River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-02-11

ito take possession OF me so cavalier1y!
/ will marry whom please, and when |
please, an it will not be you. care not
at all for you'll"
It was warm and snug within doors,
but as l swung to saddle again, the cold
struck into my bones, and the growing
storm made all about black and strange.
The wind had sprung up within the hour,
and now whirled the snow into binding
clouds, so that my faithful horse picked
his way slowly and still more slowly
through the increasing drifts. My own
mind was full of sad thoughts. Though
[ was resolved to win Prudence in the
end, this did not prevent me from yield
ing to the deep depression OF my moou.
/ cast the reins on Dobbin's neck and let
the good beast proceed at his own sweet
will.
know not how long had been riding,
nor how far had got on my way home
ward, when my melancholy meditations
were interrupted by the sound of some
thing following me. In the noise OF the
wind it was impossible to distinguish
clearly the direction from which these
sounds proceeded; moreover, the FOOT
steps-for such they seemed-Were
muffied by the snow. Nowadays think
it strange that | should have heard any
thing at all But, my friends, there is
clairvoyance of the heart by means OF
which we have an instructive knowledge
of many things too subtle to be heard
or seen with the gross bodily organs.
And so it seems to me in the case | speak
of; for, obeying an impulse, the cause
| Of which | cannot even now describe to
you, suddely caught up the reins and
turned Dobbin's head against the wind.
And well it was that | did so. For in
few moments | heard a voice crJ out IN
distress, and, by my faith, it was not the
hoarse shout of q man, but the shrill
treble of frightened woman. with
that, l clapped spurs sharply Down and
fastened with all speed possible to give
what help l could; for under siich cir
cumstances it is not well to delay.
And whom do you think | found there,
stalled in the snow, half fainting in her
saddle from the cold and the bewildeE-
ment of the night?
Prudence!
My arms were about her in an instant.
AS bore her from her horse, wrapping
my cloak about her trembling figure, she
put her dear head against my shoulder
and began to sob. To my eager question,
what had sent her forth on such night,
she made no answer for a long time,
and | awaited myself of the opportunity
ofI Io1 boI
leading her palfrey by the bride. At
length, as Prudence regained her COM
posture, learned why she had followed
me.
"A moment after you left" she Whis-
pared, hiding her face in my breast, my
father rode up, having been out on bust
ness at the village. He was full of con-
J Germ, for, he said, the bridge over the
river between your house and ours had
| gone down during the evening, the
weight of the ice piled against it. What
| time did it go, father?' asked, filled with
a sudden apprehension. Scarce an hour
! since he answered.; i heard it as was
! leaving the village At once | thought
of you riding home in the night, unable
to see what lay before you, blinded per-
chance, by the snow, and with that brok-
en- bridge in your path. Without word
to any snatched my hood and cloak,
| fled to the stable, and, saddling my pal
! frey, started in pursuit But though l
know the road so well, the snow proved
too much for us, my horse and |, and had
Providence not watched over us, fear
we would have persisted. A silly fool am
| |! | might have sent my father, or one
of the men. But, no! did not stop to
think! I"
Glad am you did not" l said, "for
now Mistress Prudence, you shall deny
| me no more. A woman takes TO such
risks for man she loves not. Said not
truly you would marry me, after all?"
| She answered not. In few minutes
we met Master Haywood, ard troop
of his men searching for the missing
maid.
Sir" said I, as we drew rein before
the hall, Il crave your hospitality for
the night, for my own home ia far and
the weather unpropitious. And to-mor-
row | shall ask you yet another favor
still"
Harry" replied the old gentleman.
clapping me on the back, cit hath al
ready been asked and granted The
wench told me months ago she loved
thee and would marry thee. Twas only
a matter of waiting till she was ready.
And as for thee-boy, dost think an old
Indian fighter hath failed to see through
thy pretense of interest in his tales Of
| forgotten battles? Hal" and his cheer
full laugh rang out right merrily. And
as we stood in the great hall, he took our
hands in his, and Joined them together,
and with the tear drops glistening in his
eyes, added: Take her. Harry, and be
happy"
And that, my friends, is how Prudence
Haywood made up her mind to become
Nine. Clarendon!