Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-15
CONTINUED FROM PAGE -FOUR

The situation was really serious. Here she
was, alone, at dark long way from home,
even by the Short cut, as the woods-path
was commonly known, and a furious snow
storm raging.
Maisie paused a moment on the doorstep
to think.
The house is deserted-not a sign of life
anywhere" she reflected. "And how am
ever to get back to Thorndale in the face of
this blizzard? l never knew Uncle Joe and
Aunt Martha to go away before at Christ
mas time"
1t was of no use, she knew; but again
hiaisie knocked vigorously, awaking strange
sounds in the empty house. All was as silent
as a tomb
She ran to the little stable few yards
away Old Dick. the bony horse, and the
shaky spring wagon were gone A spotted
COW, eontentedly munching hay in low
rack, and few hens roosting in shiver-
ing kind of way, on the edge of a broken
wheelbarrow, were all she saw of life.
ooh, ! wish Percy were here! 1t is so
dark and cold"
And then the remembrance of Percys un-
kindness stung her. and she lifted her head
proudly.
@He would only make fun of me- If he
was here she said. I'm not afraid. Why
should be? 1t is not half 80 bad as it was
for me to pass that ferce-looking COW this
afternoon"
1t was now quite dark, and the snow fall
ing more and more heavily
The wind sighed around the old house in a
sad and dreary way. For the first time in
her life, Maisie dreaded to go through the
woods alone. But she knew that the sooner
she started on her return the quicker would
she reach home. She lost no time in re-
tracing her steps along the almost obliterated
garden path, and boldly plunged within the
shadow of the great pines.
'1f | can only reach the shelter of the
woods, she painted, as gust of wind drove
the snow in her face and nearly took her off
her feet. "The wind won't blow SO hard
there, and I'll be able to get my breath"
The snow-laden evergreen trees stood
ghostly white in the driving storm, while all
beneath was dark and still as death. Yet she
Maisie realized this, and sturdily pressed
on. But she was very cold and tired The
basket on her arm seemed heavy as lead
"H Percy were only here to help men' she
sighed, as feeling of helplessness came over
her. Mother win be SO worried, and | am
so far from homei"
At this moment, Maisie summoned all her
courage to her aid, and resolutely banished
both fear and her weariness.
She was in the right path surely. and. al
most running as she had been for at least
half an hour, nearly out of the forest. Still
no opening appeared in the wilderness of
towering trees, and on and on poor Maisie
walked, stumbling over fallen logs and against
dimly outlined tree trunks that beset her at
every hand.
How bitter cold it was! and how the wind
howled through the wildly rocking pine-tops!
Maisie stopped abruptly, overcome with
sudden horror.
She was lostl
Maisie knew it, and the knowledge blanch
ed her face with new and terrible fear
Could she keep herself from freezing to death
obliged to wander all night in the storm
swept woods?
'I will not give up. / must keep moving.
That is my only hope" she said to herself
with desperate energy.
And so on and on she struggled. no visible
sign Of a, path anywhere but that
vast, bleak stretch of forest and lev. cutting
turned '-
Exhausted, chilled to the heart, her feet
and hands numb and almost without feel.
ing, the brave gin kept up her weary march
around and around, she knew not where or
how far -
Only the one thought remained. she ronst
not stop-not for an instant. To do 60 meant
to perish alone in the awful solitude Of these
winter woods. 'De'e
Already her dulled senses were bep;nn;no
to yield to the cold, ever creeping creepine
through her CHILLED frame, lessening her sense
of pain, her fear of that overpowerine sIeen
which to her now meant no earthly awakan.
Mechanically but more slowly, she walked
on, conscious of but the single purposeSf
must keep moving! I must not stop!''
manner Maisie had no idea. She was brouehf
to sudden standstill in a most forcible and
unexpected way. N1>
In the darkness, she had literally rim
against habitation of some kind. 1t proved
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES sN~%A%AAANAAeA~AAAN