Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-05-24
misty, and the keen air cut like a

knife.
No moon tonight" she an
nounced, in a disgusted tone.
And no dancing, either" cried the
Major, as he looked over her sunny
head. Come, good people, We must
get back TO the post"
Hastily bundling bag and basket
into the ambulance, they started on
their homeward journey. The horses
ran, as from the approach of an en-
envy. The Major glanced anxiously
at the sky, and harshly told Katy TO
keep at his side. 1t grew colder and
colder. Soon the air was alive with
snow--the blizzard was upon them.
The sky, the ground, the horses, the
ambulance. were swallowed up in the
whirling mass. There were no land
marks. The trackless plains surround
ed them. The wind was due north
and in their faces The frozen par
ticles cut the skin like razors. Numb
hands dropped the reinS, and the
horses began TO plunge madly. Moth
ing could contend with the awful
"Norther" and live.
Standing in the drag, the Major
shouted to the officers TO take their
sword belts and fasten the ladies TO
their saddles, and then 'mount-for-
ward-gallopw They must trust to
the instinct Of their horses.
What ride ;hat was. After what
seemed like years of misery, when
even katy's heart had failed for fear,
they heard above the roaring Of the
gale the beating of drum. The es-
cort wagon had been overturned at
the door of IA cabin in the wilderness.
The horses had saved their masters.
The white owner of the cabin and
his squaw wife received their half
frozen guests most Hospitality. The
horses were turned into the corral,
and the entire party crowded into
the one room of the house. What "A
relief il was TO be sheltered from the
icy touch OF the blizzard How beau
tiful the fire looked blazing upon the
hearth Katy felt that she could
kiss the not over-clean face OF the In
dian hostess, she was SO happy. Life
is sweet at eighteen.
No one slep that night. Grouped
about the fire, the officers told story
after story of adventure upon the
plains. The most romantic chapters
of unwritten history are told by sol
diers' lips, and few are fortunate
enough 10 hear them.
When morning came the storm
showed no signs Of abating The
edibles at the cabin, though coarse,
were abundant, and the remnants Of
the picnic collation. were served for
breakfast At noon, the members OF
the band went TO the corral to feed
the horses, leaving the bugler sta
toned in the little lean-to, TO blow
the bugle as guide to their move
ments. When at last they came stag
gering through the storm, they car
ried the stiff, half-frozen body Of n
man in army blue.
What's thisf' cried the Major, in
tone of horror.
The Quartermaster, sir replied
the drummer, sadly; I'VE found him
lying near the corral, almost buried
in the snow
With cry Of utter anguish, which
those who heard it never forgot, Katy
Dare flung herself upon the floor.
Its Jack she cried, my Jack ]
loved him all the time
The voice he loved so well pierced
the death-like stupor which was fast
stealing over him. The warm, cling
ing lips brought back the breath Of
life. Slowly his eyes opened and
rested upon the bonny fearful face 80
near his own.
my darling" he said, "have won
you at last2' Katy clung sobbing TO
his neck.
"All the world loves II lover" Even
the little squaw smiled sympathetic
ally upon the soldier who had wrung
his happiness from the grasp OF n
"Norther.n
The Major was delighted, but mys-
titled. He could not understand IL.
why, she never liked Jack, and
was devoted 10 the rector" he said,
feebly.
Just so :" replied the sagacious
Mrs. Rensome. In dealing with n
girl, Major, remember it's never Jim,
but Jack: and If she firts with par
son, she is pretty sure 20 marry a
soldier" And Katy did.