Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1916-03-29
SNOW CHERRIES
BY cATHARINE cRANMER.


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 it's first efforts to break from
it's 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 hothouse 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
year and a half before when she had
roamed Skagmore's shady streets and
played many 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 loveliness 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,
it began in a mere disagreement about
the rights and duties of men and
maids in general, and it might have
blown over easily had not Miriams
distant cousin, bachelor of forty,
como 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 faunt-
ed him before Hilton.
Miriam raised herself on her elbow
aud 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 not
pleasant, but Miriam dropped back in
to the warmth Of her blankets and
once more fell asleep. The next she
heard was the porter calling softly:
"Skagmore next! Awake, Lower
Three?"
Half an hour later, she stood almost
knee deep in snow beside the tiny
station at Skagmore, while the long
black train puffed its way up the steep
grade. The whiteness Of the snow
and pale light at the eastern horizon
relieved the darkness, and as her
aunt's house was only three blocks
away Miriam smiled as she thought
of the old lady's surprise when she
should appear before her with a dainty
breakfast with strawberries as the
chief attraction. Stufing her smallest
bundle into her handbag and pushing
the other one under the handle of the
basket, she took up her two burdens
and started up the street.
Not a sound was audible in the
town. Even the snow fell stealthily
without any accompaniment of wind.
When Miriam had gone but one block
she was compelled to let her luggage
drop into the snow and to stop to rest.
Standing there, she saw in the dim
gray distance ahead tall man COM
ing toward her. She gave sigh of re-
lief at the prospect Of being rescued,
but, alas. the man turned at the first
corner without seeing her.
Knowing how willing the villagers
were to be Of service, Miriam tried to
call out, but her throat was so dry and
her breath so short from her great ex-
ertion that she made failure Of it.
Then she moistened her lips and
sent out trifiing whistle-an accom-
plishment which Hilton Moore had
taught her once upon time.
At sound Of the whistle the man
stopped short and bent his head to
listen. Again she whistled, louder
this time, and he turned and looked
searchingly toward her. Then he came
bounding toward her with astonishing
rapidity considering the depth Of the
snow. His face was almost hidden by
a pulled-down fur cap and turned-up
fur coat collar, but there was about
him an unmistakable air of protection.
Its 30 good of you to come to my
rescue, sir" began Miriam, buf she
stopped with a gasp as the man took
her by the shoulders and looked sharp
ly into her frightened eyes.
Miriam! I'd come through fire in
answer to your call"
Hilton! You in skagmore? Why,
how does it happen?"
Game up to grandfather's to rest