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

was an ardent lover OF Nature
and reveled III all her glorious
manifestations of power, and
j on this occasion, had he had
only himself to think of, could
have united with the enthusiastic and
beautiful girl ut his side in her eXcla-
nations of delighted admiration. But
the fact was all too patent to his mind
that they we're prisoners in this OBJ
scure mountain home and that this
great snow bank that held all nature
in its grasp was barring their escape.
However, he hoped the snowdrift that
enveloped his house and stable might
be local, but he feared--and the fear
was much greater than the hope-that
it extended miles down the valley and
far into the level country beyond. If
it did, escape from their present im-
prisonment would be very difficult in
deed This he explained to her AS they
returned to the kitchen.
As soon as they had eaten breakfast
he went to the stable, and opening the
door, began cutting passage way for
the horses. He found it an herculean
task. The snow was soft and yielding,
and in most difficult condition for work
ing. The shades of evening overlook
him before he had extended his passage
an hundred feet. At this rate it
would take HIM eighty days to cut his
way out to the plain.
Returning to the house, where Grace
had spent the day alone, he found her
in excellent spirits considering the cir
cumstances that surrounded her, busily
engaged in getting supper. She had
bravely made up her mind to make the
best of her situation, endure what she
could not cure, and be as helpful to
her kind protector as possible. He,
she knew, was diligently laboring to
cut way out of the snow so he could
return her safely to her father, and his
consideration and unseliishness touched
her deeply. She could best show her
appreciation of his efforts by secOnding
them. He came upon her with the cuffs
of her sleeves turned back, her lovely
white arms barred half way to the ell
bows, and working away at supper
getting as if she had been accustomed
to such service all her life.
| After supper, which both enjoyed
with rare good appetites, Howard ex-
| planned the unsatisfactory results of the
days labor, but announced his deter
mination to continue his eXertions on
the morrow.
"Don't forget said Grace as he
arose to retire, sdo call me early.
| tn do al this xyDrl.
alone. must do my share. can cook
and keep house; and may be relieve
YOU at the shovel sometimes"
.sThank you!" was the reply. "YOu
have already proven yourself most
excellent assistant. You may take
care of the house if you will, for here
your skill and taste are already work
ing wonders, but shall not allow you
to shovel snow;'' and giving her al
eloquent look out of his handsome, ex.
pressive eyes, he left her wondering al
the strange fascination of his manners
That night Grace had a dream that
left a more than passing impression
upon her mind. She dreamed she was
in IA boat crossing wide river jus
above a rapids. The oarsman, insteac
of rowing her straight across, when h,
got into midstream headed the boat fol
the falls, and pulled towoads the mos
dangerous place. Soon the swift cur.
rent caught the boat and was sweeping
it rapidly to destruction. She could
hear the rush of the waters as they
plunged and Kissed and seethed among
| fhn In vain oh ,,lanHnH IN tha
oarsman TO pull to the shore. He only
answered her petition with mocking
laugh, and then she discovered wha
she had not known before; The oars
man was Luke Adams.
"Ha! ha! hal" he laughed. ''l
have you now my pretty one. You
spurned my love. You rejected my
devotion. l fooled you with Nannette
and made you believe your lover false
You drove him from you. Again
sued for your hand. You still were
obdurate. Then | planned your cap
ture by the Indians, but you escaped
them and me. But | have you now!
have you now; nor heaven nor hell cal
take you from mel" and his rasping,
knocking laugh again rang out higf
over the roar of the raging waters.
Just as the boat was about to plung'
over the cataract another one shot on
from the shore, and propelled by strons
arms, cleft the racing waters rs a birC
cleaves the air, and quickly closed th'
intervening space that separated TIN
boats.
abe calm''-called out n manly yoic'
"a voice she had not heard for years
voice that thrilled her soul with glad
ness. .'Be calm; will save you"
On came the boat, and handled will
masterful skill, swept swiftly by. Bu
as it passed, so close that it grazed tn
others guard rail, II strong arm lifted
her out of the boat she was in and seat
ed her safely beside the oarsman in tn,
other one just rs the boat containing
Luke Adams was carried over the falls
Then her deliverer, whom she recog
nized as Howard IIerndon, plying th
oars with superhuman strength, sOoI
brought the boat to shore in one of tn,
most beautiful spots she had ever seen
The woods were rich and green il
their magnificent foliage, and wer
vocal with the songs of birds. Flower
of the most brilliant colors made fra
grant the soft and balmy air. Th
tufted grass spread as Il carpet unde
foot, and tinkling fountains played il
the laughing sunshine. 1t was Il para
disc on earth; a land of enchantment
The oarsmen stepped on shore ant
held out his hand to assist her to land
With heart overtiowing with graft
tude she looked up and 10! instead o
Howard Herndon, saw the face ant
form of her host.
Howard was astir early the following
morning and as soon as he had kindle'
fire i'm the kitchen, knocked at Grace
door as she had requested. He foun,
her already up and dressed. Break
fast was soon cooked and eaten and h
returned to his work in the snow. Fo
hours he toiled, and by noon he ha
! made very satisfactory headway. Hi
hope was that when he got away from
the shelter of the mountain the snov
| would not be so deep, and his wor
l lighter. The lighter his work the NOR
rapid would be his progress.
He only stopped an hour to partak
of steak and some coffee Grace ha
prepared for him; then resumed hi
, work. By Sundown he had extende
] his trench three hundred yards. II