Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-09-21

weeks ne mOnnted MS horse a nu
rode down the narrow trail.
A few steps took him out of
sight of the cabin. He heard a
faint call, and looking back saw
Mrs. Rodden running down the
trail after him, She waved her
hand for him to return, and he
rode back.
"Will you do an errand for me
while you are In the city 7" he said.
Of course he consented, and she
gave him her commission, and with
a few parting words she ran up the
trail, while he turned his horse
again to descend. He looked back
after bis friend, and, to his surprise,
saw Rodden rise from behind a
bush near the trail. He thought
the man had been hidden, watch
ing his wife, but reflection made
the idea seem absurd-probably it
was mere coincidence. Even if
Rodden had heard every word of
the conversation it could only have
spoiled Mrs. Roddeh's little plot,
which was nothing worse than
Christmas surprise for her husband.
Raymond was detained a week
longer than he had expected, aud
when he started for the mountains
again his friends told him he would
never get through, but he persist
ed, and finally, after a long blttle
with the snowdrifts, lie reached the
camp on his route, haylng lost
week on the way.
1t was almost night and snow
and wind were in riotOus possession
Of the mountains when he found
himself riding down the trail a
mile or so above the camp where
he was to pass the night with the
ROddens.
Dusk came while he was still
more :han mile from the cabin.
He pressed on as fast as he dare |,
when suddenly his horse stopped
quiyerlng. Raymond could see
nothing, AID soothing the animal
with hama and voice urged him on.
There Was still light sufficient to
see around clearly enough to dis
tlnguish objects near the trail.
Raymond thought as he started
again that he saw something move
across the trail little way ahead.
The horse went slowly forward, but
with great reluctance, and when
they reached an open spot where
the light was sufficient to show
objects for some distance he again
stopped, trembling, and Raymond
for moment cOlld not persuade
him to start. At last the horse
started forward with a bound, and
as he did so Raymond saw Maggie
Rjdden on the trail, her hair
hanging arO1nd her pale face, her
hands stretched pleadIngIy toward
him and an expression OF mute
agony upon her white face.
Refining up as quickly as posi-
ble, Raymond turned to speak to
her, bat she had vanished. He
lode back and called her name, but
there was no answer. He dis
mounted aud looked for tracks at
the spot where she must have left
the trail, but found none.
Puzzled and annoy ed, be mount.
ed and rode as rapidly as possib Q
to the Rodden cabin.
Hurriedly dismounting, Hay
mond called Rodden out and asked
If he knew that his wife was
wandering alone through the snow
away up the mountain trail. Rod
den was too much unnerved for a
moment to reply. Then he man.
aged to sIy that the express ri1er
must have dreamed he saw her, as
she had gone home, gone back east,
more than a month before. Hay
mOnd stuck to his story but at last
he was obliged to conclude that his
Imagination had play ed him trick.
He couldn't help wondering,
though, what had frightened the
horse.
There vas nothing to be done
or said, for if Mrs. Rodden had
gone home month before certain.
Il she could not have been roam
ing around in the snow, and as
there was no other woman within
miles of the camp he must have
been mistaken. ROdden, though
not at all hospitable IN manner, got
supper and allowed the express
rider to stop for the night.
After supper HIymonl op,ne q
his saddlebags, saying:
"Well, as Maggie is not here TO
take her package, and as 1t was
if-A1Io.k | g.