Smyrna times., 1891-12-09
A Timely Storm.
BY r. f. WHITFIELD.

A AAAO4J OIOAm
BY R. f. WHITFIELD.
The train whistled shrilly in the
evening air, paused au instant at a for
lOTn little station in the West, and
pulled onward across the plains, leav-
ing behind 120 pounds of its burden.
Thls burden, after gazing on the re-
treating monster with a sort of dismav
turned and walked briskly into the
station.
1t was trim little figure the express
had left; one could see that, dspite the
cumbersome shawl Y n which it was
envelOped, and - heavy veil that
we, as author, have right to lift, con.
cealed face of marvellous beauty and
purity, a trihe marred, perhaps, by an
expression of disdain.
Miss Candace Roger, as we stated.
walked briskly into the station. proba-
bly, in order to avoid the chilling blasts
OF the cold north wind, for she threw
back her shawl when she felt the heat
from little stove ia the middle of the
room.
Can you tell me-" she said, address,
ing the station agent, chow far it is to
Henry Kingdoms ranch ?"
Twelve miles," replied he, briefly {.
then, as the lady raised the veil which
we have already lifted, he cried out in
amazement, mot you, Miss Roger, here
-alonew
why, Mr.. Blackburn Can it be
you in this Out-Of-the-way placer How
came you here?"
mo mystery, whatever. A poor
man must make living some wsv
and l have fair start y
my father mo- b;s bro.hor.;,
NV and two days ago l
n from him to come
ay heis eccentric, but
any rate, it fright
anne in all haste.
y to reach him tonight.
!" replied the agent,
re window and looking
lust stay here"
alton ?"
,suredly."
, no other house near byY
uestiOn is needless. must
,O.night."
Iswer the young man led her
open door and babe her to look
/. A thin, gray, filmy mist
the northern horizon, while an
merable flock of small birds
led and darted about the lonely
ton.
There are no dwellings save squat
er cabins near Henry Kingdoms
ranch, and those signs denote a severe
storm within a very brief period. Now
will you remain"
Are you all alone, Mr.. Blackburn"
she said.
His fs &e fell as he replied: "An
alone.
Candace retired haughtily within
herself, and flashed glance of indig-
nant surprise at the luckless agent.
Il understand you, Miss Roger, and
will say no more. l have a team and
buggy and the only one save King
don's in the country, which keep for
the purpose of conveying ranchers to
their homes. 1t you wish | will hitch
up directly and drive over, despite the
coming storm, which, repeat, will be
severe. But perhaps my company
will be obnoxious in the buggy as in
the station"
"Oh, no Your presence is not OBJ
nOxiOus," replied the girl cOntritely.
But can you leave the station ?"
There is no train before tomorrow
morning, and shall have returned by
then-perhaps."
The last word he uttered too softly
for the girl to hear; he dared not
alarm her, though he was himself per.
fectly aware how much he risked in
the desperate attempt. He stirred the
fire and put pan of water over it,
then buttoning up his coat, started for
the horses.
'Mr. Blackburn is going along, SO
there can be no danger" unused the
young lady, throwing back the shawl
from her lovely rounded form. "But
to stay here all night-why, it is not to
be thought Ofw y
There was history behind all this,
Oliver Blackburn had met Candace
Roger while going to a school of tel
egraphy in St. Louis. Her father was
rich. He was poor and had no expec.
tatiOns, 1t was the old story. He loved
the beautiful girl, but resOlutely drop
ped her acquaintance. Finishing his
course, he obtained employment and
removed to this bleak and obscure
station on the very outside Of CiViliza-
ton.
Candace had never given him q
thought since he dropped out of her
life, while he had pondered about her
continually, and made himself com.
fortably wretched, of course. And
now came this chance meeting in the
Far West, and the long ride in pros
pective.
Presently Oliver came in to say that
all was ready. He took the boiling
water from the stove and poured il
into a large jug WHICH he eorked
tightly. Seiging an arm-load Of quilts
from the bed, he led the way from the
room, bidding Candace wrap her shaw
tightly about her.
Upon reaching the buggy he set the
jug in the hay with which he had filed
the bed then, deity arranging the
quilts, he lifted the girl inside and took
his own place beside her.
NOW We are in for IT," he muttered,
starting the horses. "It is fortunate
that have a splendid team; we can
reach Kingdoms in an hour if the
storm holds off,"
But the storm did not hold off: they
had not proceeded two miles ere Il
burst upon them in wonderful fury. It
was not rain nor snow nor sleet, mere.
ly wind, but oh, how cold it was Nc
one unfamiliar with the plains could
live through such a storm. Forum.
ately it was blowing upon the backs OF
the youthful couple, which fact
though it made the return to the sta.
ton out of the question, did not render
onward progress impossible. They
struggled ahead for about mile, with
the cold steadily gaining upon them
before the agent decided that extra
precaution must be taken, He stopped
the team,
"Now, Candace." he said-they ar,
already on very good terms nothing
breeds friendship like q common dan
ger-"you must do exactly as biz
you, no matter how distasteful 1t ma,
-am. / may as we'll tell you it is on
for life."