The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-01-19

| 40 7thAt 60 ia bhC AJettA Vi lshe5te'bNs3
he returned. ssNot a soul will ever sns-
pect If you do not choose to enlighteu
| Them
| Clara gave a little sigh of satisfaction
as she rcsettled the cap on her head.
After pause Hugo resumed:
why did you say just now THAI it was
easy to travel alenef''
because it is casy''
/ "Iou have never tried. You are not
alone''
'Not aloncYs
well, no, unless you are cruel enough
to count me for nothing Am |, indeed
Nothingl Clara suddenly remembered
That he had been everything and done
everything ever since they started. He
WAS SO thoughtful and quick sighted in
anticipating her wants and comforts, in
guessing ali her wishes, that she had
hardly noticed it, and had grown already
to feel his protection as quite natural
md as n matter of course. She had not
thought about 1t till nosy and al at once
she began topereeive what it really meant.
Her heart was beafing very fast, for she
felt that crisis was Mt hand. She hardly
knew whether the sensation was pleasant
Or the reverse, aud was only conscious OF
q girlish shrinking, which made her wish
TO put it Off ut all events Not today. not
Just now, not i'll this dreadful jolting
vehicle. How could she think clearly and
know her own mind while the rough
motion Of the diligence seemed to be
junlbling up all her thoughts tcgethers
.But you are you, and l am T. she
began rather larfely trying to ward Off
what she dreaded. 81 mean that it is
only by chance that we have been travel
ing together. You have been very kind,
know, for you are not Obliged to take
care of me-" But, IN her innocent con-
fusion, Clara had just conjured up the
very danger she was trying to evoid.
Hugo seized her hand, which, after q
weak resistance, remained in his
stBut if / desire no greater happiness
than to take care of you through life? RI
my only hope, my only wish is TO be al
lowed'--
The heavy jolting vehicle here came sud-
denly to u standstili and the guard putting
n his head at the window startled them
by the information that the diligence
could not possibly get up the next hill
unless lightened of IT'S occupants.
Hugo had speedily dropped the young
girls hand and jumped out, determined to
bully or, If necessary, beat the driver into
proceeding but glance at the scene
showed him that this was no imaginary
difficulty
So en5srossed he'd they been with each
others society during the last hour Of the
drive that neither of the coach inmates
had perceived the change which had come
over the landscape. The snow had been
getting deeper and deeper as they pro-
ceeded, and now the horses had come to a
standstill unable to drag the unwieldy
vehicle any further up hill. There was
nothing for it but to get out AMI perform
the ascent on foot, and Hugo foand HIM
self obliged to lend his assistance in push
ing the carriage from behind Luckily
there was village, or rather d wretched
hamlet, at the top Of the hill, and here,
within the dirty kitchen of the rustic pot-
house, our travellers were forced to take
refuge along with coachmeD, peasants,
servants, and such like Objectionable indi-
viduals.
Great was their CONSERVATION when they
were informed that the diligence could
not possibly proceed further thGt day.
This early fall of snow had surprised
them all before the sledge stage coaches
had been got into working order, and q
wheeled vehicle could not possibly work
its way through the snow drift which en-
numbered the road in advance. The dill
genee coming from the opposite direction
had been brought up in the same manner,
and was likewise waiting its release some
miles ahead.
''How far is it to K---?n asked Hugo.
"About eight hours when the road is
clear but in this weather out of the ques-
ton. The gentlefolk will have to stay
here over night"
"Impossiblep cried Clara, looking ready
to cry. 1--WE cannot stay in this dreadful
hole an hour longer. Is there no other
way of getting ons''
very unprepossessing jew, with red
hair and Il squint, now stepped forward
and joined the conversation. Hugo had
meanwhile left the room to reconnolter
for more congenial quarters.
..Yea. gracious lady, there is another
way. BY leaving the high road and taking
sledge you can be at k this evening.
There is a country track which will take
You there far quicker than the diligence
could have done. y
81 knew itr' cried Clara, triumphant.
''Have you got q sledge, and can you
drive Hs?'
GLOW should old Isaac not have a
sledge, my pretty ladys AS good sledge
as You can wish to see. | am going TO
drive gentleman TO K today; we
shall start in an hour, and If the lady
chooses to so with US there is plenty of
room. y
Hugo, soon after returning to the room,
was surprised and not over pleased to find
Clara in deep conversation with the ill
looking Hebrew.
s'It is all settled,n she called out to
him gleefully, and she gave the gIst Of
what the jew had told her.
''But the road you speak of leads
through deep forest, does it notY' said
Hugo, consulting his map. He did not
appear TO be delighted with the scheme
"a forest, noble gentleman Only a
few trees there may be, perhaps. And
what if there is forest? The snow will
be less deep In the wood, and the wind
less cold. May my body be burned in
eternal fires If tho road be not a good
one''
Eyes, yes, y said Clara, impatiently, sit
is all right; let us have the sledge by all
means
81 beseech of you, fraulein, TO let me
speak few words to you &sane before de-
Gliding, said Hugo in a ldp5Toice; Ihave
something important to say to you.
But Clara, feeling sure that she knew
what 1t was he was about to say, feigned
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