Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-07-04
Washington Standard
Between -Four Walls.
By CURTIS YORNE

By CURTIS Y0RAE
1T WIS sHowing steadily-a small, fine,
deliberate snow, which was swiftly fill
ing up every little crack and crevice
where snow crystal could possibly
lodge, and evidently meant business.
For the matter of that, it had been snow
ing. off and on, for the last three days,
but these intermittent showers had now
settled down into binding snow storm.
There was nothing to be seen but snow
floating. whirling. dancing, in mad,
fiendish. fantastic glee, rs though il
never mean. to leave Off. 1t was a
dreary prospect. So at least thought a
young girl who was toiling through the
wintry dUsk-a tiny, elf like creature,
with small pale face, and brown curly
hair blown about pair of pathetic dark
eyes. which looked as if they might not
be very far from tear For she was ,ot
only worn out and 1T through, T,,oI
little soul, but she had ost her way. rc
be lost on Dartmooi N a snow storm i
no joke, can tell gu; and, to M IL
matters worse-if thor could be m:de
worse-it was now cutie dark, and the
wind was rising sto3dily. All at once
the girl siippcd-feli forward-a glmmer
oi light flashed before her eyes-and with
a long, sobbing cry. she sank down
down, into a treacherous snow drift.
Not hundred yards away two men
were luxuriously enjoying their post
prandial pipes in u sna.. heavily raftered
room. which looked like nothing except
WHIT it was, namely, the principal apart
ment in tiny shooting box, intended, to
all appearance, solely and entirely for
the use Of the sterner sex. A roaring
fire blazed in the yawning CRATE, almost
putting to shame the light of the,lamp
which stood on a small table near thu
hearth. in company with some dried
fruits and bottle of Burgundy.
by Jove! how cold it is" said the
elder of the two men, as he threw an
other piece Of coal on the fire.
"Cold? it's the very Deuce" shivered
his companion. "Wonder if it still
snowsy' he went on. rising and saunter-
ing towards the yet u,slnttered window
rs he spoke.
He was q tall, fair. good looking fell
low Of perhaps 80. with dark blue. rather
passionate, eyes and sunny hair.
"Worse than ever!" he muttered. ~
say, Lance, this looks cheerful. Old
Wellings will be showed up on the road
il he doesn't mind" he added. HE
ought to be back by this time
Horrible contingency" murmured
the individual addressed as Lance, with
q lazy smile, as he filed his pipe anew.
III he doesn't get back, we are in for the
pleasing exercise Of cooking our own din
ners, making our own beds, and doing
for ourselves generally, for an indefinite
time. For venture to predict that we
too are safe to be showed up before the
morning" He leaned back in his chair
as he spoke, and closed his gray eyes
sleepily. as though the prospect didn't
disturb him very much
He was not a handsome fellow, Lance
lot Darrell, but he had a kind, strong,
refined face which somehow invariably
impelled those about him to trust him
implicitly. This was mainly due, l think,
to a certain indefinable something about
either his eyes or his mouth, / am not
sure which-or perhaps both.
All at once he sat up and said hastily:
Il say, Carruthers, did you hear a
noise outsides-a little cry. like childs
or o woman'sr
mo; can't say did," returned the
other. Then, after listening for a mo-
ment or two, he added. 81 hear the wind,
but nothing else"
Darrell rose and came over to the win.
dow. Az he stood, it was noticeable
that be was scarcely SO tall as his COM
panion; he was better built, though,
and his general physique was more
powerful He threw up the sash, and
vainly tried to pierce the gathering
darkness beyond. All was silent outside,
save for the fitful mean Of the fast rising
wind, and the soft intermittent sweep Of
tho snow sgainst the window panes
Suddenly, almost close at hand it seemed.
there came . faint. uncertain little CRY.
Both men started. and Darrell went out
into the tiny square hall and opened the
outer door.
Is any one there?" he called oft in hiS
clear, pleasant voice.
'tOh, come quick, please" was the an-
swer In sobbing, childish tones.
"A child, BY lover he muttered,
plunging out into the snowy darkness
A moment or two later he shouted:
'sShow light here, Gilbert, will your"
Carruthers did as he was desired, and
stood in the doorway holding the lamp
aloft In amaxement.
''Wlaat the devil is it7' he exclaimed,
a. Darrell, carrying q drenched dark
bundle in his arms. hurried past him into
the house:
"What q itY Carruthers repeated, fol-
lowing the other into the sitting room,
and setting down the lamp in a bewild-
cred kind Of way.
''Cet the brandy. there's q good fcl-
low. was the only reply, Us Darrell
placed the bundle gently on the sofa and
knelt down beside it.
by lover CALCULATED Gilbert TN
der his breath, Us he got out
the brandy, ''here's a rum go, and no
mistakel" For he had caught q brief
glimpse Of pale. sweet little face, and
long tangled hair. Was it a child?-or q
woman?
After some time-it seemed an abnor-
mally long time to both men-the eyes
opened, and their owner sat up, pushing
back her hair nervously. and gazing in
startled Amusement ct the two concerned
masculine faces before her.
"How-how did get here!" she fall
tered. II remember nothing but snow
and darkness, and that felt myself fall
ing-falling-then heard a VOICE.
tried to call OUT She stopped, and
put her little hands coufusedly to her
head. Then abe added, turning her great
dark eyes upon Darrell. ibid you-find
mey ~
"Yes.~ he answered. with u Lind little
smile. "You must hs-e slipped down
the bank q the end Of the house. We
heard you cry out and l found you"
He unfastened and removed her cloak
and hat a. she spoke. and hung them to
The Gre. while GnA-.s wneeled ro1 ward
! large easy chair, and stirred the Goals
into q iiercer blaxa gEs
DO you feel better now" said the
latter. -.
II feel very cold, she answered in q
weak little voice. And she shivered.
my clothes are 90 wet, you know" she
added. looking up at him pathetically.
by Jove, yes, Of course. so they arel"
he said in some perplexity. "You must
have them dried in some way"
Had ! not better try to get home"
ahe went ON helplessly. ~ live near
Tavistock. An far from there?"