
Her little history was soon told and
Emmie ran on again with her over
flow of happy condolences. Mean
while the party Emmie had deserted
wondered greatly over her prolonged
absence and were very curious about
the little party with blue eyes Emmie
had scared up, as Tom expressed it.
The two girls were fast becoming
friends, for neither of them were
troubled with retcence, and before
ten o'clock Emmie had found half a
dozen little kindnesses to do for Mar
gle. She had entreated her as perso-
nal favor TO eat some of the nice bis
cult and cold chicken her own pretty
travelling bag contained, had produc-
ed bottle of cologne, and assured
Margie it was better than water to
wash the car dust from your face.
Just put some on your handkerchief
and try it, and had watched with
much interest the color coming bright
ly into Margie's cheeks during this
novel ablution. Then she brought
over the lovely Afghan Margie had
admired and proudly exhibited it as
her own work. In the midst of the
animated conversation that followed
concerning all manner of fancy work,
the train stopped at a station, and
Leslie and George came in from anoth-
err car to announce in an excited way
that it was showing fast and the down
train had brought news that quite a
heavy snow-storm had set in nearer
the mountains. The news seemed TO
create some uneasiness among Emmie' s
party, and she returned to her seat to
discuss the subject, leaving Margie to
watch the snowdrops that went hurry
ing past the window and to notice
how the brown earth was gradually
disappearing under mantle Of white.
The train seemed suddenly to have
plunged into q snow cloud, which
grew more dense as they advanced,
until earth and sky were hid from
view by the driving snow and the
sound of the car wheels seemed to
grow dull and mufled.
AS station after station, was passed,
the reports of the storm ahead of them
grew more and more terrible. Men
who stood on the platforms, resemb-
ling moving snow drifts, shouted cheer
full predictions to the passengers OF
of You'll be all night on the road.
There's drift in Harris Cut as high
as your smoke stack, and you'll stick
there certai,, and other things to the
same effect. The day wore away, and
the train crept heavily on, its speed
constantly decreasing and the stops
at the stations growing longer Mar
gie's heart grew heavier than ever,
but fortunately her eyelids grew heav-
Ter, too, and she began to fall into lit
tie uneasy dozes, with her face pillow
ed on her satchel. She was so tired
that even the prospect of being snow
ed up all night in deep cut could
not keep her eyes open. She fell
asleep even while thinking with dis
may that the town where her aunt
lived was twelve miles from the rail
road station, and the mountain roads
would probably be rendered impAssa-
BILE for the carriage which was to meet
her. Emmie had said that a stage,
which ran from the station to -----
vile regularly during the summer,
had been chartered for the use Of her
pa, ~ty, although it had long ceased its
Marois wondered if they would go
off merriIv I'D safely and leave her
to her t fafe sn,a dozed off, dreamed
her aunt's carriage had overturned in
a snow drift, and she 'gas buried 10
the snow, and started up to ma hsr
satchel fallen on the floor, .hue
snow drift stealing in through the
window, and melting on her neck
and Mr.. Winston's eyes fixed on her
with grave, curious expression.
1t was 80 embarrassing and ridicu-
ous situation that Margie blushed |
crimson as she caught the gentleman's
eye, and then with sudden dignity she |
vat up, united her brown veil cher
1onnet had all this time been suspen-
lie d above her head and brushed the
no v from her hair and neck. What a
yealth Of lovely red-gold hair rolled !
own IN her shoulder as she unfasten-
d the ugly veil And what pref
Y white hands they were that |
aught it, md wound it hurriedly into
great knot at the back Of her head ,
Then she attempted to close the |
yindow more tightly, but with all
ne strength of both hands she could |
OF move it. She looked up in great
lrprise as another hand was quietly
laced upon the VIII ,dGw and the pro
oking thing slid easily into itsPlace;
lr,,Winston had como to h er ana ana
le gave him a shyly grateful look
ON her -fringed eyes ana
thank you, which ought
} have rewarded him well for his
'ouble.
Again Margie dropped into an un-