Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-21
HIS ENEMY.
MADELINE S. BRIDGES.


The train had come and gone, and
brought only one passenger. Marian
turned her face quickly away as she
caught sight of the 1.-the, manly figure,
aud began to busy herself with the car
riage robes.
Eugene Landt, for Eugene Landt it
was, happened to be the one human be.
ing toward whom Miss Hanford felt a
strong aversion. The faint was in her
blood, no doubt, for her father and his
had been sworn enemies and contestants
at law, and to the final triumph of John
Landt was due the change from wealth
to poverty that had fallen on Hugh Han
ford, and left his only and motherless
child to hard fight with fortune. Marian
had always believed that sorrow and dis
appointment had caused her fathers
sudden death. She could not look at the
Landt mansion, nor at anything that bore
the hated name, without exceeding bitter
ness of spirit. She had a home in her
uncle's house, and taught the district
school. Every one was sorry for Han
ford'5 daughter. Mr.. Hanford's pretty
daughter did not seem to be sorry for
herself. She kept her head up and
faced the world bravely. When Eugene
LaDdt returned from his five years So
jouru abroad he came TO her APOLOGIZE
cally one day on some trItling business
connected with the school and held out to
her the hand of fellowship. She com
forted herself with such pride and cold
dignity that his first visit was the last.
Nor did he venture to bow to her on the
street again. He had known her since
childhood, had been her playmate, her
classmate, but he taught himself now TO
pass her by like stranger.
At the first glimpse of her enemy, as
we have said, Marian became deeply oc-
cupied in the read justment of her car
riage robe, keeping her face carefully
averted from the tall figure that was
striding up and down the platform. She
was waiting for Jake, the station hand, to
pack the wagon floor behind her with
some bags that had come for her uncle,
Reub, by the loon express. It was snow
ing fast and furiously; the flakes were
whIrling quicker and quicker in wild
gusts of wind from the northeast. An
hour ago even 10 one could have fore
seen such a storm, but here it was in all
it's splendid strength and fury blotting
out the fair landscape, and making even
the near distance wavering and indistincs.
There was no other vehicle at the station
no other human being to be seen but the
deliberate Jake and the one other indi-
vidual whom Marian declined 10 see.
'Thank you, Mr., Slower, very, very
much" The sort liz bit voice was sweet as
a silver bell.
as it all right now? Everything in?
Do you think" doubtingly, shat it would
be of any use TO raise my umbrella?" She
can scarcely see Jake's face through the
Aurrying flakes.
mo ma'am, not one bit,'' was the
prompt reply. "You best just git along
quick-that's all. This storm amt goin'
to be no lighter fore mornin'. TIN be
heavier blamed sight nor you think for.
Gene Landt," leaning forward confiaen-
italy, "he's in a fix. His folks don't
know he were comm. No one amt here
to meet him. He dunno what to do"
"An," said Marian, coldly. She gave
her robe an extra tuck and shook her
veil out once more before tying it across
her face; and then it appeared that Mr..
Slower had been misled on the informa
tion he had just vouchsafed. Mr.. Landt
knew exactly what to do. He came
across the platform with his quick,
light step, touched his fur cap and said
geyly:
"Friend, neighbor, Christian, may beg
you to give me lift as far as you are
going-that is, if it be anywhere in the
direction of New Church? / am unfor-
tunate. Ah," he said, in genuine sur
prise, sit is Miss Hanford," and then he
paused.
"Um, why she go all the way to New
Church." said Jake, obligingly. "She go
past your door, Mist Gene. You air In
luck"
eyes," said Marian, in q clear voice that
had more chill in it than the biting wind
itself. Certainly pass your door, Mr..
Landt."
And then, poor girl, she was constrain-
I'd TO make room for him and to feel in
he midst of her anger and despair that
she was sheltered by his strong figure
from the worst violence of the storm, and
must be more of less comforted despite
her detestation by his near presence
through the long and dreary ride that lay
before them.
"Go on now! you amt got second to
lose," said Jake, encouragingly. "This
is going ID be blizzard, this is. Night,
Miss Hanford; I'm good and glad Mist
Genes along o. ye."
But the friendly remarks of Mr. Slower
were blown rudely from his lips and did
not reach the ears for which they were
INTENDED, and IN moment Marian and
Eugene were speeding away through the
gathering twilight, meeting the tempest
side by side.
Of course Mr.. Lendt had once offered
to take the reins, but was met with a very
prompt and polite refusal, and sat back.
feeling decidedly snubbed; but he was
amused, and smiled TO himself a good
deal, with an expression it was Just as
we'll Marian did not see. He knew by her
upright attitude and the tension of her
grasp that it demanded all her strength
TO hold the horse, which was fresh and
swift and excited by the storm as well
He pitied her presently and plesded
again.
Mr.. Landt," she said severely, 81 must
dive. The horse is new one. He doe;
not know the way, and | should not fee
safe unless my own hand was on the
rein"
He doesn't know the way" repeated
Eugene, In an odd tone. "Ghat's bad
Miss Hanford. 1 am very much afrai6
none OF US will know it, if the snow con
tInues at this rate" For, indeed, they
scarcely could see the horses back; the
space before them seemed full of blacE
particles, and they were breathing snow
flakes instead of air.
When they had gone perhaps mile il
silence, Marian drew in one little stiff