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

and Eugene's were blinking off the crys
tails that stupg and hurt them. 1t was
growing so dark now that not even The
neaeest trees on the roadside were visible
Il really don't know where | am" Eu
gene murmured, peering right and left
with anxious glauces. do you, Mis-:
Hanford?"
$50 far do. The schoolhouse is Just
a little beyond. / could walk there blind.
fold. Wen pass it in about lalf a min.
ute. The road isn't very good just here
If you could drive more slowly"
But scarcely had the words struck the
air wnen the wagon turned over. Miss
Hanford tumbled into a snow drift that
had already heaped itself on the roadside
and lay there, muffisd, almost indistin-
| guishable heap, and Mr.. Landt half fell,
half sprang beyond her, but was on his
feet instantly again. The horse also was
on his feet and going into the distance at
a fine gallop, the sound of which was soon
lost on the sweep of the angry wind.
"Ah, are you hurt? Are you hurt?"
| He had gathered Miss Hanford up in
his arms, and was holding her as easily as
| if she had been child.
"I don't know" said Marian, struggling
pro nptly TO regain her footing oD the
earth; but the instant she accom- plished
| this a sharp pain escaped her
"My foot" she said family. "Some-
thing is the matter with my foot.''
"a spra1n perhaps" Eugene said COM
passionately. Gust try to walk step or
tw0."
She did try, then caught Eugene's arm
with both her hands.
Il can't" she said quietly. "The pain
is terrible"
"Then good heavens what are We to do?
| could carry you easily-but-to keep my
feet in this wind"
"YOu can carry me to the schoolhouse,
if you will. have the key here. l am
sorry, Mr.. Landt, to give you this trou-
BILE"
"The very thing" he said promptly
Lucky it's so near. just put your arm
round my neck please. That's right.''
He took her up lightly, and began to
plod his way, with bent head, against the
storm.
you'll have to guide me, Miss Hanford,
if yeu can"
$50 on straight little way-a few steps
further. Now turn off the road-the foot
path is here. Now you are all right.
You'll feel the fence in minute"
L lSSl ~ now, 5diu LuS6n6,
himself against it; "and here's the gate.
Actually we are IN luck, as Mr.. Slower
says"
Another minutes careful plodding
brought them TO the door, which Eugene
unlocked. Within all was zimmerman
darkness, but the change to a warm, dry,
atmosphere was a delightful sensation.
Mr.. Landt CROPPED his way to seat, de-
I'D nd
her direction lit the little lamp above the
desk and kipoled cheerful wood fire in
the big drum stove. Then he removed
her snow powdered wraps and his own
overcoat, shook them vigorously and
hung them in friendly c0mpanionship
near the warmth to dry
"Now, we must see little of the poor
foot, Miss HaufOrd," he said, going down
on his knees before her. LET me re-
move your boot. Don't be afraid L won't,
hurt YOU"
Despite his light, careful touches
Marian WINGED with pain. The removal
of the stocking was accomplished with
an air of almost professional gravity, and
then Eugene, having satisfied himself
that no bones were broken, began to
bind up the sprain. For this purpose he
tore in strips his own linen handkerchief,
wetted 1T with snow and swathed the
slender ankle and instep tightly. Then
he said cheerfully:
"Now we are ahead of the swelling, any
way, and FL make you as comfortable as
| can. Let me lift you into this arm
chair. Then you can lean back-so."
He caught stool and placed it under
her feet,and stood looking down kindly
on her pale, unsmiling face.
SITS too bad, of course" ne said gently,
'but accidents will hapI IN. We must
make the best of it."
"Of course" said Marian. "Thank
you" She looked anywhere but at the
bright and reassuring face above her.
u am very, very sorry this has occurred
If only had kept the reins? [ might
have known. l did know, in fact. But
no matter. 1t can't be helped no@."
At this overflow of base and truly fem
mime ingratitude Mr.. Landt merely rails
ed his eyebrows and walked over TO a dis
tant bench, whereon he settled himself
in an attitude of repose. The little clock
between the windows licked socially, and
the pleasant purring of the fire suggest
ed coy companionship; but these two
very handsome young people, whom fate
| had paired off in this novel and uneX
| pected fashion, listened to the roaring of
| the storm gusts, the rafting of the doors
and windows, in cold and formal silence.
| Now and then word was uttered and
| answered relative to the flight of time or
| the condition of the fire, and again ST
| lence brooded.
Mr.. Landt grew restless presently. He
! stirred about the room, picking up
school book here and there. Yawning I'M
disguisedly over an old almanac he dis
| covered and altogether betrayed the ut
most WEAKNESS of soul. As for Miss Han
tord still sat motionless and very pale,
with an expression of pride and subdued
| resentment on her clear cut features that
| Eugene could not fail to see and under
stand.
"Your people will be alarmed about
| you, won't they, Miss Hanford?" he in
| CURED at length, standing with his back
to the fire and looking very bored and
very handsome. especially if the wagon
goes home empty"
81 think the horse will take the road
| to his old home at Meadowsville," she
said composedly. "He would hardly
know the way 20 uncle Rube's. My peo-
pie will simply conclude that 1 was
afraid TO drive in this storm and that
| have staid in the village"
"Wen, really 1 don't see that there is
any hope for better weather, think
ought to start along and try to get to
New Church and send some one to bring
| you home"
"Walk to New Church, she asked in
Advertisements. "You never could in such
a tempest"
81 could try"