St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-09-01

the robe and were nestled at her feet.
Her voice trembled and there was a
prayer for help in her heart.
The horses struggled bravely along
until they came to a familiar landmark,
which told them they were half a mile
from home, when an accident happened
which filled them with a nameless ter
ror The tongue broke with the strain
upon it, and the tugs, being so intensely
cold, were unable to bear the added
strain upon them and snapped like bits
of Irvine, and the bewildered horses,
scarcely realizing that they were leav-
ing their load behind them, plunged
madly away into the storm.
Hold them, James, cried Mrs.
Graham, wildly, as she saw their last
hope deserving them.
Il can't, Mary; my hands
are so numb l have no grip
on the lines" replied the husband, de-
spairingly 'All | can do now is to
leave you, and try to reach home
and bring back a pair of fresh
horses.
God help us!'' broke from the poor
mothers lips, as her husband, taking
the frightened children from the sleigh,
managed to overturn the box by his
wife's help, so as to form partial shell
ter for them.
"Wrap yourselves in the robes, and
pray for me- said Mr.. Graham, brok-
emily, when he had done all he could for
their safety, land God grant that
l may be able to find the way
home.
"Oh, James, do not go. Stay with us,
and we will die together" cried the
wife, as she realized the danger of the
undertaking.
'While there is life there is hope,
Mary" replied the husband, trying to
speak encouragingly, and bending his
almost frozen lips to hers, he gave her
a kiss, solemn in it's suggestiveness Of a
last FAREWELL and struggled away
through the binding sleet and drifting
snow, in the direction of home.
The children were too thoroughly
chilled now to cry, and huddled close
to the mother, who, feeling about in the
darkness, drew from the satchel Dolly
new hood, wrapping it about Susy
and also slipping the warm mittens
upon WHY'S stiffening hands.
The baby still seemed warm and slept
heavily, while the anxious mother
prayed as she had never prayed before.
''It's getting warmer now, mamma, y
said Willy in drowsy tone, and the
mother took courage, for she, too, was
suffering less than she had done, and a
delicious languor was beginning to steal
over her, and she hoped that the storm
outside was abating.
Meanwhile the day had passed quick
ly and pleasantly at the farmhouse
The sled was complete success, and
stood in q corner of the kitchen, where
WHY'S eyes would light upon it as soor
as he came in.
The little apron was all completed
Dolly had trimmed it with a dainty
lace, and tied the shoulders with knots
| of bright ribbon, sacrificing new hail
ribbon of her own to her sisterly love
and the pretty garment hung on chail
where Susy's bright eyes would spy i
out at once.
''You had better go out now, Arthur
and feed the animals" she said at fou
o'clock, as she swept up the scraps he
sewing had made. Wrap up warm
for it seems to be growing colder" ant
she hummed merry tune in happ.
Inconsistencies of impending danger.
Il say, Sis, you'll let me turn tn
fritters, won't you, when come in?
said Arthur; he loved to see the funn,,
popping things sprawl out into thei
odd shapes in the boiling fat.
eff you'll be good boy, and brinI
me in good store Of coal and kind
lings," laughed Dolly.
There's the fried chicken and bake
potatoes, the warm biscuit and fres
apple sauce, with coffee, fritters an
maple syrup, for finish off, as pap
calls it," and Dolly checked off tn
items of her little feast upon her fir
gers.
"Why, dear me, its beginning t
Storm she added, as she went to tn
window and looked out, Il will hurr
and get supper, for they will be hungr
when they come"
''Its storming awfully, Sis" sal
Arthur, half hour later, as he cam
in stamping the snow from his boot:
his cheeks were glowing with tn
sharpness of the sleet and wind. g
hope papa started early"
The chicken was frying and film
the house with its appetizing odol
Dolly had an artistic eye for prett
crystal and dainty linen, and she ha
set her table in her best style.
An hour passed by; the fritters wer
in the tureen, and the potatoes and bi
cult were in the warming-oven.
A sense of danger had crept into tn
hearts of the waiting children, and the
| naared ont at the driving storm wit