The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-06
SNOW cherries
BY CATHARlNE CRANMER.


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 dollhouse veg
| etables and Florida strawberries with
which she hoped to tempt her aunts
truant appetite. In her dreams she
went back to the summer days of
year and half before when she had
roamed Skagmores shady streets and
played many a lively game of tennis
with Hilton Moore, who was there
for a whole month when clematis,
strawberries, roses and rasberries
followed each other in a 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 q year before formally
entering society. AS for the quarrel,
1t began in mere disagreement about
the rights and duties OF men and
maids in general, and it might have
blown over easily had not Miriam s
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 tlaunt.
ed him before Hilton.
Miriam raised herself on her elbow
and looked out of the window as the
train stood painting at a 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 UNI
expected and in a 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
v knee deep in snow beside the tiny
4 station at Skagmore, while the Ions
e black train pulled its way up the steel
s grade. The Wilderness of the snow
j. and pale light at the eastern horizon
Il relieved the darkness, and as he
aunt's house was only three blOck
n away Miriam smiled as she though
s of the old lady's surprise when sh
r should appear before her with daint.
) breakfast with strawberries as tn
chief attraction Stuiling her smalles
II bundle into her handbag and pushing
o the other one under the handle Of tn
T. basket, she took up her two burden
and started up the street.
Not a sound was audible in tn
o town. Even the snow fell stealthil
= without any accompaniment of wind
- When Miriam had gone but one bloc
she was compelled to let her luggage
drop into the snow and to stop to rest
% Standing there she saw in the din
gray distance ahead a tall man CON
. ing toward her. She gave a sigh of re
lief at the prospect of being rescued
10 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,
"A ertion that she made failure of 1t.
Then she moistened her lips an
sent out trifling whistle-an accom-
plishment which Hilton Moore ha
A. taught her once upon time.
v. At sound of the whistle the ma
Of stopped short and bent his head I
s. listen. Again she whistled, loude
~ this time, and he turned and locke
A. searchingly toward her. Then he cam
II bounding toward her with astonishin
* rapidity considering the depth of tn
al snow. His face was almost hidden
m pulled-down fur cap and a turned-u
n. fur coat collar, but there was abol
Of him an unmistakable air of protection
le It's so good of you to come to m
rescue, SIR began Miriam, buf sh
at stopped with gasp as the man too
k her by the shoulders and looked shar
ar ly into her frightened eyes.
If Miriam. I'd come through fire
at answer to your call"
lie Hilton! You in Skagmore? VIII
)y how does 1t happen?"
es Game up to grandfathers to re-
~ up a bit before taking up my work
New York hospital. Arrived Sunda
W to find half the people in town, inclu
by ing the two doctors, down with I'll
1T grippe. Hence I've been in deman
re day and night, which accounts for N
being abroad at this hour. But com
therell be still another patient on N
list if YOU stand in this snow"
'u' At her aunt's gate, Miriam pointe
to the Frightening horizon in the ca
ne and asked Hilton to join her in a
ne early breakfast promising him son
al Strawberries from the basket as h
oA reward for rescuing her. And the
laughed ike two happy children.
But suppose | prefer cherries /;
my reward?" Hilton's tone was ligh
~ but his eyes were serious and the elias
of his strong hand was unyielding.
'u' "Cherries?" blushingly.
- 'Yes-cherries. and he kissed b,