Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-07-17
CHAPTER I.-CoNTINUED.


made certain people change their minds,
don't know; but to my annoyance and veXa-
ton, no skaters were to be seen, and, more
over, the. uncut, white surface told me that
none had been on the pond that morning.
Still, hoping they might come in spite of the
weather, put on my skates and went out
yde-edging and grape-vining all over the
place. But as there was no person in partic-
alarm fact, no one at ALTO note my pow
ers, soon got tired. 1t was, indeed, dreary,
1reary work. But waited and hoped until
he snow came down so fast and furiouslY.
that felt sure that waiting was in vain, and
that had driven to Lilymere for nothing
Back | went to the little inn; utterly dis
gusted with things in general and feeling
that to break some ones head would be re-
lief to me in my present state OF mind. Or
course, a sensible man would at once have
got his horse between the shafts and driven
home. But, whatever may be now, in those
days / was not a sensible man-Brand Will,
i know, cordially indOrSe this remark-the
accommodation of the inn was not such as to
induce one to linger within its precincts; but
the fire was right good one and drink,
which | skillfully manufactured out of some
hot beer, was not to be despiSed, and proved
warming to the body and soothing to the
ruffled temper. So l fingered over the big
fire until began to feel hungry, and upon
the landlady assuring me that she could cook
rasher, decided it would be wiser TO stay
where l was until the violence of the snow
storm was over; for coming down 1t was now,
and no mistakel
And it kept on coming down. About half
past three, when l sorTowfully decided was
bound to make move, it was showing faster
than ever. haTnessed my horse, and laugh
ing at the old woman's dismal prophecy that
/ should never get to Midcombe in such
weather, gathered up the reins, and away
went along the white road.
l thought knew the way well enough. In
fact had always prided myself upon re-
membering any road once driven over by me;
but does any one who has not tried IL really
know how a heavy fall of snow changes the
aspect of the country, and makes landmarks
snares and decisions? / learnt all about it
then, once and for all. i found, also, that
the snow lay much deeper than | thought
could possibly be in so short a time, and It
still fell in manner almost binding. Yet l
went on bravely and meTTily for some miles,
Then came a bit of uncertainty
Which Of those two roads was the right
one? This one, of cOurSe-no, the other.
There was no house near; no one was likely
TO DC passing in such weather, so was lett
to exercise my free, unbiased choice, a privi-
lege would willingly have dispensed with.
However, made the best selection l could,
md followed il for some two miles. Then L
began TO grow doubtful, and soon persuad-
Ing myself that was on the wrong track, re-
Traced my steps. / was by this time some
| thing like huge white plasteT-of-paris fig
hire, and the snow which had accumulated on
the old dog-cart made il run heavier by half
atom, more or less. By the time l came TO
that unlucky junction OF roads at which my
misfortunes began, il was almost dark: the
ky as black as a tarpaulin, yet sending down
the white feathery flakes thicker and faster
than ever. felt inclined to curse my folly in
Attempting such drive, at any rate l blamed
myself for not having started two or three
hours earlier. I'll warrant that steady-going
bid Brand never had to accuse himself of such
! foolishness as mine.
Well, took the other road; went on some
way; came to turning which seemed to
remember; and, not without misgivings, fol-
lowed IT, My misgivings increased when,
after q little while found the road grew full
Of rutS, which the snow and the darkness
quite concealed from me until the wheels got
into them. Evidently was wrong again. l
was just thinking of making the best of my
way out of this rough and unfrequented road,
when there, / don't know how il happened,
such things seldom occur to me-a stumble, a
tall on the part of my tired horse sent me fly
Ing over the dashboard, with the only consol-
ing thought that the reins were still in my
hand.
Luckily the snow had made the falling
pretty soft. soon picked myself up and set
Rbout estimating damages With some diff
culty got the horse QUE of the harness and
then felt free to inspect the dog-cart. Alasl
after the manner of the twO-wheel kind
whenever a horse thinks tit to fall, one shaft
had snapped off like CARO- so here was /,
i've miles apparently from ywhere, in the
thick of binding snowsto a, left standing
helpless beside jaded hors and a broken
eart-l should like to know what Brand
would have done under the circumstances.
| AS for me, reflected for some minutes
reflection in a snowstom is weary work.
reasoned, / believe, logically, and at last came
to this decision: would follow the road. If,
as / suspected, it was but cart track, it
would probably soon lead to habtation OF
kOma lyiOd ANYWAY 4 had hnttar try
further. took hold of the wearied horse,
and with snow under my feet, snOw-flakes
whirling round me, and a wind blowing right
into my teeth, struggled on.
1t was a Journey / think l must have
been three-quarters OF an hour going about
quarter of mile. was just beginning to
despair, when i saw welcome CLEAN of
light / steered toward il, fondly hoping that
my troubles were at an end. i found the
light stole through the ill-titting window
shutters of what seemed, so far as could
make out in the darkness, to be a small farm
house. Tying to a gate the knotted reins by
which had been leading the horse, stag
Eered up to the door and knocked loudly.
Upon my honor, until l leant against that
uoor-post had no idea how tired | was-un-
I'll that moment l never suspected that the
finding of speedy shelter meant absolutely
saving my life. Covered from head to foot
with snow, my hat crushed in, must have
been pitiable object
was only after a second and more imperative
application of my heel that the door deigned
TO give way few inches. Through tho
aperture woman's voice asked who was
there?
LET me in" said. "I have missed my
way to Midcombe My horse has fallen. You
must give me shelter for the night. Open the
door and let me in"
"ShelterI You can't get shelter here, mis-
TEL" said mans gTuf voice. This amt
an Inn, SO you'd best be off and go else
where"
but l must come in" said, astounded at
such inhosptality, II can't go step further.
Open the door at oncep'
You be hanged" said the man. '"Tis my
house, not yours"
But, you fool, mean to pay you well for
your trouble. Don't you know it means
death wandering. about on such night as
this? Let me IMP
You won't come in here" was the brutal
and boorish reply. The door closed.
That was enraged at such inciviity may
be easily imagined; but il | said was thor
Oughly frightened believe no one would be
surprised. AS getting into that house meant
simply hfelor death TO me. into that house
determined 10 get, ny uOOr or window, by
fair means or by foul. So, as the door closed.
hurled myself against 1t with all the might
1 could muster. Although ride much heav-
Ter now than did then, all my weight at that
time was bone and muscle. The violence of
ny attach tore from the Intel the staple