The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-01-20
A loud "Hurrah p went up, and "Three

| Vi sthu OOdoCo-
while our little conductor bad left us-hat
set forth without further delay on his brave
kindly errand.
We curled ourselves in our warm berth
for few minutes more, and thought shiv.
eringly of the bitter cold without, and the
terrible blizzard blowing. We decided
that Conductor B. 1--WE afterward learned
the good mans namel was a hero Think
of what he was facing for us
Then we realized we must dress. We
managed to make our toilet-in a some.
what cramped position, it is true, as even
the best of pullman" berths are not very
wide-but then, every one else was up and
dressed, as we have already said, and
therefore, we could not make good our es-
cape to the dressing-room as we'll as We
might have done otherwise.
So, concealed by the heavy red and gold
barred curtains, we managed to avoid OBJ
servation, until we could come forth prop
erly attired.
We were dimly conscious that our over
skirt hung somewhat crookedly, and had
grave doubts as to whether our hair was as
smoothly and artistically arranged as it
should have been, as we had had only a
tiny hand-gla to view it by; but it was
the best one could do under the circum-
stances.
On presenting ourselves We were greeted
by little derisive laughter near by, which
was rather netting, to say the least.
A well-known voice exclaimed in rather
convulsed tone-
'If you only could see yourself, child
You are simply irresistible =
We deigned one scornful look in the
direction of the voice, which emanated
from young man, who appeared so meek
ly innocent, withal, that one would have
never dreamed him guilty of sarcasm, and
fed in the direction of the dressing room
In the privacy and seclusion of that small
room we determined husbands were not
altogether agreeable-they were apt to be
too frank occasionally
1t was nearly noon when our gallant
conductor returned, struggling manfully
with two huge, heavily laden baskets, his
small, wiry form so whitened by the snow
through which he had waded, his red
weather-beaten face such 4 dull purple
from the stinging cold, as to be almost un,
recognizable
Again the car was rent with cheers
Then the great baskets were seized upon
with startling rapidity, and their. contents
rifled in less time than it takes to write Of
The somewhat tough steak between the
thick slices of bread was cold, and the cof-
fee, which had been brought in bottles
cold likewise, and quite innocent of milk
but, oh how more than thankful we poor,
/ famished mortals were to noble little Con
ductof b!
''Some one brought me back in sleigh,
he informed us cheerily, watching his good
ly store of provisions vanishing with aP
appreciative smile, $50 it wasn't so lad
you see, after ALL IF the wind hadp't
blowed 20 I'd have reached the station soon
enough in spite Of the snow; but twas
pretty hard walking With that 'ere blizzard il
your face all the way! And that ere iowa
town! (rcferring to the station,) well
'twasn't any credit to the State II ii
had been, I'd have brought you something
better-but, bless my soul, ! was lucky tc
get what did p he ended, chuckling.
''tts good enough-good enough " q
chorus of voices protested, and the way the
huge sandwiches and black coffee we're
disappearing wonld certainly testify that it
was not bad
All that day we were snow-bound, The
hours seemed interminable-the day end
less. The passengers read, dozed, talked
/ by fits and starts with one another, stared
aimlessly about the car, for they could see
nothing out the windows for the drifts:
yawnod. slept . little more, played cards as
a last resource, and gfew depressed, cheer
ful, desperate, and hopeful by turns
From our corner-a corner rendered
more comfortable through the aid of shawls
and pillows-we watched intently the peo.
pie about US, and before the day ended
became not little interested in some of
them.
Will we ever forget that pretty, fresh.
faced girl with the shining brown hair, and
dark, wide-open eyes? Can we not see
now, that shapely small head, with its
crown of lustrous hair, outlined against the
dul-red back of the car-seat, as she leaned
gracefully back, smiling just a little at the
rapid animated conversation of a certain
fair haired young man sitting opposite
her? How bright-how full Of life she
seemed Nothing appeared to weary her
not even the tedious delay on the journey
caused by the blockade.
What would we not give for such con
tentment of disposition
But, perhaps, the fair-haired, blue-eyed
young man had something to do with this
serene contentment, this capability of en-
joyment under trying circumstances.
She had evidently not known him long.
Indeed, they seemed to have gotten ac-
quainted since the morning. Some one,
evidently relative of the girl, had made
them knownto each other. This same rela-