The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-05-24

were blinking off the crystals chat
stung and hurt them. 1t was growing
SO dark now that not even the near.
est trees on the roadside were visible.
II really don't know where am"
Eugene murmured, peering right and
lett with anxious glances. DO you,
Miss Hanford?"
$50 far do. The schoolhouse is
just a little beyond. l could walk
there blindfold. Wen pass it in about
half a minute. The road isn't very
good just here. If you could drive
But scarcely had the words struck
the air when the wagon turned over.
Miss Hanford tumbled into g. snow.
drift that had already heaped itself
on the roadside, and lay there a NUT.
fled, almost indistineuishable heap.
and Mr.. Landt half fell, half sprane
hey ond her, but was on his feet in.
stantly again. The horse was also on
his feet and going into the distance at
Il 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 MissHanford up in
his arms. andwas holding her rs easily
as it she had been a child. II don't
know" said Marian, struggling
promptly to regain her footing on the
earth; but the instant she accomplish.
ed this a sharp cry OF pain escaped
her,
my foot" she said. family.
"Something is the matter with my
foot"
"A sprain perhaps" Eugene said,
compassionately. "Just try to walk
a step or two"
She did try, then caught at Eugene'e
arm with both her hands.
81 can't" che said quietly. 1.-THE
pain is terrible"
"Then. good heavens, what are we
to do? l could carry you easily-but
to keep my feet in this wind"
"You can carry me to the school
house, il you will. l have the kew
here. l am sorry, Mr.. Landt, to give
you this trouble"
1.-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 will have to guide me, MISS
Hanford, if you can."
"Go on straight little way-a few
steps further. Now. turn off the road
the footpath is here. Now you are
all right. You'll feel the fence in q
minute"
II feel it now" said Eugene, bump
ing himself against it; land here's the
gate. Actually we are in luck as
Mr.. Slower says"
Another minutes careful ploddine
brought them to the door, which Eu.
gene unlocked. Within was zimmerman
darkness, but the change to a warm,
dry atmosphere was a delightful SEN
satlon. Mr.. Landt CROPPED his way to
a seat, deposited Miss Hanford there.
on, and under her direction lit the
little lamp above the desk and
kindled 4 cheerful wood fire in
the big drum stove. Then he removed
her snow powdered wraps and his
own overcoat, shook them vigor ously
and hung them in friendly companion.
ship near the warmth to dry.
"Now, we must see little to the
poor foot, Miss Hanford," he said, co.
ing down on his knees before her.
LET me remove your boot. Don't
be afraid; won't hurt YOU"
But despite his light, careful touches
Marian WINGED with pain. The re-
mOVal OF the stocking was accomplish
ed with an air OF almost professional
gravity, and then Eugene, having sat.
listed himself that no bones were
broken, began to bind up the sprain.
For this purpose he tore in strips his
own linen handkerchief. wetted it
with snow and swathed the slender
ANGLE and lnstep tightly. Then he
said cheerfully:
''Now we are ahead OF the swelling,
any way, and I'll make you as COM
Portable as can. Let me lift You into
this armchair: Then you can lean
back-so." He caught a stool and
placed it under her feet, and stood
looking kindly on her pale, unsmiling
face.
"It's too bad, OF course" he said
gently, "but accidents will happen.
We must make the best of it,"
"Of course" said Marian. "Thank
YOU" She looked anywhere but at
the bright and reassuriny face above
her. II am very,very sorry this has
occurred. lfonly Ihad kept he reins?
might have known. l did know, in
fact. But-no matter. 1t can't be
helped now."
At this overflow OF base and truly
feminine ingratitude Mr.. Landt merely
raised his eyebrows and walked over
to a distant bench, whereon he settled
himself in an attitude of repose. The
little clock between the wind ows
licked socially, and the pleasant
pnrring of the fire suggested cosy COM
partnership; but these two very hand.
some 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 a word
was uttered and answered relative to
the flight of time or the condition of
the fire. and again silence brooded.
Mr.. Landt grew restless presently.
He stirred about the room, picking
up school book here and there.
Yawnine undisguisedly over an old
almanac he discovered and altogether
betrayed the utmost WEAKNESS of soul.
AS for Miss Hanford, she still sat
quite motionless and very pale, with
an expression OF pride and subdued re.
sentiment on her clear.cu features
that Eugene could not fail to see and
understand.
"Your people will be alarmed about
you, won't they, Miss Hanford?" he
inquired at length, standing with his
back to the fire and looking very
bored and very handsome; "especial-
ly if the wagon goes home empty"
II think the horse will take the
L. L. ~