The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-13
SCOTLAND NECK y c. Thu RSDAN. VI

down here, and be barred in The
snow?
a heavy burden for ber slight
arms for her freezing hands, the
sturdy baby she carried burden
made still heavier by his present
semi-stupor. She grIPped her numb
fingers around him. She bent her
bead. Beaten, swayed, botreted, she
made her way up the hill. She
reached the level. She could not 90
much farther. IIer hold of Willie
was relaxing. He was slipping from
her, or so she fancied. TIE bitter.
bitter cold her very heart was pains
ing with it. Her whole slender. un-
protected BODY was racked with its
agony,
Was that the house? Directly be
fore her something dark had loomed
up. She totJered against it. a
haystack. As its base she sank ex-
hausted. One step farther would be
simply physical impossibilitv.
Tighter she wrapped Willie in the
shawl, and held him to her. Then,
with her back against the haystack ;,
her head bowed forward, her face
hidden, she crouchei there in tort>
ure. which drifted into drowsiness-
drowsine.s that was deadly as de>
llcious.
"Wilhe !"
That was the first word she said,
endeayored to say, when the long,
wretched delirium of fever was over
at last. Where was she? Not out
on the prairie! Not in that awful
white whIrlwind ! Not at the foot
of the haystack! Surely this was
her mothers room Surely she was
in her mothers led. Tie brilliant
patchwork quilt, she knew that. The
fire Of corncobs in the tiny stove
smelled familiar. And the voice was
her mothers. she coald not dream
a voice.
"He is wei, darling, safe and
well. Hush you mus not talk yet"
When she woke again, Doctor
Henderson was standing by the bed,
and just behind him was Willie's
wee, rosy, roguish face.
"You viii be better soon now"
the doctor said, "though it is AVON
der you lived. You were unconsci-
Gus when your father found you on
his return from town"
Just then her father came in, He
said very little, but he stroked ten
derly the thin hand on the gay calico
counterpane.
"And-and Wilhe?"
Gle was not much the worse,
thanks to you. You had him well
protected. Come here, Willie"
He Lifted the little chap on the
bed. She smiled as she felt the clasp
of the small, strong arms.
"Is it--SnOWing-3till?"
The doctor laughed
Dear child, 1t Is May" he said.
She looked bewilIered.
1T was an awful blizzard," the
doctor went on, sthe worst ever
known in the West. The papers
were full Of 1t. Many perished,
Some people were very brave and IN
selfish, and saved the lives Of others
Their deeds, at least those that came
to public knowledge, were praised
all through the country. Yours was
as grand as any. You are hero
inc, Bessie"
He was young man, gool-look~
ing man. a powerful smart doc,
! tor" averred the Western people,
among whom lie had elected to prac
tice. 1t had taken the exercise OF
all his skill to save Bessie LInard' :
life, and now he felt correspondingjy
elated,
"On, 10" said Bessie very slowly
and seriously; "I-thought no one
could be 8 heroine In Nebraska.'
| "Graci0us !" exclaimed Doctor
Henderson, and he looked grayeIy
at the wan sweet face on the pillow.
"Besides," she went on, meeting
his glance with that quiet, dIrec.
convincing gaze she had, and with
| iuet flicker Of rose-1loom coming
into her cheeks, "heCoinas do some
thing very wonderful, and II only
did my bes(.'
That was two years ago. Bessie
is eighteen now, and .elIer, Le4lthIcr
and prettier than ever. Sue and Ler
mother are busy sewing; for this
year there is TO be wedding II the
old farmhouse. When it Is oye,
Bessie Liuard will not be Bessie
I T.o-I o,,- rrC-a bot AZ, n-ct n,