New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-06

india exerting himself 10 divert her thoughts.
and for time succeeding "a p" bu tne honr ai,cr
ano,mur became with each paler and colder
Their fellow-travcllcrs amld mnch wrangling,
produced 40 last their iruG, or b0 ~ Oh SAM
EoInnsj "I Pomerov and Alison looked rather
cnvIously hal bis ,u,,,h,.
aTwopence apicce-yet wish now had more
Of them. Not but What the beef is very tough
Beef. II is ham," corrected ms Wiz
Beef. I'll take my oath OF To- iney can't
Ham, Rob, I'm certain persisted his MS better.
half with decision, and the battle ragged again;
while their companions, who had he'nner peel nor
| ham to quarrel over Hsteneu "' e''' """
ger and amusement. -, M
Colonel Pomeroy, as he watcneIi ri. hn .S pare
| face presently grew impatient WIN the sltua-
ton. He put doyT 1 TIE window anu '00>e" o"''
q II has left off showing: should you feel afraid
| 10 were TO leave you for a little while?' he
asked anxiousy want 70 nn ne to make Make vow W"
| are. and IL nothing can De doho W. i"">c Aou
"'V', Oh, pray go if you like. You must not let
me be burden; And shall he qu,c Sals' na9ngh
| disagreeabc, they are not dangerous with
merry glance at the old couple /,
| Measured by her chccrfulncss, nc nc turned ur
his coat-collar, pulled his dccrstaker Wen over
his ears and plunged into the snow ana darkness.
| the last audible sound rs he cosed tne door nc
hind him beng: 1T was ham, Rob- from the
good wife, in tentative tone BY way oi reV1vln2
| the dropped argument.
The snow outside lay lnoe-dccp, but tired Of
inaction Pomeroy waded through IT some fifty
yards retracng the way they had come M ne
reached n spot llumned by lanterns anu uorches,
where men were busy shovelling away The SNOW.
He was pleased to learn that the way was iaIry
passablc from hence to the nearest sttloh an lnsg-
| nincant one half-mile off, ignored ny express
trains, though it's the nearest TO LanyKirk 10Y
all that was the answer he got TO ms inquiries
| Here It might at least he possible 10 OBTAIN food
and shelter of kind for his less hardy companion,
nd will hoDp prpcCci
| The time Of his absence seemed weary while
10 Alison. left with no entertainment but the
old couples wrangling and her own nervous fears.
What If her kind escort should wander too far
| and be lost in the snow, such things were not
uncommon. She had soon worked herself into
state Of suppressed alarm reparg as cp amy
| and Pomeroys tall figure appeared she could no'
repress cry Of relief boon, 20 tmoc,ne Al, sort.
| of dismal things!r she said. sinking back into
| her corner. while the faint color returned to her
checks. =,
Except deserton, I hope. 70. knew should
| keep mr. word TO my namesake! =
"Oh, yes; trusted YOU
Have faith in me still. then, for want you
| to brave the cold and come with me; ihere Is
a little country station half mile of, where a.
| least we shall find comfortable room, fire and
some food The stationmasters wife is an old
acquaintance of mine, and has promised to do her
hest for you. IL gets worse here with every
hour, and I can't bear to see you look so white
and cold"
"Of course I'll do as you think BEST Alison
said family though her heart failed her at the
prospect
VERY we'll; then we will make the attempt
Pomeroy then explained their plan TO their lei
low travellers, who for once in fuIl accord de.
clared that nothing should persuade them to leave
BETTER to bear the ills we have, ch ?7 answered
the Colonel augnng well nnhIo d diacon NJ rs 0ns
praiseworthy. Come Mrs Lloyd II you are wei
wrapped up -
He sprang ont to assist Alison but she hest
tated moment before taking the plunge into
the painless snow .,.,.,.
I'm afraid your boots are not so thick ms
| mine You must let me help you over the worst
of it," ,.
And without waiting for permission. he lifted
her gently in his arms and. so laden, trudged
through the snow past the lne OF walt
ing carriages to the clearing at the further end
There he set her down, congratuln.ing herself
that the darkness concealed her hot checks
Here 1t was Just possible TO get on, though The
with the help of Pomcroy's arm. Alis'n at last
thankfully found herself on the platform Of the
little station. 1t was an old-fashioned building,
but its shelter was on! how welcome go, lor inc
snow was falling again now thick and fast.
Mrs Lloyd Frightened into cheeriulness again
as Colonel Pomeroy threw open the, door OF
small but comfortable room when ah s noas1ea
masters wife came forward, the very
| picture of an old woman in her wellhitng cap
gown She had been of nm ma O% a' a r9
prded herself upon never having lost her gen.
| tility."
| Mrs Lloyd sat down upon the first seat she came
| 70 which happened to be the window seat trying
| very hard TO look brave. whilst Pomeroy had
| paused q moment to pick up the CLOAK WhIch nau
| fallen from her on entering the room. MIS-. bar
hastily placed small iagon o! brandy upon the
table ard proceeded in her mohcry way TO- adj
minister restorative which Alison, in spite OF her
assumed bravery, had never more needed III her
life
| There" cried Pomeroy presently, drawing for
ward chair to the fire and placing her IN II;
this is IA litlle improvement. And here comes
| Mrs Blair with the tea she promised us How
| good il looks. Porridge, tool L declare / havn
| tasted porridgc for fifteen years! Come, begin :
! You are exhausted for want OF 1000
| He brought the tea and waited on Alison as
siduously while she drank 1t ana ATE niue oil te
| steamlng pOrridge, we'll pleased to see her looking
more like herself. She begged hlm to ioliow hcr
| example, but il characteristic OF PomerOy-
who always thought of others before hlmself-that
| he first tramped back all the way they had come
| carrying Of hot tea, a cup ana good portion
of bread and butter 10 the croSsgfalned OLD couple
| who had shared their carriage.
| " IL will give them something Iresh 10 arsuc
| over" he said, laughing.
| When he returned a halfhour later, shaking
| himself free Of the snow, he found his charge al
| ready refreshed by the timely food and warmth
! The station masters wife had taken her upstairs
| and made her comfortable with loan OF WarIh
homemade stockings and a pair OF huge slippers,
| putting her own 10 dry meantime Alison began
| pouring out the tea She had kept hot for HIM.
| he Colonel begged Mrs. Blair TO make fresh
brew, saying that hunger would soon drive others
| 70 follow their example.
| OR might organize relief party TO dispense
provisions he suggested, she hurried OIL to do
his pleasure.
But not till you have had good meal your
self" Alison said, decidedly. The porrldge Is
| lovely; do try it. l don't want monopoly OF all
| the good things
He let himself be persuaded, establishing him
self on a bench near her, with a bowl of hot por-
ridge which not even the pewter spoon cOuid spoil
| he surroundings were not favorable TO romance,
vet one of the pair at least could cot help thinking
how many evcntful years had passed since last they
broke bread together; how many hopes had dlei
since those youthful days!
She sighed invountarly at what might have
been us she passed her companion his cup ne
took il with hand. and with the othcr detained
hers for his quick ears had caught the sigh
| What signing over our Christmas feast! thc
first we have enjoyed together too, for years I'm
afraid you are very tired Z?