Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-12-04
A Winter NIGHT;
OR
Found in a SnoW-Drift.
CHAPTER I.

snow fakes, that fall softly, clothing all
things in silent, shroud-like way. The
Newport-road, In Roath, a suburb OF Cardff
was sheer sheet Of untrodden snow, for Is
fell fast; and the time was two o'clock I'm
the morning. The rough stone fronts Of the
pretty villas were frosted like fairy castles,
the trees reared their bare branches newly
begemmed by King Frost.
| A deadly chill was in the air, a deadly ST.
lencc on the earth; and walking along,
weary, alone, was the tall slim figure of q
young girl wrapped in a long fur-!incd
cloak, the hood Of which was drawn over her
head.
Her fair childish face was white and set
with look of determination mingled with
despair. Hers was desperate venture, and
she knew not where ii would lead. She
seemed possessed by one idea, and that 10
get over rs much ground as possible before
day dawned.
Her little bare hands, blue with the cold,
gathered her furs close about her; the snow
almost blinded her. Her knees knocked to-
gcther; she was half persisted with cold and
fatigue.
On, on, footsore and heartsick, past the
pretty pleasant home-placcs TO where the
road was edged on either side by snow-laden
hedges, and the everlasting hills showed
family afar of crowned with the purity Of
lhe unsullied snow; the meadows stretched
away on either side smooth sheets Of white.
Nothing stirred In this still night-season;
oil was silent and cold as the grave.
Still, with undGunted spirit the girl press
ed on, q fire Of indignant resentment burn
ing in her poor heart, her head hot with the
wild excit, ment that had taken her out from
| lt.xt..
the night tramp!ng the snow TO whatever
destiny awaited her, since she had taken
fats In her own hands, and flown from what
she felt TO be worse than thousand deaths
Truly, she was mad from life's history"
nh. and nearer than sho knew to deaths
mystery" How cold 1t was, how hard to
breathe the heavy a!r The girls chill lips
parted once TO give vent to an exceeding
bitter cry:
"Oh, mother! ysu are near - God; pray
that He may give your child 2eacs-merci-
full peace"
Then the pretty dimpled chin dropped On
her chest and she staggered on. After .
time she resled unstsAdily, and her head
felt dszed. She stood still moment with
! her hand to her heart, then fell back in a
dead faint on asnow-drift
The wind walled above her, the bare
branches of . bonnie oak dropping with
crystal-clear icicles hung above her like the
crown Of cruel King Frost.
"Confound the snowv' said a horseman
ut the Cardiff end Of the Newportroad, as
bis horse clipped dangerously.
A fine Newfoundland stopped as he was
urging on his mad career TO come back with
bark Of sympathy.
Go ahead Drift, good dogl We sha'n't
be home by daybreak. On, Blanche, bon
ME one"-this TO his beautiful mare, with
white star on her forehead.
The rider was a nobls-,ooking fellow Of
about three-and-thirty. buttoned up TO the
chin in a fur-lined ulster, with a yachting
cap Of b,us cloth on his head. He had a
clear-cu. face, tanned by the sun, black har,
osecrepped, heavy moustache, and clear
stecl-elue eyes.
He wss covered with snow, had tarried
toe long at a club at Cardiff, and was max
ing greaS speed for home, with big doll
rLdx ono arm and bottle Of cherry brandy
uadsr the ether. given to him n Christ
ma.ko1 BY buxsn landlady, who adored
bis clear bsyi.h blue eyes, and felt for him
rs mother, or one vhe would wish to be
mother under fit and proper auspices
Blanche pui her best tost forward; the
|
whistled, he had ten thousand q year.
window In all the genteel villas afforded q
/ light.
Pierce Penfold lighted black pipe, wish
ed he had another glass of whisky hot, set
lied his square chin in his collar, and gave
his good black mare flick with his whip,
with orders 70 move on quick-sharp."
The road was heavy and long and the sky
above was dark and dreary. Pierce forgot
his newly-acquired funny stories and sharp
Jokes, feeling desolate and dull. A big
snowflake settled in his pipe, spluttered.
Kissed, and damped its fame. Then came
, hasty whisper:
'Oh, hang the snowl What COMPOUNDED
long road this Is On, Blanche, my beauty,
or we shall be frozen to deathr'
But the mare stood still they had passed
the last public, and were on the dreary high.
road with nothing but snow about them.
Drift barked Justify, and few from the
snow-drift back to his master, and seemed
TO entreat him to pause.
| Pierce refined in his horse and looked
where his faithful dog stood beside blot
On the whiteness OF the snow-bank, then ex.
claimed hoarsely:
"Merciful God, II Is woman
Hastily dismountng, he bent over the
PROSTATE form. The whiteness Of the earth
seemed to dlffuse a light about her.
He pulled aside her cloak 10 see a beauti-
ful white bosom bare above square-cut
black velvet dress, with a cross Of gems mp
on it that Jews might kiss and hfdels
ADORE" so beautiful was the lustre of the
gems, so fair and pure the lovely breast they
adorned.
"Merciful God, IL is a woman. and what n
womanl Inever hoped to find such pearl
In q snow-drift. Good dog, Drift. Steady,
my mare! Thank Heaven for the fair wild
ow's Christmas-boxl She is cold as ice, but
she can't be dead. That were too dreadful,
poor childr
He hastily lifted her from her Icy bed,
ehafed her hands and face with the soft
broken snow, knocked the neck off the bot
tie, and Nured some OF the life-giving fluid
down her throat.
She was slow to revive, and he got fright
ened for her; she was so young, so beauti.
full II was as though Princess Prettyface