The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-27
SNOW CHERRIES
BY cATHARINE cRANMER.

VTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Miriam trotted breathlessly up to
the conductor of the last Pullman and
was hustled up the steps of the train,
which was already creaking and jerk
ing in its first efforts to break from
its moorings under the sheds.
Miriam shrugged uncomfortably as
she made ready for her berth, know
ing that she would have to be reused
before daylight to leave the train at
Skagmore, but she soon fell asleep.
weary with the exertion Of getting
ready for the hurried trip and col
lecting that basketful of dollhouse veg
etables and Florida strawberries with
which she hoped to tempt her aunt's
truant appetite. In her dreams she
went back to the summer days Of a
year and a half before when she had
roamed Skagmore's shady streets and
played many q lively game Of tennis
with Hilton Moore, who was there
for a whole month when clematis,
strawberries, roses and rasberries
followed each other in competition
Of loneliness and lusciousness.
The train stopped with jerk that
awakened Miriam, and she shivered
slightly as with consciousness came
the memory of the quarrel that had
ended that idyllic period. Hilton had
gone back to the last year of his med.
ical course, and she had gone back
to finish" for year before formally
entering society. As for the quarrel,
1t began in a mere disagreement about
the rights and duties of men and
maids in general, and 1t might have
blown over easily had not Miriam 8
distant cousin, bachelor of forty.
come to visit her aunt. Miriam sought
| to prove her indifference to Hilton by
assuming great fondness for this
cousin, who was frankly amused at
the audacious way in which she flaunt
ed him before Hilton.
Miriam raised herself on her elbow
and looked out Of the window as the
train stood painting at water station
The hills were becoming white with
snow and the skies looked dark and
low. The prospect of arriving at Skag
more before daylight, alone and un
expected and in snowstorm, was MOI
pleasant. but Miriam dropped back in
to the warmth of her blankets ant
once more fell asleep. The next sh'
heard was the porter calling softly
"Skagmore next! Awake. Lowe
Three?"
Half an hour later, she stood almos
knee deep in snow beside the tin.
station at Skagmore, while the lonI
black train pulled its way up the steel
grade. The Wilderness of the snow
and pale light at the eastern horizon
relieved the darkness, and as he
aunt's house was only three block
away Miriam smiled as she though
, of the old lady's surprise when sh
should appear before her with daint
: breakfast with strawberries as tn
chief attraction. Stufiing her smalles
bundle into her handbag and pushin
, the other one under the handle Of tn
basket, she took up her two burden
and started up the street.
Not a sound was audible in tn
, town. Even the snow fell stealthil
without any accompaniment Of wine
When Miriam had gone but one bloc
she was compelled to let her luggag
drop into the snow and to stop to RES
Standing there, she saw in the dir
gray distance ahead q tall man CON
{ny t<vx rorA hnr hA IN uss NJ ~
lief at the prospect of being rescued
; but, alas, the man turned at the frs
corner without seeing her.
Knowing how willing the villager
were to be of service, Miriam tried t
call out, but her throat was so dry an
her breath so short from her great e,
ertion that she made a failure of II.
Then she moistened her lips an
sent out trifing whistle-an accom-
plishment which Hilton Moore ha
taught her once upon time.
At sound Of the whistle the ma
stopped short and bent his head t
listen. Again she whistled, loude
/. this time, and he turned and locke
searchingly toward her Then he cam
bounding toward her with astonishin
!, rapidity considering the depth Of tn
snow His face was almost hidden b
a pulleddown fur cap and turned-u
fur coat collar, but there was abou
, him an unmistakable air OF protection
It's SO good of you to come to m
rescue, sir" began Miriam, buf sh
stopped with gasp as the man too
her by the shoulders and looked sharI
ly into her frightened eyes.
Miriam, I'd come through fire 4
, answer to your CALL
, Hilton! You in Skagmore? Why
' how does it happen?"
: Game up to grandfather's to res
: up bit before taking up my work 4
a New York hospital. Arrived Sunda
: to find half the people in town, includ
= ing the two doctors. down with tn
r grippe. Hence I've been in deman
3 day and night, which accounts for m
being abroad at this hour. But come
therenl be still another patient on m
list IL you stand in this snow"
|. At her aunt's gate, Miriam pointe
to the Frightening horizon in the cas-
e and asked Hilton to join her in al
e early breakfast, promising him som
i Strawberries from the basket as hi
< reward for rescuing her. And the
laughed like two happy children.
But suppose | prefer cherries a
my reward?" Hilton's tone was light
) hut his eyes were serious and the class