The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-21
RAILWAY & CO.,
80 Elm street, New York.


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fly she would have dearly liked to cheat
the spider of his prey. She was a good
friend and comrade; she had an honest
kindly regard for Harry Blake, and she
did not like the idea of his being thus
cheated out of his love and poor, pretty,
gentle Evelyn sacrificed. But what was
to be done?
The very next day. Thursday, Evelyn
would arrive in San Francisco to find,
one might say almost literally, the mar
rage feast spread. all preparations made,
the wedding guests hidden for Saturday.
Father and bridegroom would be awaiting
her there Once i'm the hands of those
stronger natures, what chance was there
of Evelyn's resistance or rebellion? She
would be utterly incapable of stemming
the tide of thednfiuences around her-help-
less as a broken lily swept away on the
waves of a swift rushing stream. She
might weep, reproach, protest, but she
would yield.
Cora could not even give her the support
of her presence in San Francisco. She
was to leave the train at Sacramento,
hours before Evelyn would reach her des-
tination. Harry Blake was out of the way
in the Nevada mines. If Evelyn would not
help herself, who and what could help
her?
Cora Power would not have hesitated at
putting her oar into anybody elses boat
If she thought she could help to steer 1t
straight; she had not the smallest scruples
on the score of attempting to play Provi-
dence. But now, with Mrs. Pratt keeping
Evelyn und-r watch and ward she did
not see what she, even she, could do.
SO the day passed, and as the shades of
evening deepenedi to dusk, the level of the
plains broke up into huge rocks and tow
ering nights as the train climbed the
eastern slope of the Serras. Night closed,
~ nln 10
pulled out the slides that transform the
velvet seats into comfortable couches, let
down the upper berths, and hooked up the
curtains that screen the sections and se-'
cure the privacy of the sleeping places.
One by one the travellers retired to rest.
At one of the stopping places they made
an unusually long stay.
whats the matter?" inquired wake
full and curious passenger. @h' .t
''Snow-sheds down ahead of u.s. was
the conductors reply. There's gang of
men gone off on a snow-plow to clear the
road, but I guess well have to stop here
awhile"
when do you think we shall get on
again?" was the next question.
when the tracks clear" said the con-
ductor, adding drily, whenever that may
be-"
Some of the passengers slept, others
missed the rythmical roll and rumble of
the train which had rocked them to sleep
for nights past, and, unable to sleep for
the silence which seemed strange to them
then and there lay wakeful in the still
ness and darkness.
Cora Power was one of the wakeful
ones. Her thoughts naturally turned to
the bride-elect in the next car to the
trick that Cora was certain had been play
ed on her innocence and simplicity, 10
Harry Blake up in the mines, embittered
by what he deemed the faithlessness of
Evelyn Adair, not dreaming how her faith
had been stolen from him. Cora's berth
was near the end of the car, and as she
lay awake watching the cold gray streaks
of dawn creep in through the chinks of
the blinds, occasional scraps of converse
ton came to her ears from the entrance
door.
"a thousand feet of snow-sheds down"
-"Well be lucky If we get into Frisco
by Saturday. "-"Oh, / guess Wen be in
some time Friday. My brother was
snowed-up for a fortnight about here
Shows not so heavy now."-"Jim's COM
ing down from Nevada City to meet us at
Colfax. " Say, can we wire?' Why,
certainly, sir, you can wire II the wires
ain't down. There's a telegraph station
| right here
| As she listened to these passing frag-
ments an idea came into Cora's mind,
daring one; but Cora Power was nothing
| If not daring. As soon as 1t was full day.
| light she rose and dressed, and while the
| later-rsing ladies struggled with the prob
! lem of the mornings toilette In the cramp-
! ed quarters of the cupboard, yclept dress
| ing room. Cora was deep in the study of
a map and guide book. After bordering
over these awhile she had a confabulation
apart with the conductor. who presently
| procured for her telegraph form, on
which she wrote a long message, and en-
! trusted it to his care.
| 1t was not a cheering outlook which was
! all that the snow bound passengers had to
| contemplate; nothing but walls of snow
! towering on both sides of the train. shut
| ting out all other prospect But a bright
color glowcd on Cora's cheek, and she
smiled TO herself as she looked out on the
white, frowning, frozen nights, smiled al
! belt or perhaps rather because, she had
| Just ventured on the most reckless step
! that even she had ever taken-which is
saying good deal.
Breakfast time came. Some of the pas
sengers went off the car to forage for
themselves at a restaurant hard by; others
brought out their picnic hampers and got
the porter to fetch them cans of bever-
age miscalled coffee, of which perhaps the
best that cold be said was that, like the
| pauper's slSilly, lat least ii was warm and
it was wet" Cora presently went into
the next car, and found Mrs Pratt in
state inclined to fuss and fume and Eve
| lyn apparently passive, depressed and
YEARLY indifferent to the delay which was
causing such annoyance to her aunt, who
was very fun of what Mr.. Scrope whom
she called dear Michael" would be
thinking and feeling.
She's very tenderly considerable of his
feelings" thought Cora. with curling lip,
land she wouldn't have touched him with
q ten-foot pole If he hadn't struck a bo-
nanzaw
AS the day wore on, Evelyn's dropping
spirits sank lower. Mrs Pratt pitied and
fused over her, and Cora in the adjoin-
ing car was anxious and preoccupied. The
| dispatch might or might not reach Grass
| Valley that day. The person to whom It
! was addressed might not be there. And