The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-12-04

other road. There was nothing more
said by either; neither could their
friends pump anything regarding the
estrangement out of them. And Hiram
Ball, wisely, sealed his own lips also
Phil did not miss session of the
singing club. He seldom called for or
drove any Of the girls home. If he
did, it was always somebody who 9TH
erwise would have been neglected. He
told himself that Myrtle should see he
was no weathercock. And, in truth,
if he could not have the girl of his
choice he wanted none at all.
The winter drew toward spring.
There had been a thaw in February
which almost spoiled the sleighing, but
when it grew cold again the hard pack
ed snow froze solid, and the runners
fairly hummed over the roads, The
wiseacres, too, declared that the win
ter was by no means over. There was
a big storm due, and the longer it de-
layed the more severe 1t would prove
when it finally came.
One Friday late in the month the
snowbanks began to pile up around
the horizon, and the farmers fastened
to get their sheep into the folds and
make all secure for the night. There
was little wind, however. and the
storm grew slowly. Phil was late at
the singing club that night. 1t was
we'll under way when he entered. and
as he came in he brought with him
sudden cold blast of wind. The first
fakes of the coming storm sparkled on
his bearskin coat.
"You had better close early, Mr.. EN-
ery," he whispered to the master as
he passed to seat. "There Is going
to be a heavy gale"
But 1t is hard to break up merry
party of young people. The fine snow
sifted down about the schoolhouse and
packed hard over the door stone. Had
they been without they would have
heard now and then the swapping of
the overladen branches of the forest
trees behind the building. The school
house stood upon the verge of wood.
By the time the session broke up
the wind had risen and was moaning
angrily through the forest. It swept
the snow fercely into their faces as
they breasted 1t too. 1t was astonish-
ing how much had already fallen.
Everybody but Phil and the master
hurried to get away. The latter lived
at the nearest farmhouse-almost with
in stones throw of the school-and
Phil had question or two in algebra
he wanted explained Although the
young farmer did not attend the regu-
lar sessions of the school, he neverthe-
less spent his evenings at home in
studying such books as he had pre-
viously had no opportunity Of dipping
into.
Come, Phil, you'd best hurry along
yourself" said Mr.. Emery, going to the
door and receiving the full strength Of
the gale in his face. "Why, it's biz
zardv'
"I'll see you home first" said Phil,
laughing. "Black Bob is the best horse
| in storm In the Bottoms. shall get
home all right"
They dug out the old box sleigh and
backed the big black out of the horse
shed. The others We're already out of,
sight and hearing. Phil and the mas
ter tumbled into the sleigh, and Black
Bob quickly drew them through the
fast drifting snow to the masters
abode.
you'd better spend the night here,
| Phil" said Mr.. Emery.
'Nonsense!" responded the young fell
low, with a laugh.
"Well, you've good horse and just
| the sort of sleigh for the storm. The
wind will be behind you most of the
way too. That light cutter of Balls
will fare hard tonight"
| The teachers last sentence repeated
itself over and over in Phil's mind as
he drove toward home. Perhaps that
was why he turned into the road which
passed the Doctors house instead Of
taking the more direct route home.
| Black Bob breasted the snow nobly
and responded to Phils verbal encour-
agement without his recourse to the
whip, and he was almost past the doc
tors before he knew it. He could not
see the house-the driving snow hid
| that-but he recognized the big black
gum in the fence corner. Hi and Myr-
tie must have got along before. At
least he had not passed them on the
road.
Get up, old boy" said Phil. s'They'll
keep him all night, SO he's in no dan
ger. If he is, it isn't any of our bust
ness"
Fifteen minutes later Black Bob sud-
denly stopped OF his own accord.
well, what's up now?" demanded
Phil in wonder. The old farm horse
whinnied loudly, and borne to PhiIs
ears in reply family yet certainly was
the whinny of another horse
by George, it's horse!" cried Phil.
He stood up and listened. The whinny
was repeated and added to it were the
tones of human voice.
Its somebody off the road" thought
Phil. "And dollars to doughnuts it's
that fool Balln'
But as much as he hated Hiram he
could scarcely leave him unassisted in
| a c,fn n hi N1,o