The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1916-02-18

Then, in solitude, loneliness anc
gloom, Norman settled down to the
hardest kind Of work on his little
farm. He never went to- R%iverdale
he made no inquiries concerning his
former friends, the clock of his life
seemed to have stopped for him, and
he lost his nerve and ambition.
To make matters worse, the crops
were a complete failure that year.
What produce Norman took to Plain
field to sell barely paid his debts,
Winter came on, and he was not able
to put in the usual annual supply Of
coal.
It was a harsh, shivery season, full
of ~privation and discomfort. Many
a night he sought rest early to save
the little heap Of cordwood he had in
store.
Then came a two weeks spell Of
twenty below zero weather. To keep
from positive suffering, Norman had
to use up his little stock Of hard wood.
He began to gather Up loose boards
and chips around the place. He be-
came alarmed for his team, and bat
tened them into the little stable, tear
ing down a shed to repair the barn.
A part Of the refuse of the shed and
it's boards sufficed for quite a fuel sup
ply for the rude fireplace in the kttch-
en- of the cabin.
There had been a heavy fall Of snow,
then 1t had cleared of bitterly cold.
Seated shiverlng by the almost empty
fireplace, Norman half decided to drive
with his team to Plainfeld and put
up at the hotel there till spring.
The day had opened clear and bright
but towards noon the snow had be.
gun. Now it was a bowling, binding
tempest. With the exception Of a few
bits Of wood the fuel supply was abso
lutely exhausted.
What was that?" cried Norman sud
denly, and sprang to his feet, for above
the wailings of the wind a clear, sharI
cry had echoed forth in the grasp o.
the tempest outside.
Dimly he made out a shadowy mass
in black contrast where the road hat
been. He struggled through the snow
to discover a horse attached to {
sleigh, lying inert where it had fallen
On the seat was the form of a man
evidently overcome by the intense
cold. Staggering towards him was
woman, apparently attracted by thu
lights in the cabin, and screaming TO
help.
It was Viola Tascottl She fell hal
fainting into his arms. He bore he
into the cabin, placed her on the BIZ
settee near the fireplace, dashed fort
again, discovered that the horse wa
dead, and then bore in his arms int
the cabin the overcome brother of tn
girl he loved.
Norman at once comprehended tina
the Tascotts had started across couI
try that morning for Plainheld, to b
overtaken by the storm. The brothe
lay unconscious. Viola was half ser
sible of her strange surroundings.
Heatl That was the essential Z
the hour. Recklessly, Norman pile
on the last splinter or wood. Then h
rushed to a corner where a hatche
lay. He glared about him desperatel!
There stood the old desk his fathe
had left him. crash into its timber
the keen blade sank, It was 500
wreck. Soon, too. the fireplace blazeC
Viola sat up and rubbed her eyes.
She told of their folly in trying t
cross the bleak prairie. She aide
Norman In seeing that her brothe
was administered to. Then he SO
beside her on the settee, waiting 70
morning.
Only once she referred to the pas
Why had he deserted them? H
told her Of those fateful oYerhear
words at the window, and she, 1
blank CONSERVATION, told him tina
what he listened to was part Of a
amateur play she was ~rehearsing wit
her cousins.
Then-then-might he hope sh
would regard the words he had com
to speak to her in the long agoY AL
love was mightier than the storm an
poverty. and there their troth wa
plighted.
And then came a wonderful disco'
cry, for among the litter from the oil
desk, doubtlessly driven out fror
some secret drawer, Norman chance
to pick up a folded sheet.
It was the hidden release deed tina
made him owner Of the town property
and a rich man.
~ SH9?E OF LOCOMOTIVE