Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-12-05
80. G4LL4RER. Ealtor.
December , 1891
In the Storm

When Ben asked her If she would mar
ry him, she said No" After this she
tempered the refusal little by explaining
20 him that she liked him quite As well as
ANYBODY, but she had certain ideas about
independence and winning her own way
in the world, and she wanted 20 be free 20
follow them to their1ogicaI conclusion.-
Ben Howard did his best TO prove TO her
the tutiiity Of these notions AID wasted
good deal Of valuable time in The etturt.
When be saw that no eioqueuee Of his
was likely To make susie Barton change
her mind, be packed together his few be-
loucings and started toward the land on
which his ewes had long and longingiy
been set-the Dakotas.
It vas j hard task TO which be had set
MS hand. 20 carve a home from the broad
prairie. and to be alone in the doing Of ii.
He had not much money, and 50 went
where laud vas cheap, far beyond the out
post Of settlers. BE took up his claim
and paid his entry fee, and that gave him
/ the right to call the land his own, and
built 4 rude hut Of s0ds.
Howard first years crops had done
well, and after the winter was on be per-
mitted himself 10 add some comforts to
the bare equipment Of his home and
bought some books aud prepared to get
through the lrearv. lonesome time rs best
he could.
The long, cold winter Of The north was
fairly On, when Howard, looking from his
door one morning, saw smoke ascending
from the schooi-house chimney for the
first time.
$50 they have found d teacher, he said
to himself Il suppose it is all right Bot
[ dare say its girl hey always get
girls out here-and she bound TO have j
hard time Of it. Girls that have % earn
their own living ought to stay east It's
bad enough cut here for j man.
The SHOWS came and the whole rolling
plain lay white and glisteniug from hor-
zon 90 horizon. The cattle had been
brought IN from the fields and hidden IN
the sheds that we're now covered with the
snow. and go made only little hiLioeks IN
the land.
One day Howard looked into bis -four
barrel ami in his potato sack ami found
that supplies we're getting low. Il vas 10
miles 20 the nearest town. Early the next
morning be hiiched Up bis team and start
Ell of. on the way passing the school
house There 4 boy vas just starting tht
fires. He had hardly completed bis er
rands in The town and started back when
q sudden storm came up, terrible biz
zari, such Is only the vide plains Of the
frrzen north can snow. It would have
been the part Of vision for Howard O
turn and yet 20 shelter as quickly Is he
could IN the town.
But somehow the Thought Of the school
mistre=z and her little charges had beer
on his mind all day He did not knoV
s who she was, bad never heard her name
had seen her only across the distance o
The white fields. our be znew she vas a
woman vho vas struggling alone % naIs
2 her wav IN the World This fact appealed
TO him.
The storm had come So suddenly -ha
Do ane would dare 20 venture out uuu
r lis fury vas spent The gri and her Pu
Dils would be alone in the -cho0l house
; prisoners. perhaps. for many terrible hours
Even the people ueare-t would not dar
try 70 make their way there for thel
could not hope 10 battle against tie blind
ng. driving. freezing storm. Is for How
Z ard. he was already IN the ight- and
was only a question whether BE- should tr,
10 return 20 town or push on q few mile
farther. He felt insuucn7siT that mar
vas needed It the scholihouae- ae push
Ell steadily forward.
s The snow drove about him ald eoverei