The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-10
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SNOW cherries
BY cATHARINE CRANMER.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

,
which was already creeking and jerk
ing in it's first efforts to break from
its moorings under the sheds.
Miriam shrugged uncomfortably as
she made ready for be- 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 a ,
year and 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 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 a 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 1t might have
blown over easily had not Miriams
distant cousin, a 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 taunt.
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 SkaS'
more before daylight, alone and I'M
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:
, "Skagmorc next! Awake, Lower
! Three?"
, Half an hour later, she stood almost
f knee deep in snow beside the tiny
A station at SkagmOre, while the long
II black train pulled its way up the steer
!. grade. The Wilderness of the snow
q and pale light at the eastern horizon
a relieved the darkness, and as hel
r. aunt's house was only three blocks
d away Miriam smiled as she though
@ of the old ladys surprise when sh'
should appear before her with daint.
g breakfast with strawberries as tn
n chief attraction. Stufiing her smalles
bundle into her handbag and pushing
n the other one under the handle Of tn
basket, she took up her two burden
y and started up the street.
" Not a sound was audible in tn
"a town. Even the snow fell stealthil
IN without any accompaniment Of wint
10 When Miriam had gone but one bloc
II. she was compelled to let her luggag
n. drop into the snow and to stop to res
ia Standing there, she saw In the dir
n gray distance ahead tall man con
ing toward her. She gave sigh of r.
at lief at the prospect of being rescued
or but, alas, the man turned at the frs
corner without seeing her.
- Knowing how willing the villager
~ were to be of service, Miriam tried
,ft call out, but her throat was so dry an
Nv her breath so short from her great g.
,v ertion that she made failure Of 1t.
nv Then she moistencd her lips an
sent out trifling whistle-an accor
nv plishment which Hilton Moore ha
10. taught her once upon time.
ds At sound of the whistle the ma
stopped short and bent his head
ur listen. Again she whistled, loud
ar, this time, and ne turned ana looke
searchingly toward her. Then he can
IN bounding toward her with astonishir
m rapidity considering the depth of Il
,at snow. His face was almost hidden
rst pulled down fur cap and turned-l
to- fur coat collar, but there was abo
him an unmistakable air of protectio
8" IT'S so good of you to come to n
lid rescue, sir" began Miriam, buf 81
ad stopped with a gasp as the man to-
it her by the shoulders and looked shar
ly into her frightened eyes.
ou "Miriam I'd come through fire
s." answer to your call.
,ry Hilton! You in Skagmore? WI
ust how does it happen?"
uld "Came nm TO grandfather's to re
led up bit before taking up my work
I've a New York hospital. Arrived Sund
to find half the people in town, inclu
up ing the two doctors, down with I
tho grippe. Hence I've been in dema
his day and night, which accounts for I
ust being abroad at this hour. But con
of there'll be still another patient on l
list if you stand in this snow"
NC At her aunt's gate, Miriam point
put to the Frightening horizon in the ea
ing and asked Hilton to join her in
me carly breakfast, promising him Sol
u Strawberries from the basket as
rls, reward for rescuing her And tn
laughed like two happy children.
tel But suppose | prefer cherries
'dp- nv reward" lliltCH's tone was lig
oos hut his eyes were serious and the ella
EN-. of his strong hand was unyielding
ned "Cherrics?" blushirgly.
at .vos- ,.,,orrfo. !. and no kissed ,
by way Of Illustration.