Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-29

set apart for the dey, aud then we scat
tered, some to sleigh, some for snovg.
shoe tramp, while the more ardent hunt.
ers took their guns, but all TO meet a,
agreed to at a late dinner, and TO wind mr.
the cay with Il dance, On, what a day "a
oreaK In sunshine and end In clouds and
sorrow accompanied Nota, with sew.
eral OF her friends, our object being To
WISH very beautiful waterfall, which.
now frozen, was reported to be we'll worth
Vlslt. it lay in rocky valley on tho
edge OF the forest, about two miles dis.
tant. In what glee we set ont, and with
what laughter we greeted the Sins and
doWntalls OF those who were noyices
In the art Of snowshoeipr. In
ABOUT an hours time we arrived at the
iall, and the remembrance of its beantv
sun fingers In my memory through ali.
| surrounded by high cliff, whose rugged
sides were covered with pines, 1t Inv pnre
and gllsientng in the sunlight, like a gem
"a silver setting. We DELAYED rather
longer than we had intended and the
snort gay was drawing to close as we
started Tor home. The wind had also
r,sehi ana lew snowhakes began 10 fall.
we mao gone but little way when Nota
suddenly stopped and declared she had
left her fur muller lying on rock beside
the waterfall. at once proposed re1
turning for 1t, but this she would nor
near OF, declaring she was the best snow
shoer amongst us all aud could beat M
all IN speed. Starting back laughing and
waving TO us she rounded belt OF trees
ana was lost to our view. We stood
waiting couple of minutes and then
SOME OIL the party went on while waited
Ior Nota. The wind was rising and the
snow beginning to fail more rapldlv
started after her. For about ten minntes
| walked on but did not meet her
ms struck me as strange for Il had
not taken more than that time
10 reach the place where she had parted
from us 1 shouted but there was no re-
ply save the sobbing Of the pues. sud
uenly 1t struck me had missed tho WAY
ana tnrned to rctrace my path. INT
MneIe was TO return TO? The trees were
an around me, the wind and snow had
covered the tracks OF my snowshoes-I ]
was iost, Nota knew would reach the
o ot. Sne knew me country well having
oiteu been here, but would be- nneasS
about me, who had never been here hc,
lore started forward determined 10
Try and make for home. For two hours
pushed on 1t had become quite dark. Inc
"lhd had risen TO a perfect gale and The
snow whirled about and blinded me.
began to despair OF ever reaching homo
or any place OF shelter. Nothing 10 he seem
put the dark forms of trees. and snnw
Whlrllng and flying around me, sal
down utterly exhausted, for in the dark.
ness had broken my snowshoes against
ranches and trees lying on the ground.
ana every step took sank TO NV knees
mad been sitting about five minutes
whep, 10 a slight hull CT the storm ,
thought l saw light. watched eagerly ,
ana ~ few minutes / was assured ~
me fact. The light seemed abont
ME away, but the hope OF rescne
ave me renewed strength and energv In
'oout an hour managed tolstagger IN 10
mouse which, w1en [ got near. / saw
vas brilliantly lighted up. IL was home =
'ul 90, wat home. Nota had NOT re-
nrred. They had been searchIur Tor ms Z
ul1klng we were together, and now hers !
vas and alone, Oh. the horror Of that I
moment when discovered that she was 5
'ot there-her father, his look OF an,,uish y
: we gazed speeches. at one another
na then turning, we both, without a g
'ora, started. together in search Of her.