The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-05-24
MS ENEMY.

turned her face quickly away as she
caught sight OF the 1.-the, manly figure.
and began to busy herself with the
carriage robes.
Eugene Landt, for Eugene Landt it
was, happened to be the one human
being toward whom Miss Hanford felt
strong aversion. The faint was in
her blood. no doubt. for her father
and his had been sworn enemies and
contestant. 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 motherless child to a.
hard fight with fortune. Marian had
always believed that sorrow and dis.
appointment had caused her fathers
sudden death. She could not look at
the Landt mansion, nor at ANYTHING
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 Hantord's
pretty daughter. Mr.. Hanford's pref
ty daughter did not seem to be sorry
for herself. She kept her head up and
faced the world bravely. When Eu-
gene Landt returned from his FIVE
years sojourn abroad he came to
her alphabetically one day on some
trifling business connected with the
school and held out to her the hand
OF fellowship. She comported herself
with such pride and cold dignity that
his first visit was his last. Nor did he
venture to bow to her on the street
again. He had known her since child
hood, had been her playmate and
classmate. tut he taught himsf now
to pass her by like stranger.
At tho first glimpse OF her enemy,
as We have said, Marian became deep
~ occupied i'll the read iustment of her
carriage robe. keeping her face careful
~ averted from the tall figure that
was strldlng up and down the plat
form. 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 and
furiously; the flakes were whirling
quicker and quicker in wild gusts OF
wind from the northeast. An hour
ago even no one could have foreseen
such storm, but here it was in all
its splendid strength and fury, blot
ting out the far landscape, and max
ing even the near distance waverinc
and ,nlistinct. There was no other
vehicle at the station besides Marian's
little open carriage, and no other hui.
man being to be seen but the dellber-
ate Jake and the one other individual
whom Marian declined to see.
"Ihank you. Mr.. Slower, very, very
much" The soft light voice was
sweet as a silver bell.
us it all right now? Everything
in? Do YOU think" doubtingly, "that
1t would be OF any use to raise my
umbrella?" She can scarcely see
Jake's face through the hurrying
flakes.
mo ma'am, not one bi5," was the
prompt reply. "You best jest git
along quick-that's all. This storm
amt goin' to be no lighter fore morn
in. It'll be heavier blamed sight
nor you think for. Gene Landt. :"
leaning for ward confidentially, "he's
i'll a fix. His folks don't know he
were comm. No one amt here to
mee; him. He dunno what to do"
"Oh." said Marian, coldly. 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 mlsIed on
the information he had just vouch-
safed. Mr.. Landt knew exactly what
to do. He came across the platform
with his quick, light step, touched his
fur cap and said gayly:
"Friend, neighbor, Christian, may I
beg you to give ME lit as far as you
are roing-that is. if it be any where in
the direction of New Church? l am
unfortunate. Ah," he said, in genuine
surprise, lit is Miss Hanford," and
then he paused.
"Um, why she 20 all the way to New
Church." said Jake, obliginely. "She
60 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 l pass
your door, Mr.. Landt."
And then, poor girl, she was con-
strained to make room for him and
to feel in the midst OF her anger and
despair that she was shattered by his
strong figure from the worst violence
OF the storm, and must be more or
less comforted despite her detestation
by his near presence through the long
and dreary ride that lay before them.
Go Oh now! you amt got second
to lose" said Jake, encouragingly.
''This is going to be a BLIZZARD, this is.
Night, Miss Hanford; Pm good and
glad Mist Genes along O. ye."
But the friendly remarks of Mr..
Slower were blown rudely from his
]ipe and did not reach the ears for
which they were Intended, and in an.
other moment Marian and Eugene
were speeding away through the gath
ering twilight, meeting the tempest
side by side.
OF course Mr.. Landt at once Offer
ed to take the reins, but was met with
very prompt and polite refusal; and
sat back, feeling decidedly snubbed;
but he was amused, and smiled to
himself good deal, with an expires.
sion it was Just as we'll Marian did
not see. He knew by her upright atti-
tude and thetension of her grasp that
it demanded all her strength to hold
the horse, which was fresh and swift
and excited by the storm as we'll. He
pitied her presently and pleaded again:
"Mr. Landt,' she said severely, II
must drive. The horse is q new one.
He does not know the way, and
should not feel safe unless my own
hand was on the rein."
HE doesn't know the way, REPEAT
ed Eugene, in an odd tone. 'That's
bad, Miss Hanford. 1 am very much
afraid none of US will know It, if the
snow continues at this rate" For,
indeed, they scarcely could sec the
horses back; the space before them
seemed full of black particles, and they
,,,ovu h.n him on4mA q loo inakooA ~