Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-22

ISdCueu IOfWdTu anu, AFTER some QlI-
ficulty, succeeded in unloosing the
traces. Then she pulled the blankets
out and made Crete lie down beside
her on them. After this she arranged
the robes TO cover them and pulled the
cutter over as a protection.
1T is our enc chance" she said. I'VE
must lie close together, but on no &C
count go to sleep"
! In three hours the fury of the storm
had spent itself and the stars came out
one by one to shine upon the broad ex-
panse of ice and snow; but it was cold,
most intensely cold. The storm was
fairly on when the train came in that
evening, and Oney Halligan. covering
in the shelter of the shanty dignified
as the depot, had about decided that
there were no passengers to get off
when stranger touched his arm.
rs there hotel near here, my good
MANI"
! There's a place where some folks
go, but the lOikes of yez wouldn't like
it, saven for the blizzard Beloikes yez
won't want to stand out"
Il suppose it wouldn't be possible to
get to Mr.. Testers tonight"
At the words Oney was another man.
| Whats yer name, mister?''
/ Whats yours?" was the rejoinder
"Surend it's Oney Halligan, that it
is"
And mine is Clark McKendrie.'
THE same, Hiven bliss yer cried
Oney devoutly.
IND it's the darlint out to Testers
yer comen to see"
Exactly"
L see her in town not an hour since.
nd it's meself ez hez been worri'n fer
fear there'll be trouble. There was
just the two wimmen."
The hand that Clark McKendrie laid
on Oney's arm closed with a vice like
grip.
1--WE must go after them"
Yer Honor, but it's jist impossible
in this blizzard. If they kept the way
they're all right; if not the saints pro-
tect 'em but no man Or haste can track
EN- till the storms over"
1t took some time to convince the
handsome stranger of the fool-hardi-
ness of trying to follow anyone in
such BLIZZARD and then, as it waxed
worse, he paced the floor of the tiny
building in a fever Of anxiety, pausing
now and then to exchange a few words
with Oney, who was his sole compan-
ion.
There's no waiting till morning."
he cried impatiently, when the storm
had subsidized and the Irishman had
limited at something of the sort. I'VE
must push On tonight. Come get out
and stir up men and oxen and I'll
make it worth your while and there's
too
Oney succeeded in securing the ser
vices OF Jimmy Murphy and a German
who owned two yoke of oxen and soon
the little party was enroute, albeit
their exceeding slow progress well nigh
crazed the impatient lover. 1t was far
past midnight when they reached the
home of the Testers, there to find the
old father and mother in a frenzy Of
grief and despair. The husband, with
horse and dog had gone out on what
seemed indeed a fruitless search.
Again the OXen's heads were turned
toward the open prairie, but now that
Clark McKendries worst fears were
realized, his excitement vanished and
III its place came the logged deter
mination that had characterized his
political canvas, the determination
That was bound to win 1t was not
long before they fell in with Mr.. Lester.
but 1t was sunrise before the white
mound that marked the place where
the women lay was discovered and
then it was the dog that called them to
it,
Mrs. Lester was taken out in a semi
unconscious condition, but revived at
the sound of her husbands voice; but
Crete-poor little Crete-lay as white
and still as her winding sheet. Lift
ing her in his strong arms, McKendrie
folded her wrap more closely about her
and strobe off in the direction of the
Lester house, followed closely by
Oney, the rest coming after.
Yell let me spell yez," the latter
| said at last when McKendrie was fair
! ly staggering with his burden. You're
the only man I would give her up to-"
the latter gasped as he transferred her
to the strong arms and honest breast
OF his new friend.
Great Heaven it must he that che
still lives"
1t was almost MONDAY when Crete
kingsman opened her eyes upon her
lovers face. She would have died hut
Tor his superhuman efforts and in
domitable faith. More than once they
mao tried to persuade him that life was
extinct. He simply declared it could
not be so. Both feet and one arm
were badly frozen; and a dangerous
fever resulted from the exposure
For seven weeks the Honorable G.
Mckendrie" was lost to the world
nursing and caring most wisely and
! terderly for the motherless girl; then
! a clergyman was secured and instead
OF funeral-as it had so long seemed
! there must be-there was a quiet we'd
/ ding and Mr.. Kingsman gave the
! bride away.
/ When it all came out how Oney
! Halligan had mailed her letters and
! secretly brought her Clark s-she hay
ing written the postmaster to deliver
| her mail to none other than the bearer
! and how McKendrie had come on to
{ Oll