Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-16

north In many broguey strife. Until
1t befcll through slip OF the tongue
"A slip that sent him packing off, for
| he boosted how in go his freckled
hands had helped In plotting the Fed
erals to Island No. 10!
1t was an outcome that gave Dallas
little concern. Marylyn was hcr wor-
ry. The younger girl was listless, pale
and moody. Now and then Dallas be-
licved she saw look of actual suffer
Ing In her eyes. Once, awakening In
the night she heard her sob.
MaryIyn was unhappy. and the
thought made the elder girl desperate.
This led her TO plan: Lounsbury must
he asked to forgive their father and
come ngain--must be told Of Marylyn's
! confession.
Soon afterward a second worry pre-
sented itself. one fully az serious The
/ provisions were dwindling, the seed
sacks shrinking fast, and, estranged
from Lounsbury, they had nowhere to
ask credit but at the fort.
When Dallas spoke Of it TO her IA
thor, he chuckled. WAL, we got 81
! mon, Hln we! ne SRlu.
That same night Marylyn put down
her fork and stared across the BILE at
her sister. "Why, Dallas, you don't
eat.' she compla med
Dallas laughed IL don't work, hon
cy," size answered.
! The question of fuel entered next
and became grave one. SO far the
/ wenthrr had been fairly mild for the
place and the season. Now it took n
more rigorous turn. Tho bitter cold
was intensified by a stiff wind Snow
4 began to fall, and the wind, growing,
drove the flakes level, so that they cut
the face like filings Of steel Charley's
! trips became uncertain. then impossi-
! BILE The work of getting out hay for
/ the stock was desperate tax. It was
SO difficult that Dallas dared not spare
a straw for the fireplace, and Ben and
Betty's mangcr had to be drawn upon
for wood. When this source of supply
failed, the benches were sacrificed one
by one, the cupboard was torn down,
and the bunk and part of the table
We're split into kindlng.
dor before the hearth with the brave
co!ored blankets of the partition for
extra covering Lancaster and the
younger girl stayed in bed all OF the
twcnty-four hours. Dallas got up only
long enough to tend the animals and
prepare food. But q day came when
she could not make hcr way to the
lcan-to ana when the warped door
could not be opened in the teeth of the
raging storm. Toward noon she
cooked some food. however. The seed
sacks were empty. There was no rice
and no -four. While the blizzard
howlod without and Simon and the
mules called pitifuly for their fodder
and drink, she broke up what was left
of the table Over its blaze the last
smitch of bacon went to SAVIOR the
last pint of beans.
After the meal Dallas read aloud.
Lying down. she held her book in one
hand until her fingers were blue with
cold, then changed to the other. Fa-
ther and sister drowsed. and she put
the story aside to study over the pre-
dicament, in which she felt herself at
fault Counting on billiards., but know
ing nothing Of their duration, she had
determined to say little about their
needs until those needs pressed, when,
she knew. her father would see their
extremity. The extremity had come.
Yet, willing or unwilling, Lancaster
was cut of from seeking help
That day closed in fearful cold. The
wind was becoming a furious gale.
Sturdy the log house withstood 1t.
Only The roof seemed threatened. With
each great blast 1t lifted a little, as il
on tho point Of whirlng away, but
when darkness came even the roof set
tied into quier. for the drifts that had
been pilinG mp gradually to the north
and west Of the shack. scaling the win
lows and the door. had risen to the
so weighted the thatch
Next morning long before Marylyn
and Der father Wakened Dallas reused.
= The room was in dusk. and its air was
so cold that it seemed fairly to SINCE
the skin. She could not read. Pres
emily Marylyn turned. The elder girl
FASTENED to soothc her. Then their
father yawned. Dallas feigned sleep.
But the evil moment could not be
put off. Lancaster propped himself Oh
an elbow and called to her. He was
hungry.
Very quietly Dallas told him that
there was no food.
He grunted, arose and lighted the
lantern. "You dish tibet snow on tn
floor" he commanded. We'll need II
fer drink"
What re you going to doT she ask
ed, Fastening to obey Her voice was
lowered apprehensively.
He was wrapping some clothes over
his shoes. Butcher Simon" he said
curly.
Her face became white spot in the
gloom.
"Cri;ter Ii be tough, likes not" went
on her father "but y en- poun' tn
meat
After a long wait she spoke. "You
can't reach him." she declared, hall
triumphantly,
"Yas, All en-" he answered. "Ah en-
chop through with tn Ratchet" He
was between the fireplace and cor
ner. feeling over the logs with his
hands.
She ran to him. "Oh, how can yor
think of 80" she dem1 udad huslSily