The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-12

wisp of gray moss and she turned tt
go home.
Sl<irting the edge Of the Branch" al
those streamets which cut through thu
pine forests are called, she came to {
sudden halt
From which side had she come? Ant
how rapidly twilight drops into nigh
these short December days!
OF course she passed that big elm ant
those pines and
Glen was bewlldered and she had tc
confess most reluctantly that she die
not know whether she came by the right
or the left.
Her heart gave flutter as the WORD
lost ran through her mind, but she
had lived all her short life more or less
in the woods so beyond slight tremoi
Glen was not frightened,
What added 20 Clems bewilderment
was the light snowfall, which covered
up all paths and made everything un-
familiar.
But for that Glen might have real
lied where she was going and not de-
Elected 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
sober vistas, while above, as Glenn look
ed up, she could see few stars begin
ming to glimmer.
Suddenly she remembered with terror
that she had left the house without see
ing dear old Nance or telling her any
thing 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 thousand
times more frightened.
At last Clem's steps faltered. Stag
gering she sat down exhausted at the
foot of a tall pine, in whose branches
the night breezes were playing as on
an Aeolian harp. "Oh, Dieu de bonte!"
exclaimed Glenn, lapslng into French,
her mothers tongue, as she often did
under excitement or when in distress
But her French blood soon asserted IT.
self and, rotsing, she peered around In
the darkness which enveloped all
things. What was that dark object
a little way off? Glen got up and be-
gan a cautious approach.
Her heart gave bound of pleasure
on recognizing an abandoned coal burn.
ner's hut.
The door, as she pushed 1t open,
though sagged, still held on It's hinges,
and feeling around, Glen found
piece of candle sticking to a board and
some scattered matches.
Clem's heart was beating furiously.
Suppose they were too old to light?
But the one she scratched sputtered
and lit as did her candle, and Glen
found herself in a hut begrimed with
smoke bare, but clean, in which were
rude bench, table and heap Of dried
pine needles in the corner.
Glen sank down with an explanation
If hysterical gladness. Placing her
punch Of berries on the table, she
closed the door and drew the bench
against it, while the wooden shutter of
he window was held fast by it's rude
fastening.
Throwing herself on the soft mat of
Dine needles, Glen sent prayer heav-
onward whose angushed intensity she,
being seventeen years, had never i'm
,gined.
q
There were various vexatious de-
avs.
The evening train on which Edward
Singleton was leisurely smoking was
un at increased speed to make up for
ost time.
Suddenly there were a crash, shouts,
ries and terrific commotion, an aw-
ul humping, Kissing and roaring
loise, SCATTERING of glass and direful
hrieks, and the coach, topping half
way over, stood still
Tearing his way out, Ned realized
What the accident was.
Running over a terrified cow, the en-
inc was derailed. 1t had torn it's way
through an adjoining field, where it
nally stood, painting and Kissing while
wo coaches were wrecked, and the one
n which Ned had been was overturned
nd ditched.
OF the crew and passengers no one
vas killed but it was ascertained that
here were contusons innumGrdble, !
While night had already come.
Ned was good walker, and the pros
ect did not appall him specially.
He would get to DR.. Randolph's late;
ut, it being New Years eve, no one
'ould be in bed before II, an excellent |
our for supper.
Ned remembered with pleasure the |
picurean tastes of the doctor
short cut! AT the crossroads, |
traight across country! Excellent!
Ned buttoned his overcoat, lit a cigar, |
'ok his handbag and, bidding adieu to |!
ne wrecked train and lamenting pas
angers, struck out for the village by |
ltting through the woods and follow |
lg the old military road.