The Ordway new era., 1912-12-27
The Storm Bound Traveller
Awarded Fourth Prize in the New Erals Story Competition

shaver. not more'n four years old
Dan Ransom never said where he come
from, or nothin' about hisself or the
kid except her mother had died few
months before further up in the hills,
and OF course we don't never ask
questions out here. Well. from that
day to this him and Bill there and
me have been partners; Joe here join
ed lis about three years ago" he said.
pointing to the youngest of the group.
! he continued And now we couldn' t
no more run this here camp without
vi. than you could run that saw-mill.
down in the Gulch over there. without
logs. 1t may seem to you like a
, funny and mighty risky lace for 4
young girl. like her. in this wild lum-
Der country. but III tell YOU. stranger.
how it is. You see before anything
her little finger nail. they'd have to
climb over all of lis piled up in a heap.
oh. boys" And the boys. whose
hair was strcakcd with gray. nodded
their assent. Consequently. nobody
around here cares to- bother her.
'causc they all know we are burned
good shots. and a stranger soon gifts
til" lay q the land"
That night Vivian reused out of a
strange dream: her eyes achcd and
her mind was confused by the bril-
liancy of the scene she had bchcld.
but telling herself that it was all
dream she tried to go back to sleen.
but the scene would rcappear before
her as she tossed about. Finally.
much troubled still. over her dream.
she at last slept again.
The next morning all was bright
Il, -tr
entered the cabin living-room. but
outside the snow storm still held
sway. The morning passed very
quickly. as all hands helped prepare
Christmas dinner. Several times WV
ian seemed to he absent minded. and
restless. The men thought she wor-
ricd about her father. whom she had
expected to return the day before
All were seated at the table to cat
their Christmas dinner. but one place
was vacant. Vivian had set place
for her father. hoping against hone
that he would be there. but she had
been disappointed. just then the door
swung open. and tall. handsome. al
though rather worn man. of middle
age. entered the room. vi sprang
up. and i'll moment was almost bur
led in her fathers great fur coat. As
Dan looked over the head of his
his eyes fell upon the stran-
ingly to Jim. He introduced Ralph |
Norris at once. and satisfactorily cx-
blamed his presence in few words. |
The vacant place at the table was
soon filled and the dinner continued
amid much laughing and talking
The afternoon was passed in var
ous ways. The lumber men smoked
as they listened to Dan tell of his trim
10 the distant settlement. Vivian and
Norris grew very we'll acquainted. as
they cracked nuts upon the hearth
together. She listened as he told her
about many wonderful things down in
the states. Then she told stories
Of the North woods and the lives OF
its people. in her quaint way. AS !
evening drew on she played and sang |
many songs. some of which the In
dians had taught her.
After all the men had gone to the
bunk room. leaving father and daugh-
ter together. Dan sat staring into the
fire. and Vivian sitting on low stool
on the hearth, studied his face intent
" and quizzic3lly. Presently she got
up and seated herself on the arm OF
her fathers chair. slipping her arm
around his neck. He glanced up at
her and smiled.
"IIavc you had nice Christmas,
DEAR" he asked.
"Yes. father. very nice, and have
so enjoyed Mr.. Norris it seems
so nice to be called Miss VII but
and her voice trailcd off into silence
"Rut what. chid?' he asked. draw
ing her down upon his knee.
"Oh. father, | had the strangcst
dream last night. and l can't get IT
off my mind. because | can't think 1t
was all dream
well, let's hear it," he said, laugh
ing little at her carncstncss.
Il dreamed that ! was watching
the stars come out. and suddenly me
Christmas star.-you know. the Dig
bright one you can see III the s''"t',
west now?.-wcll. it appeared ana
right under it | saw a reat cry iiNF
Mr.. Norris was talking about this at,
tcrnoon. The city was all dim and
, indistinct. except one large stone
house. and | saw it quite clearly
| "What was it likc?" the man ask
ed in low voice.
ooh. it was built of brown stone
and had a great, wide porch i'll front:
covered with vines. but they we're all
dead as it was winter, and the snow
was drif,ed around the house and
somc was on the porch stcrs. 1t
must have been Christmas night; pc
cause the windows were all lighted
and wrcaths of green and rcd hung III
them. Then | thought | was IN IN,
hall and it was all decorated api haH
the most beautiful things IN IL; -
looked Into a room at the sidc: ana III
there was large cedar tree WIN e''.-
hynu n
dies and all kinds OF prc.'y 'n,nE hn '
, H., f-r: he was younger than you.
daddv but he looked so much like
vou,E ike you must have looked at
his agv. His wife was young and $"
much like the picture you showed mc'