The Ozark spectator., 1917-07-04

the Wnee..
 They tried together to wrench 1t into shape. but worked without avail. 1 In the end they dashed 1t. put Nan on the Lady, and walked behind while the team pushed into the pitiless wind. Morgan wanted to cut the wagon away and take to the horses, but De Spain l said. not till they found trail or the stage road.
 So much snow had fallen that in spite of the blizzard, driving with an unrelenting fury, the drifts were deep ening, packing, and making all effort increasingly difficult. It was well-nigh impossible to head the horses into the l storm, and De Spain looked with ever | more anxious eyes at Nan. After half an hours superhuman struggle to re- gain trail that should restore their bearings, they halted, and De Spain, riding up to the wagon, spoke to Mor- l gan, who was driving: "How long is this going to last?"
 "All day and all night" Nan leaned | closely over to hear the curt question and answer. Neither man spoke again
 
 for a moment.
 "We'll have to have help" said De Spain after a pause.
 "Help?" echoed Morgan scornfully. "Where's help coming from?" De Spain's answer was not hurried. "One of us must go after it." Nan looked at him intently.
 Duke set his hard jaw against the hurtling stream of ice that showered on the forlorn party. "Ill go for it," he snapped.
 "No,". returned De Spain. Better for me to go.'
 "GO together" said Nan. De Spain shook his head. Duke Morgan, too, said that only one should go; the other must stay. De Spain, while the storm rattled and shook at the two men, told why he should go 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 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 infuriated clements De Spain riding at intervals as far to the right and the left as he dared in vain quest of landmark. When he halted beside the wagon for the last time he was a mass of snow and ice; horse and rider were frozen to each other. He got down to the ground with 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 it's shoul- der. while Morgan loosened 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 windbreak over the hollow, 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 1t, and from one of them De Spain took the collar. the tugs and the whiffietrees. He stuck a hitching strap in his pocket. and while Morgan steadled the Lady's head, De Spain buckled the collar on her, doubled the tugs around the whiffle- 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 we'll might be the last moment together. "One 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. Will you marry mel"
 She looked up into his eyes. i've promised you would. I will promise every time you ask me. I never 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, NanW
 Still looking into his eyes, she an swered without surprise or fear: Hen ry, do take you"
 And l. Henry, take you, Nan, here and now for my welded wife, for bet ter for worse, for richer for poorer. from this day forward, until death lis do part"
 They sealed their pact with silent embrace. De Spain turned to Duke. You are the witness of this marriage. Duke. You will see, if an accident hnnnanS that anpthfpy I