Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-05-19
THE TWELFTH OF MARCH,
WHY TWO HEARTS BLESS THE BLY,
ZARD OF THAT DATE.
/" Hello !"

| SSoA'S euiouSu Iue ueep uIlltS
and binding snow, Jack FELTON, had
suddenly stumbled upon dark fig
ure standing motionless in the de-
serted street.
1t was the evening of the 18th of
March, 1888, date made memora-
BILE by the "Great Blizzard" which
ragged with unprecedented violence
throughout New England.
The sidewalks were impossible ;
and Jack warmly wrapped in a seal
skin coat, with fur cap pulled do wn
over his eyes, was struggling deeper
ately through the drifted snow, tax
ing the middle of the street.
His progress being impeded for a
moment by higher mound than u.s.
ual, he had been surprised to see the
vague outlines of human figure five
or six feet away.
Hello" he cried, checrfully.
"Taking a rest ?"
Some murmured words came in
response, but they were drowned by
the frightful roaring of the storm.
Never saw any thing like it p
Jack gasped, recovering his breath
with difficulty. 81 was mad to
leave the downtown hotel. But
thought it would be glorious fun.
Hanged if 1 find any enjoyment in
an experience like this, though
Whew, what wind. And Pm in
the snow up to my arm pits. No
one could live long exposed to such
a storm"
Silence. The snow-covered figure
never stirred.
" You must be tired out stranger"
Jack said, compassionately, wrig-
Cling his way through the white
mound. "I'm strong and hearty.
I'll push ahead and break q path.
We had better make for the nearest
shelter"
The sentence ended in q sharp cry
of amazemcnt.
" Good Lord il 1t isn't a woman.
Why you poor little thing, what has
driven you abroad in a blizzard like
this ?n
And Jack stared in breathless be-
Nilderment at the small cloaked ard
hooded figure about which the pierre
ing wind whirled the falling snow.
Ny little cousin was taken sud
denly ILL.," came the answer in a
sweet voice which thrilled him to the
heart. 81 had to go to the drug
gist's for medicine. There was no.
body to send, AMI Benny would have
died before morning"
"What madness You might have
persisted! Where do you live 2"
"We can't be very far from the
house. II was so exhausted had
to rest moment. You will see a
light in the window. My aunt will
be watching for me-"
You have the medicine 2"
yes"
Good. Keep up brave heart.
We will get it to Benny yet"
In twinkling Jack FELTON, had
thrown off his warm, furrcd great
oyercoat and wrapped it about the
girls shivering figure.
"Now, keep close behind me-" he
said, clasping her slender, gIoved
hand. Z" will take care of you.'
1t was q desperate struggle. For
all his sturdy strength, Jack made
slow progress through the huge
drifts. But his big, generous heart
was beating strangely.
Mingled with the satisfaction Of
being of service to helpless fellow
creature was another feeling tha
thrilled and quickened every pulse.
Something in the girls voice hat
reminded him of Lillian Verne
| Sweet Lillian Verne, the one love o
his life, from whom he had beer
cruelty parted.
That was three years before. Hs
had schooled himself to think of he
without bitterness as another man;
wife. But it made the blood leal
| in his veins to hear the sweet, musi
cal tones, so strangely like Lillian s
They paused every few minutes t,
take breath, and Jacks companion
would crouch down silently into th