The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-01-18

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little schoolhouse from the cottage.
Mrs. Morse did not think there was
much danger now that Keene had
come. There was surely plenty OF fuel
at the shchsolhouse and Nannette
would not suffer anything worse than
q lonely night and the loss of her
supper. Keene would soon get her
home now. He only stayed long
enough to al his nearly frozen
feet and hands. did not wait to hear
Mrs. Morse out, and hurried of up the
mountain road.
The schoolhouse was almost buried
In the snow; he could only see the
chimney. The chimney stood there
like a small red beacon in a sea Of
white. Keene saw something that
made him push Of faster and made his
heart sink within him. No smoke
from the chimney Not even the curl
ing waves Of heated air rose from the
chimney top. The FIRE was out, then?
The drift and slide had buried the
little schoolhouse. Nothing but a tun-
mel through the snow could reach Nan
nette. Keene knew well where the
door ought to be. and his shovel fairly
made the snow fly. He must have a
tunnel big enough to bring her
out Deeper and deeper he fought his
way Into the hard-packed snow. Now
that his tunnel was started, the work
wal harder. Every shovelful had to
be carried to the opening in the drift
so that he might have a clear road.
Il seemed hours that he fought that
great battle with the drift, all alone.
Only the great strength Of his forge
hardened muscles permitted him to
work on. He called loudly to Nam
nette, but no answer came back. Was
he too late. then? He went back out
OF the tunnel to get mis- bearings. The
tunnel was making straight for the
door-there could be no doubt Of that.
Then he went back again into the
drift and attacked the snow, working
hurriedly and feverishly now. He no
longer stopped to carry the snow out
OF the tunnel. His shovel struck wood,
then came a show Of red In the blank
Wilderness OF the tunnel. The door at
last! He threw his weight against It.
Once! Pwicel Again! It burst open
and he found himself in the dim light
OF a small lamp which still burned in
the bracket on the wall. 1he room
was not cold. but the fire in the stove
had been out for some time. He did
not see Nannette. Had she gone, then,
after all? Out Of the stiffness came a
sound Of laborud breathing. Then he
remembered the little room back of
the stove where the fuel was kept. The
door stood a1ar. A moment later he
was holding Nannette in his arms
striving to bring her back to conscious
ness. Before she opened her eyes she
called his name. She called him again
and again as ifeoalling for help. Then
consciousness came back to her and
she opened her eyes and looked won
deringly at him.
While Keene made her as comforta-
BILE as he could and built a blazing
fire in the stove. she told him all about
1t. How the snowslide had shut her
in just as she had made ready to go
home. She had not been frightened, as
she felt sure sorao one would come for
her. There was plenty Of fuel to keep
the schoolroom warm and she had
enough Of her IpRQb left to do for sup
per. Then I ad burned low and
she had rne iittie room FOR
coal. sc had tripped and fallen IN
the dark and thought she had sprained
her ankle. It hurt her cruelty and she
had become frightened when she found
that she could not move without great
pain. She had become terribly afraid
in the little dark room and had cried
out many times for Keene to come to
her. It seemed too terrible that she
should be there all alone. II Keene
could only know he would come to her
rescue. Then the pain and terror had
her and she had lost all CON
seriousness until she saw him bending
over her.
Keene cut the shoe from the injured
ankle and wrapped his muller about
her, tying her skirts closely about her
feet. Picking Nannette up in his
arms, as II she had been a baby
instead Of a plump young woman, he
plunged out Of the door into the tun-
mel in the snow. The drift was mar
row toward the opening, but he
forced his way out and
stood almost blinded by the dazzling
which was now breaking
through the clouds. Keene never
exactly how he made that trip
FROM the schOolhouse to Morse's cot
He held Nannette closely in his
arms. felt her heart beating against
his and her warm breath was on his
cheek as he hurried along with
his precious burden. Something told
him that Nannette was his. When he
placed her gently on the couch In the
Morse's parlor she had kissed him and
him dear Sherman" Keene's
heart was too full Of happiness to have
any room for thoughts Of DR., Coulson.
IN fact, that gallant gentleman was
lot mentioned and Nannette sent for
he old doctor at the station in the
7alley to attend to her swollen ankle.
All Cedarville was at the wedding
hat made Nannette Mrs. Keepe. when
he spring brought the wild flowers
pack to the fields. Keene's tunnel is
ltill the talk Of the village.
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