The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1893-12-28

iou Oh IL. Alter putting a shawl INFO
the basket. he put Elsie in it, and
slowly drew it back and forth. The
novelty of it Quoted the tired child.
and the gentle motion soon put her
to sleep Then he took her out and
laid her on the bed. BY this time
LOttle had the bread nodded into
smooth loales, anu was Just finishing
rounding out the pan of biscuit for
supper.
After placing them near the stove,
she again went Over to the window,
The storm seemed fiercer than ever,
and it was impossible to distinguish
anything at all outside.
Max, it is growing worse all the
time. l must go right now and take
some water for Medley. and milk her.
l know l 4 can milk her if / try, and
Moolcy is so gentle"
No, indeed, Lottie; you mustn't
try to 90 out. You couldn't get to
the barn; you couldn't see and you
might be blown away and you would
have to face the wind coming back.
No, you mustn't 60"
But the poor cow would die with
out water, and besides. Elsie must
have her milk. Yes, l shall try" she
said r%esolutely.
She then united the clothes-line,
with which Max had fastened the
basket for Elsie. Tying one end
firmly to the door knob, she made a
slip-knOt of the other and put Il on
her wrist.
Now, you see, Max, 1 can just
follow the rope and get back to the
door"
please let me go, Lottie, 1 am a
boy, and boys can stand more than
girls can"
mo, Max: you are only a little
boy, not so old as | am. Don't worry,
l won't get lost. l had better take
the lantern. 1t won't help me see
through the storm, but the barn will
be dark"
SO she took the lantern in one
hand. and the pail of water for the
cow in the other. The brave girl
hesitated for a moment, for when
she opened the door the binding
snow blew into her face, making her
catch her breath. Then she stepped
outside and closed the door after her.
Taking the direction which she
thought right, she made slow pro-
gress. At last she pushed against
something which she thought must
be the barn. Holding up her lantern
close to it, however, she discovered an
ash-barrel and knew that she had
still some distance to go. On she
went through the storm, the water
from the pail she carried spilling over
her feet and freezing. every few steps.
But at last she could hear the cow,
and following the sound, she soon
reached the barn door. but her poor,
numbed fingers could hardly open it.
When she stepped into the barn and
held up her lantern, Mooley looked
at her so gratefully that she was glad
she came. First putting the feed
where the COW could get it, she
empticd the water for her to drink
and tried very hard to milk. But it
was new work and her fingers were
very cold. However, she was glad
to get enough for Elsie.
As she opened the door to go back
to the house the storm seemed
higher than ever, and she was
was glad she had the rope and that it
would show her the way. Pulling it
until it seemed tight, she put first
one hand forward, then the other all
the way until she fell against the
door, and Max opened it.
He had been much frightened
about her: he took Off her wraps. and
shoes and stockings. and then rubbed
the cold fingers. AS he did so he
discovered that the cherished ring
was gone. Poor Lottie IL was her
only bit of jewclry. But she must
not cry. She must go to work. There
was the supper to get. She put her
bread and biscuit into the oven, and
then went on with other prepare
tions, Max setting the table for her.
Elsie woke just as it was ready. Lot
tie tried to console her for the alb
scence Of her mother.
Come, dear" she said, land Lot
tie will give you a nice biscuit and
milk" As she said this she broke
one of her biscuits, and there was her
ring in the center of it. Max was
almost as glad as she was, and it
seemed so funny to find it there.
After supper she amused Elsie until
bedtime. She was so worried about
her parents that she thought she
would not sleep at all.
But she did sleep soundly and when
she awoke the Il was shining
brightly. They were soon watching
a~nXiously for their parents.
Lottie could not keep from crying
when she saw them. They had moi
started when it began to snow, and
concluded to wait.
They thought the children had
dono Snlendidly and Mr.. Parker took