Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-09-06

eaine. packinx, and m.kans all s4bort
increasingly dimcvlt. Il was well-uigh
impossible to Aead the hoeses into the
storm. and De 6paia looked With ever
more anxious eyes at Nan. After half
nm hours superhuman struggle to 10
gaia n trail that should restore their
bearings. they halted. and De Spafu.
riding up to the wagon. spoke to Nor.
gan. who was driving: 'How long 10
this going to last1"
"All day and all night" Nan leaned
closely over to hear the curt question
and answer. Neither man spoke again
for n moment.
SWELL have to have help" said De
Spain after a pause.
"Help:" echoed Morgan sc0rnfully.
where's help coming from?"
DE Spain's nswer was not hurried.
"One Of US must so after It." Nan
looked at him intentiy.
Duke set his hard jaw against the
hurtlins stream of ice that showered
on the forlorn party. "rll go for it."
he snapped.
NO." returned De Spain. Better
for me to CO."
"Go together" said Nan.
DE Spain shook his head. Duke
Morgan. too. said that only one should
20: the other must stay. De Spain,
while the storm ratified and shook Mt
the two men, told why he should 20
himself. "It's not claiming you are not
entitled to say who should go, Duke"
he said evenly. "Nor that our men,
anywhere you reach, wouldn't give you
the same attention they would me.
And it isn't saying that you're not the
better man for the job-you've trav-
eled the sinks longer than l have. But
between you and me, Duke, it's twenty.
eight years against fifty. I ought to
hold out a while the longer, that's all.
Let's work farther to the east"
Quartering against the mad hurri-
cane. they drove and rode on until the
team could hardly be urged to further
effort against the Infatuated elements
DE Spain riding at intervals as far
to the right and the left as he dared
IN vain quest of n landmark. When
he halted beside the wagon for the
last time he was n mass of snow and
ice: horse and rider we're frozen to
each other. He got down to the
ground with a visible effort, and in the
singing wind told Duke his plan and
purpose.
He had chosen on the open desert a
hollow falling somewhat abruptly
from the north. and beneath its shoul,
der, while Morgan ioosened the horses,
he scooped and kicked away a mass Of
snow. The wagon had been drawn
just above the point of refuge, and the
two men. with the aid of the wind,
dumped 1t over sidewise, making Of
the body a windbreak over the hollow,
Il sort of roof, around which the snow,
driven By the gale, would heap itself
in hard waves. Within this shelter the
men slowed Nan. The horses were
driven down behind it, and from n
Of them De Spain took the collar, the
tugs and the whifletrees. He stuck a
hitching strap in his pocket, and while
Morgan steadied the Lady's head, De
Spain buckled the collar on her,
doubled the tugs around the whiftle-
tree, and fastened the roll at her side
in front Of the saddle.
Nan came out and stood beside him
as he worked. When he had finished
she put her hand on his sleeve. He
held her close. Duke listening, to tell
her what he meant to try TO do. Each
knew 1t well might be the last moment
together. zone thing and another
have kept us from marriage VOWS.
Man." said De Spain. beckoning at
length to Morgan to step closer that
he might clearly hear. Nothing must
keep us longer. viii you marry me?"
She looked up into his eyes. 1--WE
promised you l would. will promise
every time you ask me. I V could
have but one answer to that, Henry
it must always be yes"
"Then take me. Henry" he said
slowly, here and now for your welded
husband. Will you do this, Nan?"
Still looking into his eyes, she an
swered without surprise or fear: Hen
~, I do take YOU"
"And /. Henry, take you, Nan, here
and now for my welded wife, for bet