San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-22
NOT alOne2''

W cOulI HE lOF nOlHlliS. AN L, lnueeu,
nothingr'
Nothing! Clara suddenly remembered
that he had been everything and done
everything ever since they started. He
was so thoughtful and quick sighted in
anticipating her wants and comforts, in
guessing all her wishes, that she had
hardly noticed it, and had grown already
to feel his protection as quite natural
and as q matter of course. She had not
thought about it till now, and al at once
she began to perceive what it really meant
Her heart was beating very fast, for she
felt that crisis was at hand She hardly
knew whether the sensation was pleasant
or the reverse, and was only conscious OF
a grlish shrinking, which made her wish
to put it off at all events. Not today, not
Just now, not in this dreadful jolting
vehicle. How could she think clearly and
know her own mind while the rough
motion of the diligence seemed to be
jumbling up all her thoughts together?
But you are you, and 1 am l." she
began, rather lamely trying to ward off
what she dreaded. Il mean that it is
only by chance that we have been travel
ing together. You have been very kind,
/ know, for you are not obliged to take
care of me-" But, in her innocent con-
fusion, Clara had just conjured up the
very danger she was trying to avoid.
Hugo seized her hand, which, after a
weak resistance, remained in his.
''But if 1 desire no greater happiness
than to take care of you through life9 If
my only hope, my only wish is to be al
lowed"-
The heavy jolting vehicle here came sud
60 nd ha or5 y,,,tt irrr
in his head at the window startled them
by the information that the diligence
could not possibly get up the next hill
unless lightened of its occupants.
Hugo had speedily dropped the young
girls hand and jumped out, determined to
bully or, if necessary, beat the driver into
proceeding, but a glance at the scene
showed him that this was no imaginary
difficulty.
So engrossed had they been with each
others society during the last hour of the
drive that neither of the coach inmates
had perceived the change which had come
over the landscape. The snow had been
getting deeper and deeper as they pro-
ceeded, and now the horses had come to
vehicle any further up hill. There was
the ascent on foot, and Hugo found him
self obliged to lend his assistance in push
ing the carriage from behind. Luckily
there was village, or rather a wretched
hamlet, at the top of the hill, and here,
within the dirty kitchen of the rustic pot
house, our travellers were forced to take
refuge along with coachmen, peasants,
servants, and such like Objectionable indi-
viduals
Great was their CONSERVATION when they
were informed that the diligence could
not possibly proceed further that day.
This early fall of snow had surprised
them all before the sledge stage coaches
had been got into working order, and a
wheeled vehicle could not possibly work
its way through the snow drift which en-
numbered the road in advance. The dill
gence coming from the opposite direction
had been brought up in the same manner,
and was likewise waiting its release some
miles ahead.
"How far is it to K-"' asked Hugo.
about eight hours when the road is
clear, but in this weather out of the ques-
ton. The gentlefolk will have to stay
here over night"
Impossible" cried Clara, looking ready
to cry. 1--WE cannot stay in this dreadful
hole an hour longer. Is there no other
way of getting on?'
A very unprepossessing Jew, with red
hair and a squint, now stepped forward
and joined the conversation. Hugo had
meanwhile left the room to reconnoiter
for more congenial quarters.
eyes, gracious lady, there is another
way. By leaving the high road and taking
a sledge you can be at k this evening.
There is country track which will take
you there far quicker than the diligence
could have done"
81 knew It'll" cried Clara, triumphant.
'Have you got sledge, and can you
drive us?'
"How should old Isaac not have a
sledge, my pretty LADY, As good sledge
as you can wish to see. l am going to
drive a gentleman to k today; we
shall start in an hour, and if the lady
chooses to go with us there is plenty of
room"
Hugo, soon after returning to the room,
was surprised and not over pleased to find
Clara in deep conversation with the i'll
looking Hebrew.
at is all settled" she called out to
him gleefully, and she gave the gist of
what the Jew had told her.
"But the road you speak of leads
through a deep forest, does it not2' said
Hugo, consulting his map. He did not
appear to be delighted with the scheme.