The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-07-03
WORK OF THE STORM
BY DON IA GRANGE.

ssseseessesseesessssseoeee
Up to the night OF the 18th OF De
cember there had been no winter
weather. The water In the ponds and
bitches had scarcely frozen over. in.
deed. the highways were dry and
dusty, and the Oldest inhabitant" said
that the bluebirds we're as numerous
In the country as in June.
At three o'clock the cows we're out
In the green pastures. At six q gale
from the north was raging and the
snow driving in binding sheets that
man or animal could not face.
or course. Mr.. Rayburn and his wife
has selected that very afternoon to
drive over to the town of Hepburn,
IL miles distant, to see about some
business that should have been attend.
ed to month before, and that could
be attended to any time within the
next month without loss to anyone.
They were two miles on their way
home when the storm-wolf struck them
and ran them into farmhouse for the
night. They we're only two of hun
dreds that had to seek strange shelter
that night.
And back at the manor house as
darkness shut down and the blizzard
grew stronger. was a cook who flung
her arms about and wept, and Miss
Bird Rayburn who scolded:
Yes, it's blizzard, and father and
mother can't possibly get home to-
night, and maybe not tomorrow, but
what of it?"~
Il was reading that where there was
a blizzard there was always half a
dozen murders with it," persisted the
cook.
Fanny, you'd tire COW with your
fears and your whiningl" was the
sharp admonition. you go back to the
kitchen and make big pot of coffee
and keep 1t hot. Have things ready
so that you can get quick lunch. It's
likely that some one will ask us for
shelter within the next hour"
Miss Bird was no heroine. She was
| bluffing herself and blufling the cook
1t was fact that she was frightened
There was not another house within
half mile. The telephone had gone
| dead"
The first move was to see that every
door and window was secure, and then
the sentinel sat down to wait After
half an hour or SO she began to wonder
whether she had really locked the out
side doors of the vestibule. OF course
she had. Perhaps not. 1t would take
only minute to make sure, but she
| did not move. There came what she
thought was shout or cry for helI
from the highway. Was it cry or the
wall OF the gale?
What Miss Bird did was to go to one
OF the front windows and raise the
shade and let the light shine forth into
the storm for beacon. Five minutes
after she had taken her seat again the
front door opened and man of snow
staggered into the room. She had not
locked the doors after all.
The unbidden guest staggered about
until he could clutch the back of
chair for support. The snow had piled
on him inches thick, and his battle
"ASA NAO SUI Ill ldu SAIduSlcu HILL L
was full minute before he spoke, and
then a nervous laugh preceded his
words:
In two or three minutes l shall be
able to ask you to excuse this intru,
zion"
The girl was holding revolver in
her hand. She kept her eyes on him,
but made no reply.
Sorry to bring this snowbank into
the house, but l was that done up that
l had to crawl from the gate to the
house."
Still no answer.
IF your father is here | beg the
privilege Of introducing myself. Mr.
Deering, my father, is in public life."
THE railroad magnate?" queried
Miss Bird.
The newspapers refer to him as
SUCH l myself am generally spoken
of as Ted Deering, the son of his
father"
Neither of my parents is at home
and it is doubtful if they get here
through this storm. l shall accept
you as Mr.. Ted Deering. however, and
there is hot coffee awaiting you. had
the cook prepare for just such an
emergency"
And you'll lay aside the revolver"
Il am not afraid"
Miss Bird and Mr.. Deering were
good Samaritans that long, fierce
night. Two wayfarers were admitted,
thawed out and put to bed, and they
would have done the same by others |
had the storm drifted them that way
When Mr.. and Mrs. Rayburn finally |
reached home there was a good deal of
talk about billiards., but it was mid.
summer before Miss Birds father |
closed conversation by observing:
Why. If you and Bird love each
other, | see no reason to object, but il |