The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-03-28
WITH
TONkA'S Hon.
AID VIII
IIy
Honore
Wilisir


hug fireplace. with whips aAd rifles
abovc the mmtcL The cauehcs. with
The fur robes tossed acrass them and
the lang study table III the mitldllr of
the room. heaped With asa1ines and
varied collection of plte> nade her
"orSet that the nearest human habita.
zion Nils fifteen miles acress the plains
She paused at one of the windows.
Snubbins her nose against the pane.
like Il child. and looked out over the
brown. dusty plains toward the noun.
talnS. This visit TO her bachelor broth
er was suddenly proving lonely, since
he had forbidden her her daily ride be
cause Of threatening snow Until to
day everything on the ranch had been
81 lev and strange Ia this eastern girl
that she had forgotten 10 be homesick
The sun Is shining she exclaimed
aloud 10 the empty room. 1T Is only
that funny hazy ring around II that
keeps ii from being really bright.
Richard Is 81 silly and funny over me.
like Il hea with one chick. Whit is II
snowstorm. anyhow, but fun? I'm 20.
Ing 10 take runkn out for lust little
While.
All Lee. pccring from the kitchen
window Il little later, SHOOT, his pig,
tailed head obviously al the sight of Il
slender figure in heavy riding habit
making lis way toward the stables.
Me no like missy glo," he said
Weather Nelly bad" Then, with AT
mdeseribabc gesture not unmlxed
with disdain, he calmly washed his
hands If the matter and Went ON with
his pie making
Barbara found the stables deserted
but Tonka noscd her softly with vel
come In her great eyes and pony aud
girl SWUNG eagerly out beyond the cor
raj 10 The open plain. Br5ara SHY
cred II GOOD deal nj first The air
lacked That clear. invlgoratlng quality
TINT had hitherto made riding II lie
light. There was Il raw wind rising
that penetrated her heavy habit
We Won't go far today fonka.a She
said, with chatterlng teeth lust the
i've miles ont 10 The lrrigatns gate and
back again
The murl,y ring about the sun grew
thicker and thicker until the sun was II
mere pale yellow dinner plate resting
on II gray blanket. The wind began to
sting Barhara's face unpleasantly
oh dear. she said. this isn't amy
fun! lis so hazy | cant see the ditch
nnd"-Nhc turned IN the saddle and
looked about in puzzled Way cant
| See the ranch house either. Nhy why
fonka. where are weF'
She looked mp into the sky. but dur
ing her short moment of uncertainty
the SIN had become totally obscured
and rs she looked fine. driving pnrti-
cles of snow peltcd her face Tonka
shook her head Stubbornly and started
OF abruptly. but barbara pulled her in.
silly thing" she said. 81 don't want
to go 10 The irTlgnting ditch We must
get home as soon rs ever we can"
But Tonka had ideas of her own on
the subject As Barbara pulled on the
rein she SHOOK her head again and
started to back.
"ronEa." scolded barbara raising
her voice above the roar of The wind,
Il want 10 90 home, Don't nct like n
goose
With the aid of the whip lie finally
persuaded Tonka 10 turn. and they
started of in the teeth of the wind.
The drive Of the snow WAS 50 heavy
that Barbara could moi 80, a horse y
length in front of her The cold was
SO Intense that she felt rs II her face
were being scared, ana she began 10
be frightened.
at must be blizzard" She Thought.
Orchard will be frantic"
For half an hour Tonka struggled
through the binding storm. while the
frightened girl on her back clung to
the rcins With numbinS hands and
urged her OIL. As the col grew un-
bearabie Barbara pulled - pony in
and dsmounted.
I've got 10 walk she thought, "or
freeze to the saddle
With the rcins ON her arm. she
plunged on. her heart sinking more
and more we are lost, Tonka," she
said. lost In one of those terrible biz
yards" She stopped to breathe and
TO pound her aching hands against the
pOny's side.
Suddenly Tonka lifted her head with
a shrill whnny. which WIS answered
from out the storm by another whinny.
Barbara looked about eagerly. rs it
only stray pony" she thought. or Is
some one looking for met"
Out OF the whrlwnd OF snow came
the shadowy form OF man, like Bar
bara, leading his horse. Barbara 8
heart gave great throb
Mr.. Tngraham" she gasped
Great heavens, Miss Barbara what
does this mean" exclaimed the man
turning his back to the gale and shout
ing to be heard above It.
Pm lost" called Barbara
This Is awful" answered The man,
his face tense. You poor child! Why
on earth did your brother let you out
on such day. II shall call him to
account for this. And | am Of no use,
This is my first experience With an
American blizzard. |. too. AIN LOST
Barbufa's heart sank. ii r month
acquaintance with the young English
man. who was their nearest neighbor
and who during her visit had ridden
the fifteen miles regularly three times
week, had inspired her with pro
found faith IN his capabilities. As he
owned himself lost she unconscionsly
moved little closer to his stalwart
figure. The man pulled off his fur coat
and IL spite Of her protcstalons wrap
ped il about her shiyering little figure.
FIRST" lac said 'you will put that
On"
NO, WON'T" she cri,1l
oh. yes. you WIZ" he shouted, but
tonlng il firmly under her chin. Bar
bara changed the subject.
ITS lucky didn't let Tlnka carry
me on 10 the ditch" she called. she
almost refused to turn. really got
mixed mp with her backing and turn
ing"
The EnglishIuan DOudered for q mo-