The Bossier banner., 1892-08-04

had masked the entire sky. The wind
grew strong and was soon filled with
fine particles of swirling snbw, but
Mrs. Barten needed not; timekAwas too
precious.
''It's growing dark" she grumbled,
as she slid more pans into the oven;
days are pesky short this time O. year"
1t was only when fierce gust of
wind hurled cloud of snow against
the window that she looked up.
For the lands sake," she exclaimed.
"1ts showing N I'll lay dollar them
drafted children's out in it
Hurrying to the door she called shril-
ly:
Bob! Liza! March your boots in
here quicker'n lightningr"
Receiving no reply she muttered
angrily:
upstairs rumagin', most likely.
Seems with all my work they might
quit their didoes for awhile"
But when sharp call up the stairs
failed to elicit response she began to
look anxious. Throwing a shawl over
her head she went out into the yard.
The snow was now whirling past in
binding sheets, and the keen wind cut
one like knife. Already white drifts
were forming in the fence corners and
sheltered places. Objects dozen yards
away were becoming indistinct.
A thorough search of the yard failed to
show any trace of the children and she
returned to the house to decide on her
next move. She could not determine
the direction the childish feet had taken
and once out of sight of the house she
knew there was little probability of
their finding their way back by them
selves. There was no danger of their
being lost unless they wandered away
from the village, but Liza had scarcely
recovered from the measles and Mrs
Barten had all the mothers horror of
wet feet and colds.
A smell of burning bread drew her
attention to the stove. When she re-
turned to the door she saw bent figure
coming up the path. A moment later
and the old woman stood before her.
but now the ragged shawl was closely
wrapped around one child, while
another clung to her skirts, sobbing
bitterly. The strangers face was full
of a wistful tenderness, but Mrs. Bar
ten did not see it. Assured of the
children's safety, her feelings under
went quick change. Her child in the
arms of dreaded ''furriner." In a
moment she had hurried the little ones
to the fire and was removing their outer
, garments. What contamination and
, disease might not lurS in the ragged
shawl and draggled skirts!
, She was aroused from her reflections
; by the entrance of her husband.
: ''More wet feet eh?" he said, as he
! drew a chair to the stove.
"Aller's wet feet when there's any
: thing to wet 'em in," she returned.
/ Then, after moment, she added
/ "You go tell the old woman she can
} come in to the fire. Beggars and young
, 'uns are enough to make folks lose theil
2 wits -
Il passed an old woman outside the
2 gate he said, as he took his pipe from
S the shelf and began to fill it. ''If its
G her you mean, she's half down the street
: before this"
E Then I'm shet O. thet trial." she
4 said, in relieved tone. ''Some of the
e neigh bors will be sure n take her in.
All night long and the next day ant
e night the snow whirled and drifteC
S about the village. Then the sun came
S out and the men and boys took thei
: teams and shovels and began to dil
d communications between the houses
t AS the paths became clear one neigh
Dor after another sailed forth to gossil
over the events of the storm.
At length some one mentioned tn
n old beggar woman, and then it wa
e learned that no one knew of her where
abouts; nearly all had seen her, an
most of them confessed that they ha
d sent her away with flea in her bon
q not"
d One man thought she went towar
|. the Freeman house. This was a dc
e serted building just out of the village
Vt Without hesitation the men took thei
y shovels and began to dig vigorously /
:. that direction. And Mrs. Barten worke
IS with the foremost.
= Lucky there's a good fireplace an
n plenty of fuel in the old house," sal
d one. ''The old lady can keep warm, br
1 guess she'll be mighty hungry"
T. When they reached the house ther
was no sign of its being occupied.
y 'She amt here" said the man wh
II had spoken before, as he threw ope
- the door.
But he was mistaken; they found he
'o inside. She was dead.-Kansas Cit
. Times.