The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-01-23

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Phips highback went around by the
other road. There was nothing more
said by either; neither could their
friends pump anything regarding the
estrangemcnt out of them. And Hiram
Ball, wisely, sealed his own lips akp.
Phil did not miss a session ofy@ he
singing club. He seldom called f0fF or
drove any of the girls home. If he
did, 1t was always somebody who 9th
erwisc would have been neglected. lie
told himself that Myrtle should see he
VAS no wcathcrcock. And, IN truth,
IL he could not have the girl of his
choice he wanted zone at all.
The winter drew toward spring.
There had been a thaw in February
which almost spoiled the s~lelghing, but
when 1t grew cold again the hard pack
ed snow froZc solid, and the runners
fairly hummcd over the roads. The
wiseacrcs, too, declared that the win
ter was by no means over. There was
a big storm due, and the longer it de 4,
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 securc for the night. There
was little wind, however, and the
storm grew slowly. Phil was late at
the singing club that night. 1t was
well under way when he entered, and
as he came in he brought with him n
sudden cold blast of wind. The first
fakes Of the coming storm sparklcd on
his bcarSkin coat.
you had better close early, Mr.. En-
cry" he whispered to. the master as
he passed to a seat. There is going
to be a heavy gale"
But 1t Is hard to break up n merry
party Of young people. The fine
siftcd down about the schoolhousc and
packed hard over the door stone. Had
they been without they would have
heard now n then the swapping of
the o%vcrladcn branches of the forest
trees behind tie building. The school
house stood upon the verge of n wood.
BY the time the session broke up
the wind had risen and was moaning
angrily through the forest. 1t swept
the snow fiercely into their faces as
they breasted it too. 1t was astonish-
Ing how lux had already fallen.
Everybody but Phil and the master
hurried to get away. The latter lived
at the nearest farmhousc-almost with,
in stones throw OF the school-and
Phil had a question or two in algebra
he wanted explained. Although the
young farmer did not attend the rcgu-
lar sessions Of the school, he ncvcrthc-
less spent his evenings at home in
studying such books as he had pre-
vinnSlV had no npDprt nnit V Of 1inninu
into.
"Come, Phil, you'd best hurry along
yourself" said Mr.. Emery, going to the
door n receiving the full strength of
the gale in his face. "NNhy, it's a bliz-
zard!"
"Fll see you home first said Phil,
laughing. BLACK Bob is the best horse
In n 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 were already out of
sight and hearing. Phil and the mas
ter tumblcd 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 fel.
low, with n laugh.
well, you've Il good horse and just
the sort of n 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 Pills mind as
he drov" 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 phirs verbal cncour.
ngcncnt without his recourse to the
whip. ana he was almost past the doc.
tors before he knew il. He could not
see the lIouSc-thc driving snow hid
that-but he recognized the big black
gum in the fence corner. Hi and Myr.
tic must have got along before. At
least he had not passed them ON the
road.
Get up, old boy!!' said Phil. "Thcy'n
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.
We'll, what's up now" demanded
Phil In wonder. The old farm horse
whinnied loudly, and borne TO Pills
ears In reply family yet certainly was
the whinny of another horse.
by George, it's II horsc!' cried Phil.
He stood up and listened. The whinny
was repeated. and added to it were the
tones OF n human voice.
Its somebody off the road" thought
Phil. And dollars to d%oughnuts it's
that fool. Ball"
But as much rs he hated Hiram he
could scarcely leave him unassisted in
such a storm as this. The road ran
through an unfcnccd prairie. 1t was
very easy indeed to get off the track.
Phil pulled Black o out Of the road
and urged him through the drifts In
the direction Of the cries of distress.
The snow swirlcd about them In n
mighty shroud. He recognized the
! risk he took in leaving the trail, but
what else could he do?
lie shouted rs Black Bob pressed on.
but the voices in front seemed to re.
cede. II was ten minutes or more ere
he came I'm sight of n mistily outlined
object In the snOw-a horse and cutter
half buried In the drifts.
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