The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-04-24
CHAPTER XIX.
Tho Ee~ona

CHAPTER XIX.
The Escape.
The little county seat awoke in the
morning to strange sight. The
storm had not abated. The wind was
still blowing at blizzard rate off the
northwest hills, and fine, icy snow was
swirling so thickly through the cold
air that vision was obstructed Build
ing were distinguished BILE only as shad-
ows showing family through a heavy
white veil. The thermometer had gone
many degrees below the zero mark. It
was steadily growing colder. The old
er Inhabitants said it would surely
break the record the coming night.
An immense fire had been built in
the sitting-room. Thither Mary and
Louise repaired. Here they were
joined by Dale, Langford and Gordon.
"'You should be out at the ranch
looking after your poor cattle, Mr..
Langford," said Mary, smilingly. She
could be light-hearted now-since lit
tie secret had been whispered to her
last night at a tea party where no
tea had been drunk. Langford had
gravitated toward her as naturally
as steel to magnet. He shrugged his
big shoulders and laughed little.
1.-THE Scribe will do everything that
can be done. Honest, now, did you
think this trial could be pulled off
without me?"
"But there can be no trial to-day"
(. why not?"
did l dream the courthouse burned
last night?"
If you did, we are all dreamers
alike"
"Then how can you hold court?"
1--WE have gone back to the time
when church and state were one and
inseparable, and court convenes at 10
o'clock sharp in the meeting house."
he said.
Louise was looking white and mis-
cradle.
"You are not contemplating running
away, are you?" asked Gordon. "This
is unusual weather-really"
She looked at him with a pitiful
smile
II should like to be strong and
brave and enduring and capable-like
Mary. You don't believe it, do you?
It's true, though. But I can't I'm
weak and homesick and cold I ought
not to have come. l am not the kind
You said it, you know. I am going
G 10
over. l mean it,"
There was no mistaking that. Cor
don bowed his head His face was
white 1t had come sooner than he
had thought.
All the records Of the work yester.
day had been burned. There was moth
ing to do but begin at the beginning
again. 1t was discouraging, uninter.
esting. But it had to be done. Dale
refused positively to adjourn. The
| jurymen were all here So the little
/ frame church was bargained for. II
the fre-bugs had thought to postpone
| events-to gain time-by last nights
| work, they would find themselves very
| greatly mistaken. The church was
| long and narrow like a country school
house, and rather roomy considering
| the size of the town. 1t had precise
! windows-also like a country school
| house-four on the west side, through
which the fine snow was drifting, fou,
opposite. The storm kept few al
home with the exception of the people
from across the river. There were
enough staying in the town to fill the
room to it's utmost limits. Standing
room was at a premium. The entry
was crowded. Men not able to get in
ploughed back through the cutting
wind and snow only to return present
| ly to see if the situation had changed
any during their brief absence. 81
all the work of yesterday was gone
over again.
So close was the pack of people tina
the fire roaring in the big stove in thu
middle of the room was allowed t.
sink in smouldering quiet. The heav!
air had been unbearable else. Th'
snow that had been brought in OF
tramping feet lay in little melte,
pools on the rough flooring. Men fol-
got to eat peanuts and women forgo
to chew their gum-except one or tw'
extremely nervous ones whose jaw
moved the faster under the stimulu
of hysteria. Jesse Black was tellin
his story. H.. ~ ~; T.. :. !.
"Along toward the list of last july
=. rfst II sl' -