The morning times., 1897-02-28

sure, and Wen have him in bed. You
stay here and I'll run TO the barn with
it. III be back in a minute !"
20. Aunt Caiista, don't!i' / called after
her, but she had opened the door and
stepped out. The light streamed for a
moment across the porch, so she had no
chance to see how thick the air was
until she was lost in it. 1 stood in the
door and called after her for moment,
! hut the wind seemed the tear my voice
away before it was six inches from my
lips. Then great gust rushed past me,
.siamnng the door against the inner wall
and blowing out the light, so that was
glad enough TO be able to creep back into
the house. 1t took all my strength 10
SMUT the door against the wind, and by
| that time Susie and Dan and Link We're
crying with terror. and 1 tell you / felt
like it myself, as 1 groped about in the
dark for match.
was alone in the house with the chill
dren, 1 was afraid father was lost in the
storm. / was sure Aunt Calista was and
that she would likely be frozen To death.
as she mad only thrown q light shoulder
shawl over her head. / knew enough about
billiards. to know that there is not much
chance for any one out in one alone l
quieted the children as well as / could.
and then when the wind didn't seem to
blow so hard on that side of the house,
opened the door. and, closing it quickly
after me, stood outside. Holding 70 the
outside storm door, called and called,
again and again, but my, could scarcely
hear my own voice, so / came in, and we
hudded down, mserably frightened, to
wait.
1t seemed hours that we heard only
the rafting of the wind. Then there was
stamping on the porch, and father opened
the door, out of breath, and white with
powdery snow.
Where's auntie?' he asked, looking
won1eringly at US.
20, father!" l exclaimed, breathlessly,
''she took your comforter out TO you.
Before l could stop her she opened the
door and ran out. and that was long ago,
and I've called and called, and the wind
blew my voice away, ,and-and-"
Here / broke down and commenced to
cry for the first time. Father stood per
fectly still for a moment, and though the
wind had reddened his cheeks, his face
turned white.
my God!"
1Hdb was Oh ilC sdlN anu We UtNCI N0G
heard him say it before, so we knew he
felt drradfulIy. Thea lie began TO act
Getting his lantern and a wrap, and
bottle of brandy, and telling me to have
hot water and blankets ready when he
came back, though / knew by the sound
of lis voice that ne was hopeless, he went
out 10 explore the yard as far as his
rope would reach. The Iign5 OF his Ian
and we were alone again.
He went over every step Of the yard.
and then spIiced his rope. and went farther
out. but it did NJ good. He couldn't drop
the rope, for then ne, too. would be lost,
and perhaps We would all perish.
After a long time he came tc the door
again. Inever saw any one look so terrible
as he did when / met him at the door.
lie seemed ten years Older than when he
started out
Ida he began, brokenly, when there
came Sudden little lull in the wind. and
we heard faint sound that was not of the
storm. 1t was a dogs high-Geyed. long
drawn howl. and, though it was in the
opposite direction from Jacks kennel,
we both knew it was Jack.
Father took the rope and hurried as best
he could in the direction Of the sound. a
lull came while he was on his way, and he
shouted to Jack, who ans wered Row row
row w-w-w!' with a joyful howl. He
went to the end OF his rope and called
again. and again Jack answered, right be
side him He had TO reach as far as he
could to touch the dog and hold the rope.
too,
Aunt Calista lay, almost unconscious,
en- the ground beside the dog, with her
hand tight in his collar. Father loosened
her hold, and picking her up, started
for the house, Jack following. 1t was
hard work TO carry her and take in the
rope. too, and lie was almost exhausted
by the time he reached the door. There
Jack, in memory of sundry rebuffs, started
to slink away, but father called him in,
and even Aunt Calista feehly motioned
her hand 10 have him come.
Such a busy, joyful time as we had
over the rescued and the rescuers. And
no one was happier than Jack, and he
wriggled himself about the room, in every
cne's way, but not Scolded. Aunt Calista
soon recovered from her numhness, for,
though it mad seemed hours TO US, she
had really been out but short time and
had kept moving, and then she told us
her story.
Jack had been sitting in front of her
as she talked, listening attentively, with
his head on one side, and when she had
finished she leaned forward, took his
hcmeIy yellow head in her hands and
kissed him between his honest, brown
eyes.