The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1900-12-28

1He ulelauce was greater tlan CAeIu
had supposed, and the afternoon had
darkened considerably when her fam
Ing branches OF berries were tied with
a wisp OF gray moss and she turned TO
go home.
Skirting the edge OF the Branch"
as those str<amlets which cut through
the pine forests are called, she came
to a sudden halt,
From which side had she GOMEZ And
how rapidly twilight drops into night
these short December daysl
OF course she passed that big elm
and those pines, and
Glen was bewildered and had 10 con-
fess most reluctantly that she did not
know whether she came by the right
or by the left.
Her heart gave a futter as the word
"lost" ran through her mind, but she
had lived all her short life more or less
In the woods, so beyond a slight ire
NOR Glenn was not frightened.
What added to Clem's bewilderment
was the light snowfall, which covered
up all paths and made everything IN
familiar.
But for that Glenn might have real
lied where she was going aud not de-
flected away, as she did toward a
stretch OF heavily timbered swamp
land totally unfamiliar. Night was
drawing on with cruel rapidity, and
the forest shades were deepening into
black patches and sOmber vistas, while
above, as Glenn looked up, she could
see q few stars beginning to glimmer.
Suddenly she remembered with ter
ror that she had left the house without
seeing dear old Nance or telling her
anything about her proposed quest
after holly berries.
The wind was rising, and-well,
night and darkness had come. Glen
was lost In the heart OF the woods.
Glenn went steadily forward, knowing
that If she stopped she would be a
thousand times more frightened.
At last Clem's steps faltered. Stag
gering, she sat down exhausted at the
foot OF q tall pine. in whose branches
the night breezes were playing as on
an EOlian harp. "Oh, Dieu de bontew
exclaimed Glenn, lapslng into French,
her mothers tongue, as she often did
under excitement or when In distress.
But her French blood soon asserted
itself. and. rousing, she peered around
In the darkness which enveloped all
things. What was that dark object
a little way or? Glen got up and be-
gan a cautions approach.
Her heart gave a bound OF pleasure
on recognizing an abandoned coal burn
er's hut.
though sagged, still held on its hinges,
and. feeling around, Glenn found a
piece of candle sticking TO board and
some scattered matches.
Clem's heart was beating furlOusly.
Suppose they were too old TO light?
But the one she scratched sputtered
and lit. as did her candle. and Glen
found herself in hut begrimed with
smoke, bare, but clean, in which were
rude bench. a table and heap OF
dried pine needles in the corner.
Glen sank down with an exclamation
OF hysterical gladness. Placing her
bunch OF berries OH the table, Glen
closed the door and drew the bench
against IL, while the wooden shutter
OF the window was held fast by its
rude fastening.
Throwing herself OH the soft mat OF
pine needles. Glenn sent a prayer heav
onward whose anguished intensity she,
being IL years, had never imagined.
There were various vexatlOus delays.
The evening train OH which Edward
Singleton was leisurely smoking was
run at increased speed TO make up for
lost time.
Suddenly there were crash. shouts,
cries and a terrific cOmmOtion. an aw-
full humping. a kissing and roaring
noise. a SCATTERING OF glass and direful
shrieks, and the coach, topping half
way over, stood still
Tearing his way out, Ned realized
what the accident was.
Running over n terrified COW, the en-
CINE was deralled. 1t had torn its way
through an adjoining field. where 1t
finally stood. painting and kissing. while
two coaches were wrecked, and the one
In which Ned had been was overturned