Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-03-09
CHAPTER v1.-(ContinuedJ.

CHAPTER v1.-(ContinuedJ.
1t was hardly day at all, and 1t certain
ly was not a good day. Night, of the or
binary sort, was not due for good hair
hour yet, but gray night had already
set in. The air was full Of niveous
brightness, from the white, icy crystals
that filed it. Light could not penetrate
1t more than few yards In any direc-
ton steadily. but there were momentary
glimpses afforded, through the wildly
whirling mass of snow flakes. of objects
far away, that, so seen, doomed up In
exaggerated proportions, with weird eff
feet of obvious unreality. The wind was
violent and unccasng. blowing, as sail
ors say, "from all quarters at once" and
the dry, sharp snow, dashed ana swept
by 1t in vast pillows and swirls, stung
like needle points, the thin. white face
of the little colportcur. "A myriad OF I'M
seen hands seemed clutchng his thin,
Tapping cloak and striving to drag 1t
from his shoulders.
Stumbling. sliding, shielding his eyes
as well as he could and grooming beneath
the weight of his load, which seemed to
grow heavier at every moment. he shuf-
fed along down the slope into the valley,
now and then glancing furtively back
over his shoulder. Until he had left the
little grove of naples well behind him,
the air above and around was full OF
tones, as IL from a great aeolian harp;
but in the open valley. oppressive still
ness, broken only by an occasional an
cry scream of the wind high overhead,
surrounded him.
"a qucerlooking little Dick, that" re-
marked big Constable Sim Mulveil, when
the door closed behind the book vender;
''and not overly well fixed to be out In
an affirmation storm like this
"He is unfortunate"
"Yes; and so are we. It's consumedly
unfortunate that this consumed snowfall
should come on the first night Of the
spellin' school this season."
"Oh, the young folks will not mind II
or, perhaps I should rather say, they
will like II. since 1t will bring sleigh
riding, which they esteem pleasure"
"Well, I guess we'd better be gettin
ready for 'em. brung along u lot Of
candles, and I suppose the old candle
sticks we used last winter have got tc
be fetched down from the loft"
"No; had them taken down and clean
ed yesterday. They are piled behind m,
desk"
Good! I'll put them up. Guess you're
right. Raccoon Creek gals will turn ou
we'll, no matter whether there's a snow
storm or not, and we want to get the
place bright and cheerful, SOS They'll
want to come again."
The little colpOrtcur had struggled or
until the mighty wall Of the Devils Back
bone stood squarcly up before him, bleal
and black, seeming vast and inaccessible
Its head was far up In the very home Of
the tempest: its front covered with .
writhing, twisting, quivering mass Of
arms, the lcafcss branches Of the trees
that threatened and fought with thu
storm. The highway he was on rar
along the creek to little bridge half ,
mile farther down stream, across 'whicl
lay the road that assembled the acclivit.
n its end. Each moment, as he trudget
steadily toward the bridge, he glanced III
at the frowning mountain. More ant
moro repcllcnt, even aggressive, 1t seem
ed. He grew afraid Of 1t. AT length III
turned suddenly and ran down eros
road that took him directly away from 1t
sobbing as he went:
mo! No! l can't do It! Not to saw,
my life! Not even for their sakes"