Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-06-08

away. The instinct Of self-orcserva-
ton, the fright Of the moment dulled
her memory of that terrible scene at
the bridge; for utter loneliness and
desolatlon spread before her; not q hab-
itation, human being or light showed
She might have been Il thousand miles
from civilization for all its evidences
that existed in her immediate prOXim-
' sn; I'm , ma:;e sinai. sn ,:.t! so-"a4 way
Her tones were hollow, the utter
ance despairing. affrighted. Nurtured
amid delicate care, scarcely clothed to
endure the rigors of such exposure,
she felt that her strength and her will
were fast DESERVING her.
She tried to summon all her fOrtitlde
and calmness She decided that the
town they had left an hour previous
must lie beyond level waste bounded
on its farther edge by ridge Of trees
and bushes In that direction she start
ed.
Knee-deep in a drift, swayiug like
reed in the wind she wavered. fairly
in the center of the vast meadow.
Snow was all about her-carth and
air seemed full of it. 1t dazzled her
vision, it penetrated sleeve and hood,
it choked and blinded her.
a fearful night, truly! The noise Of
the rising tempest rang out like the
waves Of angry sea-. The storm had
tapped out the baleful light Of moon
and stars. In the strength Of a mighty
glee. the wind raved and roared, sweep
ing the drifting snow about her like
a shroud.
"I-can-go-no--furt
With a moan that was u prayer. the
delicate girl sank down. Her strength
had given out completely The snow
came thicker, the wind blew faster,
the CHASTITY white stretch before her
began to be flecked with fire, as her
ovcrstrained nerves drove the fever
blood from heart to brain.
oh! the reSt-the luiet!' she MUIR
INJURED, as she closed her eyes in that
fatal delight which cold and cNhaus-
ton bring. to lure the leluded victim
to the last long sleep. "ltaymond-
Beatrice - father! goodnight, good
night"
A rare. ecstatic smile stole over her
face. The suffering Of life was lnerg-
ing into the delirium Of drea inland
She had lain down to desc young.
so fair, so little realizing how near
death grazed her bonny heart!
oh! let me rest; l am so weary"
A rough contact. Il blast OF warm
breath sweeping her face reused the
benulnbcd girl to look up.
Then. with a frantic scream. she
struggled to her feet and stood ITEM
blingly staring at an intruder, The shock
happily dissipated the l"tharSy that
benumbed her senses. and bringing Fer
a realization anew OF the pcrilS that
menaccd her.
The hideOus form that her uncertain
vision had exaggerated into some ter
rible creation of her fancy, brushed
close against her. its rough head swept
her hands and face, thrilling them to
sense of feeling with the animal
warmth of its rough caress.
A great homely-faced horse. lost or
strayed from home. like puzzled wan
dercr over the black eXpanse, seek
ing shelter, the animal had saved her
life.
II was going to sleep" painted Edna.
with an affrjghted shudder. 'Oh! l
must struggle on. for Raymond's sake.
heaven help and guide Inc. l cannot
die here alone"
She grasped the horses name as the
animal neighed uneasily. ClinJi:lg to it
she walked-was dragged along. The
patient horse ploddcd forward. They
reached Il road. Minutes seemed an
hour. Edna was conscious of relaxing
her hold on her dumb guide from sEeer
weakness, of sinking helpless to the
ground.
Was that light shining near-grate-
fully near? She tried to cry out, but
her utterancc seemed choked and hol-
low, and its faint echo died in her own
throat
Surely there was house before her!
an open shed. too, beneath which the
horse stood painting, but safe from the
storm.
If she would only drag herself there!
But it was not to be. Exhausted ma
ture could endure no more.
She closed her eyes with a moan Of
utter WEAKNESS and despair. Again
her senses glided into the fatal dream
land Of unreality. The snow seemed
destined to finish a dark nights work
by burying Edna Deane and the mys-
Ter! VI ltl 1dll SouhS Ail0 peueo'h ~"
mantle alike.
Ghostly fell the snow.
Fiercer rose the wild winds, more
weird became the clOggcd lnisshapen
landscapes: darker grew the night. The
dainty form was outlined. first in a
royal robe of erlnine. then a little
mound showed then a greater one. and
then-only bleak level Of expanse--
the wanderer completely obliterated,
as if a part Of the great spreading
meadow itself.
And ghostly fell the snow!
To Be COntinued.)
Letting Him Have 1t.