Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-07-15
Weathered
A Narrow Escape
BY ERMINIE HOLLAND
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.
By ERMINIE HOLLAND

luC S1lkF ANhoNAA SAiO
ment from her task-"he would never
have done it If they hadn't forced him
to it. They were always teasing and
haunting, nagging and grumbling, until
he got sick of it ALL
She resumed her work-the kneading
of a fioury mass of dough-with the
energy of an unnatural force within.
"They thought because they had saved
some money from the fruit of their
hard labors they would make gentle
man of him, being the only one they
had. And when they had done that
they gave him no peace until he mar
ried her. 1t didn't matter about me.
1t was nothing TO them that l had
grown to think of him all day long and
dream of him at nights. 1t was moth
ing to them that went to school long
er than we could afford and read books
and studied nights that ! might not be
too ignorant. And l would have gone
away to be nurse and left them
alone, old and feeble as they are, for
his sake
She spoke In a voice that was indis-
tinctly audible, for there was none to
hear. The deep breathing from the in
ner chamber told her that its occupants
could be awakened by no such sounds,
and she was tired of her silent thoughts.
II scarcely get time to think in the
daytime" she continued, with the
work and the looking after them, but
% wi rt+ 70 te.I s1fcvhfS
like this, when it is blowing hard and
the wind means and the snow drifts
and drifts, then 1t comes into my head.
and it won't leave me, and i can't send
it away with sleep, for sleep is hard to
bring these nights
She finished in silence, placing the
spongy material in dish and covering
it with a white cloth for the night.
Then she went to the door and open
ed it cautiously. 1t was wild and
stormy without. A snow laden blast
swept into the room, making the lamp
fame flicker almost to extinction. She
closed it hurriedly ere the drift at its
base should fall inward.
at gets worse and worse" she muir
INJURED. THE Lord lend his aid to any
one abroad in the hills tonight. The
storm would blind and freeze and the
road would sure be lost. 1t reminds
me of the blizzard of six years back,
when l was teaching in Cedar Valley.
The storm lasted three days, and"-
She stopped suddenly to listen. An
unwonted sound In the wind had
caught her ear, like voice, a hail.
Again it came, assuredly call and
close at hand.
, In an instant she had opened the
door once more and stood peering out
into the night.
She did not wait long. A form
emerged from out the darkness and
the clouds Of swirling snow, and man
paused at the stoop to unloose his
snowshoes and stamp the white clods
from his moccasined feet. Then, with
a mufied greeting, be stepped past her
into the room.
Its you, doctorr she exclaimed.
YES" he said, 81 am forced to give
in at last. 1 tried 1t on foot from
Browns, but lost the road Just be-
yond here and all idea of direction"
Its the worst for many and many
long year." she replied. "And you're
new at the Glen. You're not wealth
cred.
Il hope and pray there is no one in
sad distress this night, doctorT' she
asked anxiously.
1T is Mrs. Graham of the Ridge.
She has pneumonia and a weak heart
They think she cannot get through the
night" He walked restlessly to the
end of the room and back. 81 fear
they are in sore need of assistance"
The girls heart beat with great force
at his words, but her face showed no
sign. She placed chair for him, filed
his cup with tea. pressed him to par
take of the cold venison, then sat down
fire as it roared and sparkled up the
chimney.
1T is bad trouble" she said at
length. Then, as IL sudden thought
had come: You're DR.. Graham. Might
you be kin of theirs?'
mo. But / used to know DR.. Jack.
We were at college together"
HAS he been sent for?"
81 believe so. But it will take some
days to get here If this state of wealth
Or continues"
He went on: Il understand he has
opened up practice near my old home
In Port Arthur. 1t is rather strange
that I should have done the same thing
down here-near his"
Have you ever seen-his wife," The
girls voice faltered ON the last words.
81 have not" he answered. I'VE are
entirely out Of touch lately. / did not
know he had married"
'aThe paper said she was talented
and his mother told me that she was
beautiful--and rich"
A long silence fell between them
The doctor leaned back in the old arm
chair and soon dozed. The girl sat