Richland beacon., 1888-06-30

ing toward whom MISS HanfOru lett
strong aversion. The taint was i'll 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
Hanford, and left his only and mother
less child to q hard fight with fortune.
Marian had always believed that sorrow
and disappointment had caused her
fathers sudden death. She could not
look ut the Landt mansion, nor ut any
thing that bore the hated name, without
exceeding bitterness of spirit. She had
home in her uncle's house, and taught
the district school. Every one was sorry
for Hanford's pretty daughter. Mr..
Hanford's pretty daughter did not Seem
to be sorry for herself. She kept her
head up and faced the world bravelv.
When Eugene Landt returned from his
five years sojourn abroad he came to her
npologetically one day on some trifling
business connected with the school, and
held out to her the hand of fellowship.
She comported herself with such pril.
and cold dignity that his first visit was
his last. Nor did he venture to bos to
her on the street again. He had Known
her since childhood, had been he:' play
mate and classmate, but he tauEnt him
self now to pass her 10y like a ttranger.
AT the first glimpse of her ,rnemy. as
we have said, Marian becarie deeply oc-
cupied in the readiustmens of her car
riage robe, keeping hers face carefully
averted from the tall figure that was
striding MP and down sshe 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 noon express. 1t was
showing fast aud furiously; the flakes
were whirling quicker and quicker in
wild gusts o. wind from the northeast
An hour ago even no one could have
foreseen such q storm, but here it was
in all its splendid strength and fury,
blotting out the far landscape, and max
ing e-en the near distance wavering and
indistinct. There was no other vehicle
at the station besides Marian's little
open carriage, and no other human
being to be seen but the deliberate Jake
and the one other individual whom
Marian declined to see.
"Thank you, Mr.. Stover, very, very
much" The soft, light voice was sweet
Us silver bell.
'It it all right now? Everything in'
Do you Think" doubtingly, "that it
would be of any use to raise my umbrel-
lal" She can scarcely see Jake's face
through the hurrying flakes,
"NO ma'am, not one bit," was the
Il
quick-that's all. This storm amt go'in
to be no lighter fore mornin. It'll be
heavier blamed sight nor you think
for. Gene Landt," leaning forward
confidentially. he's in fix. His folks
don't know he were comm. No one
amt here to meet him. He dunno what
to do
"Oh," said Marian coldiy. 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-
ton 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 gay
ly:
"Friend, ncighbor, Christian, may I
beg you to give me lift as far as you
are going-that is, if it be anywhere in
the direction of New Church? 1 am I'M
fortunate. Ah," he said, in genuine
surprise, sit is Miss Haniord, 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 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 con-
strained to make room for him and to
feel in thd midst of her anger and de-
spair that she was sheltered by his arm
from the worst violence of the storm,
and must be more or less cOmfOrted, de-
spite her detestation, by his near pres
ence through the long and dreary ride
that lay before them.
"Go on, now! you amt got n second
to lose," said Jake, encOuraginly. '"This
is going to be blizzard, this is. Night,
Miss Hanford; I'm good and glad Mist
Greene's along C. ye.'
But the friendly remarks of Mr. Stov-
er were blown rudely from his lips and
did not reach the ears for which they
were intended, and in another moment
Marian and Eugene were speeding away
through the gathering twilight, meeting
the tempest side by side.
OF course Mr.. Landt at once offered
to take the reins, but was met with n
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
lust 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, swift and excited by the storm
as we'll. He pitied her presently and
pleaded again.
"Mr. Landt," she said, severely, 81
must d i've. The horse is new one.
He does not know the way, and L should
not feel safe unless my hand was on the
rein."
"He doesn't know the way" repeated
Eugene, in an odd tone. ''Thats bad,
Miss Hanford. am very much afraid
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 black
particles, and they were breathing snow
flakes instead of air.
When they had gone peSShaps mile
in silence, Marian drew in one little stiff
hand under the robe an instant; then,
still smiling covertly, Mr.. Landt quietly