The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-06-12

notice until whirl OF fine snow struck
her face, apparently from cloudless
sky. Ten minutes later she was in the
midst of Dakota blizzard.
After that there was nothing but to
urge the horse On-no direction, no pos
sibility Of turning back against such
fury, only just to trust to the animals
instinct and not think.
But strange things sometimes hap
pen even In blizzard which seems to
hold nothing but death. Perhaps it
was chance, possibly something else,
maybe merely the horses superior
sense of direction, but at length, when
the girls body had grown numb and
her mind was beginning to wander, the
animal stopped suddenly, with his nose
pressed against a door,
And it almost seemed as If she were
expected, for the door was flung open,
and eager, sollcitous hands lifted her
from the saddle and hurried her inside
The poor dearv' a woman's voice
exclaimed between sobs and laughter.
Who'd have thought of her being
caught In a storm like this? But 1t
was brave OF her to keep on. And he's
a good deal worse off, for he hasn't
sensed thing since he was took from
the horse just before the girl came.
It's no wonder, though, for he was fac
Ing blizzard, with only summer cloth
ing on But come" briskly bring
her into the parlor She won't have
time for any changes, and she can rest
afterward. It's a half hour late now,
and the preachers in a mighty hurry
to get away to dying job"
In the parlor several persons were
waiting expectantly, and on a couch
near them young man was half re-
Ginning, apparently asleep. But from
time to time he stirred uneasily, and
his half closed eyes gazed about in
dazed sort of way. He was assisted to
his feet and Persis led to a position
beside him; then an old man slipped
in front of them and began to read
hurriedly from a book. Presently he
turned to the young man.
DO you take this young woman to
be your wife?" he asked.
"Woman-out in this wild country"
murmured the young man, needs help.
OF course, give her my life-everything
| can do-glad to. Yes, yes, of course"
"And you"-to Persis-"do you &C.
cept this young man to be your lawful
husbands"
Persis gazed about inquiringly, and
into her numbed mind penetrated the
thought that they were expecting her
to say yes. So she muttered yes and
tried to smile.
There were a few more quick SEN
fences, a perfunctory congratulation,
and then the old man bumped himself
anxiously into his overcoat.
"See you again in the morning" he
said to the young man. you can let
the fee go until then. No time to wait
now. Goodby all, and thank you, Mr.
Wells''-to their host-''for helping me
so in this"
That's all right" answered the host
good naturally. Pm glad to help you
in thing of this sort, but you're mis-
taken about the name. I'm John
Briggs Sam Wells is on the other
side of the street"
The old man stopped short in tho
humping process.
isn't this the Ravine%
mo; it's the Gulch. The Ravine's
across"
"Whatw in CONSERVATION. "And
isn't this man Vance Green of the Two
outfit, who made an appointment with
me by letter."
mo, it's young Baird, and l think
from what I've heard of her that the
girls the old mans ward You didn't
give any names, so l thought 1t was
all right. 1t seemed natural the son
and ward should get married, and, with
the old man sick and the son sent off.
this was the only way. Well" in SUI
preme disgust, you've certainly made
a mess of it. What Going?"
Yes, | must" The old man looked
at the figure which was again reclining
on the couch. lasping into unconscious
ness, and at the girl, now seated and
gazing about wonderfngly. ''No use
trying to explain to them now" be