Middletown transcript., 1905-04-08
lcoNTINUED FROM LAST WEEK |

sort of hurricane can't last many mo
ments."
His companion did his bidding prompt
ly. The cloak was freed and the rein
we're disentangled. Then they went for
ward through the stinging snow ant
wind like All arrow. Their pace seemed
desperate. But Moncrieff kept the fear
maddened animal as straight as a die
Soon the outline of boughs grew distinc
again. Then they could distinguish hedge
from wall. The strange procession hur
ried by less wildly, until gradually tile
mares pace slackened to the normal
Then Moncrieff found time to glance
aside at his companion.
She was looking straight ahead Of her
calm, upright, compassionate lie sud.
denly altered the form Of the remark
which was on his lips. To ask her if she
was frightened seemed superfuous. lie
| said instead
THAT was touch and go Spittire isn't
used to this sort Of surprise. I am glad
that you managed to disentangle tile
rein."
so am ] r she said briefly.
Both had to speak loudly and clearly ;
the clamor Of the elements was as wild
as ever. Conversation was therefore an
impossibility, and neither attempted it
for awhile. But before very long the
mares feet began to lag, and then sud-
denly she jerked her shoulders and stood
still. John gave quick exclamation
Of annoyance.
"By Jove. Spitfre-have you given in?"
The girl said nothing. John touched
the tagging creature with the whip ten
tatively she responded momentarily, but
then dropped her fine ears, and again
stood still, whinnying.
A curious darkness had now settled
over everything. Fields, hedges, and
roads were wrapped in white. White
too were the man and woman who were
standing there in the wild evening. The
silence of his companion struck the man.
He desisted from his efforts to coax the
weary animal, and, turning towards the
girl, he said
"Ehis is not exactly warm welcome
for you II
"One doesn't expect much in that way
when one is a working woman Y she
replied.
There was no tinge Of bitterness in the
reply, only grave simplicity, and the
fact interested him.
"One would have chosen better one
though, am sure p he persisted.
She laughed suddenly-a gay and un-
expected laughed.
81 don't think that we will discuss the
wide question Of choice just now, please"
1T is trile incongruous, he allowed
''for there won't be much question Of
choice in the matter of our standing
here till Spitfire plucks up her courage !"
"It wouldn't matter SO much," she
said, 'tif it wasn't that the minutes copnt
now The snow is falling SO furiously !!
Look at that lane to our right-almost
impossible already. Can't you get down
and coax her ?''
He looked around. 1t was a glance Of
sudden perturbation.
Good heavens-you are right The
minutes do count. You yourself are
scarcely distingulshable from the white
everywhere ~
"a monument in MARBLE" she COM
mented. "But we don't want our epi-
taphs written yet. Do you mind speak
ing to your horse p
He looked at her with covert amuse-
ment and got down.
"A sheer case of fright r. lie said, as he
felt the great heart beats throb under tie
glossy coat.
His companion's voice came to him
again through the freezing darkness.
'Is there any house between here and
Cranleigh?' she asked.
He glanced up with little involuntary
surprise at the erect and whitened figure
which was holding the reins. 1t was SO
unusual for him to fall back on the re-
sources Of other people.
''For, if she isn't equal to five miles,
perhaps she may manage one" proceeded
the same clear utterance.
"We will try it r he replied.
He patted his favorite again and spoke
in her ear, cajoling and caressing her.
Soon she reared her head and shifted the
air. The same second, Moncrieff was i'll
his seat again.
"Dalstone Farm stands off the high
road half mile or SO ahead,' lie said.
"We will get there at least and try for
change of horse. The suddenness Of it
all has scared the poor beasts nerve"
He touched her fanks gently, and the
mare went forward. But by this time
the road was almost impossible.
The blizzard had clothed the world in
shroud as if by miracle. Spitfre
stumbled, fell, and got on her feet again,
and so. staggering and plunging, made
her painful progress forward.
"At this pace we shall not reach Gram
leigh Moss till midnight y John said,
with desperate Thought Of the dinner
party Of which he Was to be the central
figure.
''There is light to your right y the
girl said suddenly. @.
''That Heaven for that Cheer up,
Spitire-cheer up ~
Spittire did cheer up. and, paht ng and
battling, brought them at last to DaIstone
Farm. Almost at the first iock the
hospitable door was flung open, and a
ruddy glew flooded tile Whiteness.
Hello, Susan, is that you n cried
John. ''As usual, have cume begging
not for apples or cider ilis time, as
have so often done-but for something
more valuable"
"Come in, sir-come III r cried jolly
voice, and its owner was about to walk