Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-09-21

upon | told her to get as low down 10
the sleigh as possible, which she did. and
pulled the robes over her head, she
nesting very close to me.
Somehow this was not altogether dis
agreeable, and in my Imagination be-
gan to picture what my companion was
like.
| The wind-swept stretch of road was
six miles long, and when we had gone
about third of tho distance the horses
stopped.
Looking ahead found that the drift
had deepened and that they were stand
ing in it up to their bodies. l urged
them n little, but soon saw that it was
of no use. They only plunged in .
manner to endanger themselves and the
sleigh.
There was but one thing to do--to get
out and break road. Telling my COM
panion to crouch low in the sleigh, I
covered her well with the robes and, GO
ing in front of the horses, began TO
tramp down the snow.
| worked with all my speed, yet it
was more than an hour, | judge, before
| had q track made for them.
When | returned to the sleigh I was
thoroughly heated and as wet from psrs-
piratiOn as if | had plunged into water.
l knew | was running fearful risk
in sitting down in that fearful wind, but
there seemed to be no alternative 80,
protecting myself as we'll as possible
from the blast, which seemed to grow in
strength, urged the horses along.
%As they proceeded slowly my COM
panion threw the covering from her
head and said
"You must have got heated, working
as hard as you did, and you will take
cold unless you do something at once.
If you sit there till tho cold strikes you,
you will die"
Il do not think there is any danger"
| said.
but know there is" answered she.
Then throwing down the robes she stood
up in the sleigh and added: "Give me
the reins. Get down there out of the
wind and cover yourself up"
At this momont shudder passed over
me and | realized what truth there might
be in her words. She OWNED the rea-
son for my silence and said:
"You know am right. Oh. why will
you not do as | ask p
"But you"
Never mind me. will be oil right
Besides, it will only be for little
WHILE"
A second shudder, worse than the
first, reused me thoroughly to my dan
ger, and protesting that il vas only for
minute or two that | would avail my
self of the shelter of the sleighbox. |
crouched downand allowed her to cover
me.
was soon shaking like one in an
ague fit, hot and cold by turns, How
slow wo seemed to BIO going! Two or
three times tried TO rise and take the
reins, but was quito unable, aud my
companion assured me each time that
she was not cold, and was doing famous
ly-the excitement kept her warm, she
said.
| did not believe her then, and know
now that what she said was not true
that she suffered terribly. But | did
not know, until they told me two weeks
afterward ut the hotel in Brenton, that
she took off her own wraps to make my
covering heavier, for was insensible
when they lifted me out of the sleigh.
When three weeks later, weak from
fever, I employed my first conscious
moment in asking aftor my companion.
the nurse told me that she had driven
the horses into Brenton Mt gallon.
Not knowing about the roads she had
naturally enough followed tho straight
one, and for fourteen miles had driven
through the forest, with me lying IN
concious at her feet.
They carried me in and put me to bed.
while the lady fell before the fire in q
faint, caused by WEAKNESS and the re-
action of her nervous power.
Strange to say, she was really not
very much the worse for her terrible OK
perience, but | had walked up in fever
and for three weeks had been delirious.
"Where is the lady now? 2" asked,
but added: "Of course she is gone. |
should like to have seen her."
The nurse stepped aside without re-
plying. looked up for an explanation.
when my eyes rested upon the face Of
Kate Mcdonald.
katie ~ was all could say.
"Aleck y she replied, and took my
outstretched hand in hers.
Katie" | said, after a moment Of
happiness too deep for words, sis il pos
sible that you were my companion and
my savior y
II do not know about my being the
last, but [ certainly was the first"
"And I did not know it,"
"But did, she said, with her merry
laugh. "And what is more, knew
you after you first spoke to me-"
looked at her hands. There was
no ring on tho slim white fingers
Katie" said, "they tell me you
saved my life but you had better have
let me lose it unless you will promise 10
share it with me"
She did not speak, but the look in
her eyes was enough WaUerley Muga-
zine.