The record-union., 1896-12-20


truth he made many remarks to his
inner self, as if he found it more COM
panionable than the companion of his
walk. with her airy nothings, or gilt.
tering generalities.
They were walking along and had ac-
complished quite long distance, pass
ing the trainmen, who had stopped to
swing their hands crosswise around
their shoulders, for it was cold work
shoveling snow barehanded.
The hill tops We're hung with clouds of
mist, shifting and curling like smoke
wreaths In the sun. AS they turned
sharp curve they heard the muffied roar
of the relief train coming.
The great drifts on either side gave
no means of escape, and Rem hurriedly
grasped the girls hands as he turned
and said: That is the train coming.
We must run for it,
She turned pale as she said: ''Oh,
Heavens, l never could rum"
He did not heed her as he said
trusquely: why, you skate like a fine
enc. Just imagine this is the rink and
you are going to band music drag
ging her along as he said it. She held
back as they were crossing a culvert.
Il can't; / can't. 1 shall die she
said in piteous fright
The train was just back of the curve
now, snorting and painting like a huge
monster and sending mists of snow
ahead of the plow, binding and shut
ting off the view from the engine.
Rem stood a second almost hopeless.
Ihen he saw one way open of escape.
1t was to jump for their lives into the
drifts. He turned to her and said
quietly:
We must jump. Quick; there is no
time to lose. Put your arms around
my neck" The terrified girl sprang to
his arms. No" he said, not here.
Put them-put yourself on my back"
She turned and did as he told her On
came the train. A black object flew
from the culvert and buried itself in
the soft snow. The engineer saw the
leap through the air and stopped the
train to see what it was. And soon
two unconscious people were taken
back to their car.
The fall had not hurt them They
We're only half smothered by the snow,
and Miss McLeans was wholly scare,
for as Rem had wisely seen she would
fall on top and not have so much
snow to contend with.
When next they met she was truly,
doubly thankful for her rescue, and
actually petted him as "a hero and "a
darling to save her." as she gushingly
said. Ren was lonely and the sweet
fiattery was almost affecting him. He
thought that life alone was unbearably
dull, and this girl whom he had saved
twice must be meant for him-'fore-
ordained"-but it was odd she never
had referred to the other time, Eek
cept she thought she looked bad that
night in furs and SKINS But, then"
he thought ruefully, "she never looked
SO lovely since and never will. / must
have been blind that night to be so
bewitched, or did those Micmacs
brew me some potion to dim my eyes?"
They reached Montreal, and after
seeing his companion safely to her
friends he left, promising to call.
When left to herself she said glee-
fully: Not so bad, mabelle. The bach
elor frozen was thawed by an applica-
tion of snow-a cure for frost-bitten
people Well, am lucky for once. He
w III Cdll l. SIldli De LlCC. AUu c1Iiu
he is rich, handsome. and all that"
Business before pleasure" So only
one call was made. and Ren decided he
would wait till he reached home to
meet her again. Then his aunt was taken
ill in Florida, and after his business
was settled he went down to her. Her
death soon after his arrival was a sad
blow to him. Then he was taken i'll
with fever and it was months before
he returned to the old British city on
the sea coast.
December had come again when the
city's midday gun doomed out noon
tide welcome from the fort. He took
the funny, old-fashioned car up to his
old home. Great banks of snow. half
shoveled, made great bumps for the
reckless little car to jounce over, but
Rem actually laughed at the discomfort
so glad was he to be home and at
Christmas time, too.
The car stopped with its usual ter
rife jerk, the door flew open precipi-
tating three laughing young ladies al
most into his arms. He arose hastily to
avert collision and give up his seat
when, as he raised his eyes, before him
stood Dolly Mclean, rosy, fresh and
charming-the winter rose of his dreams
and not the girl of a snow-bound train
Dolly recognized him with blush and
bow that made his heart throb with
delight, but his eyes wore very puz-
zled expression, only dissipated when
Dolly leaned towards him and said cor
Gially: Surely, Mr.. Solomon, your
motto to hang on your walls should be-
Rescue the Perishing.' My step-sister,
Belle, wrote us about your being on the
train and saving her life. We really
cannot be too thankful" And her
sweet blue eyes beamed in his.
''Oh, no. not at all. 1 was only too
pleased to be of service to you and your
sister," replied Rem honestly
Another jounce as the girls with Dolly
were at their destination. In a second
this threw Ren's pocketbook out on the
floor and Dolls handkerchief flew at
her feet. She picked it up and said:
why, here is my handkerchief Where
did you find it?"
''In a SNOWFALL thrown at my win
dow" said Rem The girls alighted
with audible giggles, and Dolly sat up
right, blushing like a red, red rose
I'm so sorry I broke your window
They were alone as she faltered this out
IF you won't break my heart we will
call it square" said Ren, looking at
Dolly with his heart in his handsome
eyes She glanced at him and read his
meaning.
He leaned towards her. "I love you
DEAR and if you will try to love me as
my wife would you find it a task?"
II would not break your heart
stammered Dolly. His arm stole around