The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-05-23
CHAPTER XII.

unmcrclfuIiy on his lriSurcly WAYS.
lie, ncttlcd by tho charming beauty
winning manners, and cxhilrratin.
mood, relaxed his hrmor, and tn,
breakfast hour was one of the most en-
Joyablc they had yet spent together.
1t was almost with regret he left hrl
and resumed his work cutting Il chan
mel through the drift. With rcdoublcc
eXertions he labored. Fast flew tho
snow, and by night he found he had
cleared IN all thousand feet of road.
way. The snow was easier 10 work
too; it was closer packed and only
about five feet deep along the trail, and
after eating a hearty supper, two
hours chat with his charming vis-a-vis,
he went to bed hopeful, yet filled with
sadness. Hopeful of soon restoring
Grace to her friends, sad that he must
lose her-this time he thought forever.
Alas for human hopes and anticipa-
tions. how often does Il cruel fate-or
call it destiny If you will-step in and
cut them down. When morning came
it brought II most discouraging disap-
pointment. There had been Il sharp
fall of snow during the night, and this,
driven by brisk north wind, had filled
the newl y cut trench three-fourths full.
All his labor lost; and the man groan-
ed in the anguish of his heart.
There was but one thing to be done I;
make his way to the nearest settlement
on snow shoes and bring with him
sledges and rescue Grace from the
snowbound lodge.
He told her nothing of this, intend
ing to get ready and slip off during the
night. He could leave her letter
telling her what he had done, and in
structing her how to manage affairs
while he was gone.
As soon as breakfast was over, he
began putting his plan into execution.
His first care was to construct Il pair
of snow shoes.
Selecting two long, smooth boards
OF the requisite width, he went to work
and soon had pair of very good shoes
shaped to his suiting. Taking some
leathern reins, he sewed on to them a
pair of strong buckles, adjusted the
straps, and the shoes were ready. Other
preparations had to be made, and by
the time everything was in readiness,
the shades of night were falling.
That evening passed most pleasantly.
Howard and Grace seemed To forget for
once the difficulties of their surround
ings, to ignore the peril that stood
guard over their cXistence-seemcd to
forget everything save each other. And
yet no love words passed between
then.
AT ten O'Clock Howard was ready tc
go, and for the first time held out his
hand as he said good night All, how
the clasp of the hand she gave hin
thrilled him rs il returned his grasp will
lingering, half-felt pressure, and SEN
the hot blood surging through his vein.
with the divine fever of love.
He could hardly restrain himsel
from clasping her to his heart, revea
his identity and claim the love he fel
almost sure was his again.
Then that haunting memory of the
past came up again, and without {
word he left her. When he reached
his room he wrote brief note to her
explaining his absence, begging her tc
not expose herself to danger, telling
her TO be of good cheer, and promising
to return in three days, or to send hel
father TO her with rescuing party
Then, arranging everything SO he could
start soon after midnight, he pulled his
robes about him and went to sleep.
When the time for starting came, he
gained the outside of the stable and
found another storm was raging. He
knew il was useless to start on his
journey until the weather settled again.
and as it was several hours till daylight
he went back to bed.
The storm continued until the middle
of the forenoon, and as Howard haC
some work at repairing his harness tc
do, he excused himself and set diligent
ly about it.
Grace was lonesome. She read un
til tired, and being unable to walk
concluded late in the afternoon TO %
where Howard was, as relief To hel
loneliness. Coming up to the entranc,
of the room where he was working, sh,
timidly tapped upon the door ant
queried:
sNIr. Howard, may come in? | an
so lonesome
AT hearing his name pronounced, h,
startled violently. Had she then pene
trated his secret and discovered hi
identity after all his care to conceal i
from her?"
No, the name was carved on TIN
stock of the revolver he had loaned Il
her, and it was there she had seen it
She was not even sure that was hi,
name.
''This is hardly a fit place to enter
tain lady in," he replied. 'sSinc,
you are lonely and l am done worl
here, | will go in the house with You.
go, do, please" said she. Thei
seeing the long, peculiar shaped board
with straps and buckles on them ant
half suspecting what they were, sh'
asked:
sNNhat are these, and what are the,
for, pray?''
"They are TO walk on; they are snow
Shoes" was his answer
"Oh, are they? and how doyou wall
on them? Why, are you making then
nOw?"
"Because want to get You out o
this place and restore you TO your father
and friends. The road | have beer
making is all filled with snow, and es
cape in that way is practically cut off
That being the ease, concluded il
would be best to leave you here an,
make my way To san Pedro, find you
father, inform him of your situation
and bring men and Il sleigh, put yol
in it and send you TO him. Had it no
been for the storm that came up thi,
morning, | should have been far away
on my journey by this time
..And would you have left me herr
alone?n she asked.
There would have been no othe
alternative he replied, avoiding tn,
earnest look she was bending upon him
"Why not make me a palr of shoes
instruct me how to use them and lie
me go with youP'
1.-The trip would be too perilous fo
you. You have no idea of the danger
you would encounter. Besides | an
not sure this snow extends more thaI
fifteen or twenty miles. You could no
possibly walk the balance of the wa
without running risks you know moth
ing of"
''But you-would not You also ru
risks?"
90, yes, but | am man. | am III
ured to hardship. | am accustomed t
danger and constituted to meet ii
Besides, suppose l did perish. Th