The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-31
and Joe, who would accompany US, We

over the road. AS a consequence our
progress was slow and laborious. 1t
was a dull cloudy day, but We knew
nothing of Billiards then, so did not
hesitate to start We had mentioned
I o'clock as the time for the ceremony,
so made ca culation on being at the par
sonagc at that hour.
! Before we were two miles on our way
the snow began to fall in great feathery
flakes.
l 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 go among strangers
with only a husbands love to depend
upon.
For some time the 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 csitated but
Frank thought there was no more dar-
| ger in an advance than a retreat, so on we
went. Heavens! what an experien ce
that was which followed.
The wind howled like a host of de-
mons bent on destruction. The snow
became infinitesimally fine and, driven
by the blast, stung ones flesh when ex-
posed like needle points. We could no.
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 had been anticipating I
now saw nothing but a cruel death be-
fore us, with the snow for shroud and
pail.
At 2 o'clock by Franks watch we
were nearly frozen, and the weary horses
could scarcely move along.
Suddealy 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 a mo-
uent he shouted orain.
"IIello! Here's another sleigh.
Father! Frank Pile out here with
your shoveis"
They did as he ordered, and mother
and I reused to see what it all meant.
But we could see 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 father s
cyclone cave.
We stared about in stupid amazemcnt,
for Joe had brought lantern along, and
he had lighted and hung it up. A mo-
ment later we were 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 the sleigh
box up beside them as partial shelter,
then bringing my trunk, lunch basket
and the robes, joined us.
The temperature of the cave was COM
Portable compared with the outer air,
and we 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 the probabilities in
our favor.
After time the talk languished, and
Frank made in a whisper the queerest
proposition. gave decided negative,
but at last yielded to his entreaty, 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 me his blessing.
Franks face was very white rs he
clasped me in his arms and called me
wife My own feelings were a mixture
of terror and happiness, such as 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 the
minister aud had found Us by the
mounds caused by the snow drifting
over the poor horses. Two were dead
and the other had to be killed, he wa
so badly frozen.
Huddled together under the ground
with fifteen feet of snow over US, W.
had not suffered badly; and the luHCl