The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-25
MIR, Mankhann's S
Private Secretary. F..
By ROBERT CROMlE.
Copyrish 1896 by Bacheller, johnson and Bachelor
failing in this, he burst out passionate


ly:
Listen to me. Where are your
friends gone? Why have they deserted
you? CThey had not really missed
herr. Do you hear me? i am going to
stand by you. And won't you even try
to move?"
Il cannot, save yourself" she
moaned.
No: am not that sort. Now. them
He raised her in his arms and stolid-
ly Dlodded through the snow. He had
tramped that way often and knew IL
well. But the snow was terrible. Down
it came. thickening every minute. II
beat him soon. lie was knee-deep i'm it
and he was off the track. When he
discovered this by the uneven footing
! underneath the deep coating he stop
ped. Warrington was no coward. But
his heart failed him. He was physi-
cally incapable of carrying the girl
farther. No shelter was near. The
girl herself was absolutely exhausted.
He appealed To her again:
Gould you not try to walk bit
ject to rest me. / can do no more. Do
try"
What's the good of trying" she an
swered feebly. 1T is impossible Why
don't you leave me? l want to sleep.
| want to die"
That's where the trouble is. don't
want YOU to die"
He drank some brandy. The snowfall
only changed for the worse. 1t came
down with Il force that had actual
weight in it. lie staggered doggedly
on. Once he fell heavily. The relief
from the cutting wind was delightful.
The snow was soft. Vt was a downy
pillow-and To rest just for a single
moment! He struggled to his feet and
clinched his teeth in desperation. Again
he struggled forward. Some shelter
must be at handy some helm must be
near If neither one nor other-well he
could take q leaf from the book of the
dainty little patrician ne carried in his
weary democratic arms. He too could
die game And so; forward. The snow
was worse than ever. The girl by
great effort aroused herself and said:
You have done enough. too much. l
am sorry | have not quite understood
you. I know you now. God bless you.
Save yourself. asked YOU before"
Il will not save myself he cried
hystericaly. Il will not leave you.
will fight on
But he was dead beat. The girl flung
herself from his arms. saying: ITO
gether then" Hampered by her dress
the exertion of forcing her way through
the drifts was terrible. His courage
gave her strength. The end came soon.
They faced each other silently; each
waiting for the other to speak. Then
the man said quietly:
1.-The snow must be clearing off or we
are in the lee of something-somes shell
ter"
God grant it." said the woman. IT
noticed it, but feared it might not be
true
They could not see yard ahead. An
other effort then. After few steps
they were brought up by wall. 1t
must be an outbuilding of some farm
They found the door; they were saved
for the moment. The house. mere
cattle shelter, was fortunately nearly
full of hay. He twisted II firm wisp and
brushed her skirts. boots and stockings
clear of the snow. She must have per-
ished if the thick coating had been al
lowed to thaw and drench her. He
wrapped her up in Il heap of hay and in
duced her to swallow few more drops
of the brandy. Then he incontinently
finished the flask himself; he needed it
Going to the open doorway of the shell
ter he stood on guard.
AS the night Wore away the snow
gradually ceased. The moon at last
shone out To his surprise Warrington
recognized the locality--a hillside half
way between the castle and the rectory
where Miss Howards married sister
lived. She was asleep when he went to
her He awoke her gently. She was
now well rested and almost strong.
$50 we can get back to the castle be-
fore daybreak?" she asked, anxiously.
mo-" he answered. I'VE can make
the rectory-not the castle.
Why not the castle?"
There are various reasons" he said
quietly.
She would not argue with him: he
had saved her life. They started for
the rectory and now that they had suf-
ht>i tn n hn I,.ift
reached their destination without much
difficulty They rarely spoke during the
journey.
Not that way" Warrington inter-
posed sharply, as Miss Howard was
making for the hall door of the rectory,
He wrapped his handkerchief round his
right hand and broke. the glass of a