The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-04-05

o'clock as the time for the ceremony,
so made calculation on being at the par
sonago at that hour.
Before we were two miles on our way
the snow began to fall in great feathery
flakes.
/ love a snow storm and was delight.
ed to be out in one. Seeing father and
mother grave and troubled. I laughed
and jested, and indeed was in an unu-
sually merry mood for one just leaving
home and friends to 60 among strangers
with only husbands love to depend
upon.
For some time tho snow fell slowly
and heavily then the wind rose and the
cold began to increase.
Joe suggested a return and limited at
possible danger. Father he esitated but
Frank thought there was no more dan
ger in an advance than retreat, so on we
went. Hcavcnsl what an experience
that was which followed.
The wind howled like host of de-
mons bent on destruction. The snow
became infnitesimally fine and, driven
by the blast, stung ones flesh when ex.
posed like needle points. We could not
see to the horses heads, and as the
one track was long since covered up, we
no longer knew which way we were
going, and could only trust to the
horses.
Mother became alarmed and cried
quietly behind her vail. All my high
spirits vanished, and instead of the
happy future l had been anticipating I
now saw nothing but cruel death be-
fore us, with the snow for shroud and
pail.
At 2 o'clock by Franks watch we
were nearly frozen, aud the weary horses
could scarcely move along.
Suddenly Joe put out his hand and
clutched at some object close to the
side of his sleigh.
"Hurrah!" his CHEEKY voice rang out,
whoa"
The tired horses stopped instantly,
only too glad of the chance. Joe sprang
out into the yielding snow. In mo-
ment he shouted again:
"Hello! Here's another sleigh.
Father Frank Pile out here with
your shovels"
They did as he ordered, and mother
and reused to see what it all meant.
But we could SEQ nothing, and only
family hear their voices above the rush
ing wind.
We soon found out, however, for
father and Frank soon returned and
lifted mother and me out of the sleigh,
and carried us-where2 Into fathers
cyclone cave.
| We stared about in stupid amazement,
for Joe had brought lantern along, and
he had lighted and hung it up. A mo-
ment later we wcrc joined by the minis
ter from Bunker, who, finding it pos
sible to get away, had started.
The men blanketed the poor horses,
huddled them together close to the
mouth Of the cave, turned tho sleigh
box up beside them as partial shelter,
then bringing my trunk, lunch basket
and the robes, Joined us.
The temperature of tho cave was COM
Portable compared with the outer air,
and VIC were truly thankful for the
change. Vigorous and continued ex-
ertion soon restored our benumbed
limbs to their normal condition, and we
settled down to quiet discussion Of
the situation and tho probabilities in
our favor.
After timo the talk languished, and
Frank made in whisper the queerest
proposition. gave decided negative,
but at last yielded to his entrcaty, and
almost before the rest knew what was
going on we stood before the minister
with clasped hands, and he was speak.
ing the solemn word that bound us for
better or worse for life.
1t was strange bridal. In that low,
dark cave, lighted only by the smoky
lantern, the terrible blizzard bowling
overhead, and death lurking near in the
fearful cold, which steadily increased,
mother cried softly, and fathers voice
trembled as he gave mo his blessing.
Franks face was very white as he
claspcd me in hi, arms and called me
vile. My own feelings were a mixture
of terror and happiness, such as I hope
never to experience again.
We remained in our safe but gloomy
refuge forty-eight hours. Then we were
dug out by my brothers and party
from Bunker, who were in search of tht
minister aad had found us by thu
mounds caused by the snow drifting
over the poor horses. Two were dead
and the other had to bo killed, he wa
SO badly frozen.
Huddled together under the ground,
with fifteen feet of snow over us, WI
had not suffered badly; and the luncl
basket filled by m other for Frank and
me on our journey had sufficcd to keel
us from actually suffering from hunger