The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1893-12-29

replace in the living room. drinking
heir coffee after Il late dinner. The
ghts were not Lit and the family sat in
he Pickering light of Il hi. lire of
mckling pine logs. which threw out
huaint shadows in every direction This
party was the usual one that yearly
kathered ut Jack Ralston's to spend the
christmas holidays with him and his
Family. As they sat III tile cheerful
Warmth and glow Of the fire they list
ened to the fearful storm that roarel
outside A blizzard had been raging for
the past three days, the wind hoWlel
and shreked through the mountain
peaks, driving the fast-falling snow be
fore it and piling ii up in immense
drifts against every obstruction. 1t
was bitter. biting. cold wind. too. as it
tore through the valley like Il demon
seeking whom it might destroy, doing
It's utmost to completely bury the house
/ from view in the snow. but, sheltered
as it was by two giant rocks. one Oh
each side with the mountain side a its
back, the house was safe in its snug lt
tie spot, even from the storms greatest
Jury. The inclement weather had kept
ne men indoors, and they were grum-
Ming over their enforced idleness. and
Dragged about the amount Of game
they would have bagged had they only
! been able TO get out
Say, Jack. it's some time yet before
midnight. Can't you spin us a yarn"
hnally said Bobby Caruthers, after
long pause in the conversation
We'll, | was just thinking said
Jack. of just such i night as this.
fifteen years ago. when. if it had not
been for the pluck of that little woman
yonder, l would not be here tonight to
see the New Year come in. and he
gazed fonlly at his wife who still
looked like 4 young woman as She SIT
~ the tiickering light, although on one
side sat her son, Il fair young giant, and
on the other her daughter. beautiful
girl just blossoming into Womanhood.
Lets have it," came in chorus from
the party
We'll, fill your pipes. and I'll tell
you my story. You see. fifteen years
ago | wasn't as prosperous as ! am
now. | was just starting out ranching.
had only been here some three years.
then, and where this house now stands
we only had a small log cabin Young
Jack over there was only six years old
at the time and Miss Edith was trotting
round, a young three e-year-old. The
winter had opened badly; snow had
come very early, and with it bitter cold
weather. We had plenty Of fuel, 50 we
managed to keep warm enough The
cabin was in the same spot as this
mousse now is, SO the two big rocks
helped to keep off the fierceness Of the
wind; but we We're completely buried
under the snow so that we had to dig
tunnel from the front door out into the
open air. Myself and all the boys were
xept mighty busy taking forage out to
spots where the cattle could get at it,
uhd SO not starye to death Well one
morning, about two weeks before
christmas. after heavy snowfall,
started out with all hands on one OF
'nese trips. intending to gather all the
cattle together us much as possible, and
70 Dulld some large hay stacks, SO that
ney would have plenty Of food for
some time: also as our grub was get
Ing very low. we We're going to push
through to Dolores to provision up for
eno rest Of the winter in case we