The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-03-21

| ALL" protested he.
"Some Of the pupils may come yet"
| answered she.
He brought in more wood for her,
and with advice about keeping up the
fire well, went away.
The afternoon dragged. No one came.
She finished the odd jobs which occu-
pied her during the morning, and time
hung heavily on her hands. The storm,
which had abated at noon, increased
in fury. The air seemed full of snow,
and smooth unbroken expanses Of
prairie stretched out around her for
miles and miles.
She had no assurance that Mr.. Per-
kins would come for her at four
O'clock-he never did. And Alden had
not said anything about coming back.
Her spirits which a little while ago
were gay and carefree, slumped to zero
point.
How shall l get home? How can I
ever go alone through this Storm"
She did not wish to desert her post
before four o'clock, and during the
last hour stood at the window watch
ing each way of the road for a passing
team that might help her out of her
difficulty. But none came by. Above
the noise of the storm, she could
sometimes catch bowls of coyotes.
Tears gathered in her eyes at the des-
olation of it all.
Il can't stay here all night" her
quivering lips whispered. "Oh, why
didn't l ask Mr.. Alden to take me
back to the Perkinses at noon, even
if lost my position by so doing?
Surely they would have forgiven me
for missing half a day-when none of
the children came"
She was nervously putting on her
wraps, when a knock sounded at the
door. She had heard no sound of APP
prOaching sleigh-bells, and for a mo-
ment stood in terror. What if it were
some tramp seeking shelter? Then,
Summoning her courage, she went to
the door and found Duncan Alden
standing there.
'Oh, I'm so glad-Tm so glad to see
someone" she cried, her face pale,
and her brown eyes under the tumbled
curls pitifully glad.
"Why-yOu poor little girl" His
laugh was shaky. 'This must have
been a horrible day for you. I'm
afraid we folks who're used to it
haven't realized what a prairie biz
zard must mean to you"
"Oh, usually get along well enough
but today"
"This is the limit. I telephoned to
Mr.. Perkins to see if he was coming
for you, but he said he wouldn't think
Of taking his horses out in this biz
zard. Some people are more consid-
crate of their horses than anything
else, you know. And I'm afraid you'll
put me in the same class when | tell
you that l couldn't drive my horse
tonight. He cast a shoe going home
this noon, and for some reason is ter
ribly lame. I've been working over
him-that's why I'm late. l kept hop
ing he could make it; but he simply
can't go. However, I'm here with
snow shovel"
But can we walk over to the Per-
linses?" she faltered.
"No, but 1 phoned to Mrs. Tolan;
they're the people who live in the
cabin just beyond me, you know, and
she wants you to stay there tonight.
It's three-quarters of a mile from
here, but with snow shovel and n
strong right arm, 1 think we can
make it."
So they started forth. The snow had
drifted over the path made by the
sleighs earlier in the day; and the
shovel was necessarily brought into
service the greater part of the way.
The late afternoon wind increased in
fury, and Amy was obliged to hold her
muff against her face to keep it from
freezing. Nevertheless, despite their
exertions, they found time for merry
talk. -.~ri :, =, s% 4sis,i
AT last they saw shining out before
them the welcoming light of the To-
lans' cabin. Before ascending the little
hill on which it stood, they paused to
catch their breath.
I'm mighty glad the storm came to-
day and gave me a chance to know
you" declared the man. I've thought
you were a city product who wouldn't
care for pioneer life and people-that's
why I've avoided you. But you've
certainly shown yourself mighty
plucky today" Something in his
keen eyes made her own drop shyly as
he added: give months of your
stays been wasted for me, but-Tm
going to try and make up for lost
time"
The wind howled. ana around them
stretched the desolate, snow-cOvered
prairie; but it might have been
rose-garden for all the two young peo-
pie needed, for their eyes We're bright
with youth and joy and wine of life.