The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-04-23
THE
"SNOWBIRD"
By C T R%EDCLIFFE

Rhoda Burt was disappointed and
hurt. She had waited two hours for
Taylor Bridges to call for her. as he
had promised, to see him spin by the
house In his sleigh and Maud Lester
by his side. The smart was deep.
She was not envioas Of the befurred
and velveted Maud. She did not care
enough for Bridges to experience any
heartache, but q realization that she
had been set aside because she was
poor and humble subdued all other
emotions.
Rhoda lived with her aged father,
and they eked out a mere subsistence.
Life was not very animated for the
lonely girl. Taylor Bridges had been
quite attentive TO her Of late. but she
looked upon him as a hap-hazard es-
cort OF tickle nature.
There was superb skating on the
river, and twice within a week she
had accompanied Bridges 10 a spin
along Its smooth surface. Only two
evenings before he had managed TO
Ills Z W - llANtth WbltC nv
sought the company Of a gay group Of
fashionable friends. Rhoda felt some
what embarrassed among the we'll
dressed girls, for her w apparel was
old, out of style,
There was one reminder of that last
evening on the river, however, that
caused her a %pleasurable sensation.
She was sitting alone resting on a
fallen tree when Neal Arden APP
preached and asked her company for
a glide along the river. He was the
son Of the richest man In Ardmore,
and had been absent at college for two
years, and Rhoda fluttered rs he al
luded to their former school compan-
ionship. He was 20 pleasant and
friendly that when he left her she felt
as though she had passed through the
most inspiriting half hour Of her life.
But Of course, she reasoned, he
would probably never think OF her
again, and had acted from an impulse
Of courtesy and thoughtfulness.
"Oh, dear !" sighed Rhoda, ~ fancy
I shall be more contented TO stay
at home until I can appear like other
girls. However. the gentlemanly con-
sideration OF Neal Arden made up for
the disappointment Of the general situ-
alton"
There came a big snowstorm, fol-
lowed by a cold snap. 1t was about
nine o'clock the second evening Of the
spell. The wind was blowing a bur-
ricane and the air was filled with fit
terry, binding snow, when Rhoda, seat
ed reading, was startled by a forlorn
n~eighing sound at, the window, and
some heavy object grazed the pane.
"Why, it's a horse !" she exclaimed,
and went to the door. Then she ran
to where her father was lying asleep
and awakened him.
Father, father, get up!" she cried
excitedly. "a horse has wandered
into our yard with a wagon and a
man in its seat has dropped the lines,
and looks as IL he Is frozen"
Mr.. Burt, with a lantern, hurried out.
The horse seemed unable to move.
The vehicle was a box wagon OF a
| country huckster. Lying half back
In It's seat was q man, helpless and ap-
| parently lifeless. Beside him. all muf-
fed up, apparently also overcome by
the cold, was a boy Of perhaps six
years.
II was no light task to carry the
stricken two into the house. Both
father and daughter worked for half
an hour restoring their involuntary
guests to safety and comfort. The
horse was led to the barn, and the
kindly Samaritans realized that the
sufferers had reached them just In
time.
A humble peddler, Isaac Holmes
overlowed with gratitude when he
was able to comprehend all that had
been done for him and his idolized lit.
tie grandson Benny. He remained at
the Burt home until they were fully
recuperated. The wise old fellow read
between the lines Is to the poverty
Of his helpers. He brought from his
wagon q great pasteboard box the
morning he went away.
"You will not open 1t until we are
gone" he said to Rhoda. and little
Benny Rugged and kissed her In a
transport Of gratitude and affection.
Isaac Holm would half starve him
self to save and hoard. but there was
s%oulfulness In his rugged nature. When
Rhoda opened the box she stood trans
fixed with Amusement and delight.
Isaac had selected his costliest goods
to reward her. There was a white
chinchilla jacket. a cap trimmed with
costly fur. a tippet Of ermine. and a
muff Of the same material. She could
see herself In imagination fitted out In
this expensive and elegant apparel.
ever outlying the dressy and attrac-
tive Maud Lester.
Rhoda's eyes sparkled as she tried
on the new attire and viewed her re-
Election in the mirror. Her father
was away. and as there came a knock
at the street door she was compelled
to 60 thither herself. Neal Arden