The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-09-06

75(9fSs7o& 49, y
which the lonely cabin stood was shell
tered from the prevailing winds, but
the house itself was almost covered
with the drifts. The constant fire
roaring up the huge stone chimney
had melted some Of the snow at the
top and 1t had run down the slanting
roof and formed huge icicles on what
had been the caves Of the house. The
man had cut away the drifts from
doors and windows for light and lib
erty. At first every stormy night
would I'LL his laborious clearings with
drifting snow, but a. 1t became pack.
ed down and frozen solid he was able
to keep his various ways open without
great deal Of difficulty. A little
work every morning and evening sui.
feed.
Every day he had to 60 down the
mountain stairway to the bottom of
the pocket to feed and water the bur-
ros. What was q quick and simple
task in mflder. warmer seasons some
times took him q half q day under the
woman never saw him start out in
the storm without sinking heart and
grave apprehension. On his return to
the cabin half frozen, almost spent
! and exhausted, she ever welcomed him
with eager gratitude and satisfaction
which would shine In her eyes. throb
in her heart and tremble upon her
lips. control 1t a. she might. And hs
thought It was well worth all the trou.
BILE and hardships Of his task to be so
greeted when he came back to her.
Winter had set in unusually early
and with unprecedented severity. Any
kind Of winter In the mountains
would have amazed the girl. but even
the man with his larger experience
declared no had never before known
such sharp and sudden cold. or such
deep and lasting SHOWS. His daily
records had never shown such low
temperatures nor had his observation
ever noted such wild and furious
storms az ragged then and there. Il
seemed AZ II Nature were in a con.
spiracy to seal up the mountains and
and egress alike impossible.
A month had elapsed and Ends
foot was now quite well. The man
had managed to sew up her boot
where the knife had cut 1t and al.
though the Job was q clumsy one the
result was disable shoe. It Is 40.
tonishing the comfort she took when
she first put It on and discarded for
good the shapeless wooden stocking
which had covered the clumsy band.
age happily no longer necessary. Al
though the torn and bruised member
had healed and she could use it with
care. her foot was still very tender
and capable Of sustaining no violent
or long continued strain. OF neces.
sity she had been largely confined to
the house. but whenever 1t had been
possible he bad wrapped her in his
great bear skin coat and had helped
her out to the edge Of tho cliff for
a breath Of fresh air. /,
Sometimes he would leave her
there alone, would perhaps have left
her alone there always had she not
|
1nsensibly she had acquired the hab.
it-not dinacult one for q woman to
fall into-of taking the lead in the
small Affairs Of their circumscribed
existence, and he had acquiesced in
her dominance without hesitation or
remonstrance. It was she who or.
dered their daily walk and converse.
ton Her wishes were consulted
about everything: to be sure no great
range Of choice was allowed them, Of
liberty Of action or freedom in the
CONSTANTS with which nature bound
them, but whenever there was any
selection she made It.
The man yielded everything for her
and yet he did It without In any way
derogatins from his selfrespect or
without surrendering his natural In.
dependence. The woman instructive.
II realised that in any great crisis IN
any large matter. the determinations
Of which would naturally effect their
present or their future. their happin
sss, welfare life. he would assert him.
self, and his assertion would be IN.
questioned and unquestionabls BY her.
There was delightful satisfaction
to the woman In the whole situation.
She had . woman's desire to lead in
the smaller things in life, and YET
craved the woman's Consciousness
that In the great emergenciss she
would be led. IN the great battles shA
4 would bs fought for, In the great dan.
III snea aha vos,lA ~ Ynro< $3.50 s 4, 6bsxY,1H