The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-22
Our Daily Sport Story

smilingly, half drowning: 'If you speak truth. Helen. the day of miracles is not past-you never before in all your life. did anythig except exactly what you chose"
 See how he presumes on being my big brother!'' Helen had answered, drawing down the corners of her mouth in a piteous grimace. But almost in- stantly she had laughed again. saying gayiy: T deserve it-and more-Paul! The plight we are in is all my fault. I was little idiot to insist upon going on. in the teeth of this snowstorm.'
 Then, of course. there had been ex- plantations. Paul Dunbar and his sister were on the way to High Cross, old Judge Dunbar's place. They had left the station at dusk. and might have gone on safely if the drifts had not been so heavy that the driver could not keep to the road. He had tried short cuts across the fields, with the result of bringing up eight miles from his destination, with his team dead-beat and himself out of all humor for further travel. Tn a way the fielding had been lucky-from the road proper he would never have seen nor made Farmer Randalrs lights. There was nothing for 1t but to stay where the storm had driven them until it blew itself out. Perhaps 1t was Fate which or dained the storm to last three full days, making 1t thereby epochal
 Much may happen in three days, even when storms do not enforce the claims of gratitude and hospitality. But so far as two at least of those .storm-drifted to- gether were concerned, the mischief was done in just the space of three eye beams They were Margery and Paul Dunbar. Paul, indeed, was so honestly, q0 ant hands gleefully whenever she saw him look at Margery. He was 30, rich and distinguished, and so fastidious he had become the despair of matchmaking mothers. It was delightful to see him thus completely bowled over by this shy, handsome country girl. who had such clear, honest eyes, and way of carry ing her head so high. Because Helen was really conscious of her own willful- ness. and anxious to make Paul all pos- sible amends. she took possession of Jimmy with the prettiest imperiousneso, and kept him out of her brothers way.
 This throughout the first day. After ward she did not ask herself her motive She was all in a delicious shudder watching the snow, now from this win dow, now from that, making Jimmy tell her tales of how the live stock adven- tured, or go with her, hand in hand, to beg Aunt Martha for ginger bread, or red apples. or cupfuG of real cream frozen and sprinkled with real maple sugar. Aunt Martha was her bondslave, only too happy to grant all requests Now and again she wiped her eyes fur lively and said. in her heart: "Oh, if only she was my daughter" She loved Margery dearly, but not as she loved this cunning. blue-eyed elf. Margery had early got taller than Aunt Martha, not to name having been born with an older head on her shoulders.
 Uncle Peter saw everything through eyes round and bright. If he saw under the surface, he made no sign. At least not until the fifth day, when the sun shone, the roads had been broken out and Judge Dunbar's big sleigh came ca reering across the fields and up to the back gate. Aunt Martha had bundled up Helen until no more than the tip of her nose was visible, but somehow Helen got a hand out and with it clung affec- tionately to the elder woman's arm I'll love you as long as live-and if you don let me come back to see you, l shall turn up my toes and die," she pouted. Then Uncle Abner laughed his heartiest.
 Come back! Of course. you will. The wedding can't get along without you two, he said. Me and the judge has been good friends always, if we ain't never to the degree O asking each other back and forth-but you're got to see Jimmy and Margery-"
 'Margery?" Paul shot the name at him like bullet. getting white as he spoke "Margery, there must be some mis- take"
 He could not go on. In Margery's whitening face he read confirmation of Uncle Peter. Jimmy looked from one to another of the group. his eyes inscruta- ble. his jaw set. What he might have said nobody will ever know. It was Hell en who cooed, softly: ''Why. dear Uncle Peter. can't that all be changed? Paul wants Margery dreadfully-and Jimmy why, l almost believe, Jimmy would rather please Aunt Martha and take me"
 You never said a truer wordv' Jimmy cried. catching her tight in his arms. Paul looked at Margaret's averted head and audaciously set a kiss behind her ear What need to tell any more, ex- cept that the Dunbar sleigh went back to High Cross with four passengers in- stead of two. Also that though there was no wedding until spring. 1t was a double one, when at last it came to pass,