Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-02-18

again and again the brief letter, tell
ing him that Marion "knew ALL" ant
had left him forever and, as he read
bewilderment slowly gave way Il
stern indignation and resentment.
The famous winter storm Of 1877
was local tradition several year.
old, when a handsome man, walking
from one Pennsylvania town to anoth
err, with the firm light step of a train
ed pedestrian, stopped suddenly t.
look admiringly about him. CrisI
snow sparkled in every direction,
golden light filed the air, and The
dark trees, over whose tops flock o.
birds slowly circled, stood out against
the clear winter sky.
"Cheek by jowl with great cities
and as lifeless as desert island" the
traveller commented, half aloud but,
while he spoke. his assertion was dis
proved by the appearance of a little
figure in the road before him.
1t was that of a girl of sixteen OF
Whereabouts, dancing toward him as
lightly as a thistledown. in spite of q
long close coat. a pair of skates, and
a small dog, just emerging from
puppyhood, who was making laudable
efforts to throw her down.
Her movements. unconsciously
graceful as a Kittens, we're interrupt.
ed by the discovery of the gravely
amused gaze fixed upon her. Instant.
ly she subsidized into a demure and dis.
Greet maiden, walking past him with
her eyes before her, her hands in her
muff, and her four-footed friend fol.
lowing as fast as his short legs would
permit.
The tall man strobe on, smiling at
the thought Of the innocent childlike
face; but gradually the habitual ex-
preston of sadness stole once more
over his own countenance, as the
light began to fade out of the winter
sky and the air to grow yet more
chill.
Putting his hand into his coat, he
suddenly stopped, searched his peck
cts, and then, with an exclamation Of
annoyance. began to retrace his steps
looking from side to side Of the road
as he walked.
He had gone some distance, when
his search was rewarded by the sight
Of small bright object lying where
he had passed, a little time before
and, securing it, he was hurryine
back with quickened steh, when on
the still air came the cry of shrill
young voice for help.
Guided by it, he ran rapidly, and
in an instant saw the slim figure Of
the little skater, just visible on a rise
of ground.
Hurry, hurry" she painted; ooh
do come quick Faithful would
chase some paper over the thin ice
and he broke through. Come quick
or he'll be drowned and frozen too
There, you can see his head bobbinf
up. Yes, my little dog, we're coming
do hurry, please, sir J"
The task so lightly set was hardly
an easy one. Quite far out in q
frozen lake, whitened by the moor
that was now visible, was a large
broken spot, around which the un
happy puppy was miserably swim
ming, yelping each time that he failet
in his frantic efforts to cling to thu
broken edges of the ice. However
with the aid of a long stick and much
encouragement from his little mistress
the dripping creature was at las
landed and carefully searched fol
possible injury.
"I'm so thankful you came," TIT
girl said, with a child's straightfor
wardness 1T was getting so dark
and l never could have got the poo
fellow out alone"
MAY l carry him for you? HI
would ruin your coat. and mine il
water and weather proof"
THANK you very much, if you vii
be so kind you can hold him VI
better than l. I'll walk close by ant
comfort him." And a small hand
stole up to caress the dogs black
nose.
"You are very fond of him ?"
"Indeed / am, and all the rest tot
sister and Gilbert and aunty; they
won't be able to thank you enough
l couldn't haye borne to 60 back ant
tell him that I'd let Faithful drown
before my very eyes,"
"He's a good breed Of dog"
"Oh, yes, indeed /! Why his grand
father saved my life and Marion
once. There never were such dogs il
the world"
Saved your life ?"
eyes. I was quite a little girl
Marion took me out walking, and ,
terrible snowstorm came on. We los
our way, and we would have died j
Rover hadn't scented us out ant
made Gilbert find us. They hat