The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-05-13
STORM BOUND
sy LOUISE HOFFMAN.

an hour and everything will be drificd
fuil by morning." p<ophesied John
Becklln rs be came stamping into the
Kitchen after feeding the hens. u
thought I'd I've blown away once or
twice myself. pity any one caught
out In this storm tonight. Heard the
$50 go w yet. mothcri"
Mrs. BecklIn. n remarkably trim.
young looking woman 20 be the moth.
or ~ such stalwart looking sou.
was busy setting the table and alter
nately stirring creamed potatoes on
the stove.
"No. John. haven't heard n sound
she replied In motherly tone. "But
thought I saw a sleigh with two
come around the bend In the road, "
while ago. I've been watching every
little WHILE but haven't seen any.
thing more Of IT,
she(went 10 the window again. u
was just dusk.
"Oh. joint" she exclaimed. There
Is some one trying 20 get through the
drifts by the old barn. There. the
horse Is down"
John Becklin came 20 the window
and peered out into the fast deepening
gloom.
why. u looks as though there was
woman In the sleigh. Too had they've
been caught out In this. But the drifts
are soft yet. aud maybe they'll pull
through. I wonder who they aref They
must be strangers or they wouldn't
attempt 10 drive through that spot"
well. the horse Is up." announced
Mrs. Becklin with relief. "hut they nre
trying to make him 20 ahead. The
next plunge and the poor animal will
only 90 down again. Even II they do
manage 10 get through this bank. they
can't go on In this blow. IL would be
SURE death. with night coming on. and
It's growing colder every minute. oh ="
she gasped; "there goes the sleigh
over. Mercy hope that poor won.
an isn't hurt"
She turned.
."whcre are you going. Johnr" she
questioned as he began putting on his
things.
I'm going to take down the bars so
that man can come through the field.
lie was gone. and the mother
watched with keen anxiety as he bat.
tied against the fierce wind and whlrl.
Ink snow. Once he turned his back to
catch his breath. Twice he sank out
Of sight. but finally succeeded 10
reaching the two weary travellers.
John directed the strangers through
the perilous drifts into the open field
all up TO their barn. where the hired
man took charge Of the almost ex.
hnusted animal.
Mrs Becklln ran 20 the kitchen
door and threw IL as Hospitality wide
as the storm would allow to welcome
the Strangers.
Come 10. come In out OF this wind"
she invited cheerfully. "You must be
nearly frozen"
Fortunately we both escaped. but
such an experienced returned a sweet
young voice. as the man. Invested OF
his furs. came Into the living room.
"Myra." he gasped. gazing straIghi
into her clear gray mlddleaged eyes
us II possiblef"
"wilbur." breathed Mrs. BecklIn.
scarcely believing her eyes. IL
thought you were In the West. And
this" she paused gazing at the pretty
blue-eyed girl.
as my daughter Una" he said
briefly. "And this lad 20 whom We
are Indebted for our escape is"
MY son." returned Myra.
After moments silence. IF u
were not for the children. We might
think time had almost stood stlfi," he
murmured.
over delectnble creamed potatoes,
sliced pink ham. hot rolls and coffee.
Wilbur Norcross told how the urge 20
come East had been too strong for
him. In the fall he had bought a small
farm at Pittsburgh. Ills sister kept
house while una taught school In the
old Everett district about five miles
distant
Myra nodded. She had heard about
Norcross family moving into the VII. |
iage.
As the weather looked promising
and rs II was Friday night he had
started out 20 drive Una home.
For three days the travellers were
storm-bound In the mountains. II was
impossible 10 shovel out roads until
the wind abated. During this time a |
friendship and intimacy sprang up.
which ripened into something warmer,
aud when the storm had ceased aud
the roads were open. Myra and Wilbur
told the children the same old ever
new story. Years ago they had quar-.
relied because Myra refused to live In
the country.
"such a silly thing" laughed Mya
happily. because live ON a farm
now and love II. even 10 being Storm
bound and cut on from civilization"
swell make II a delightful blndlng |
for life" added wilbur.
John looked at Una.
II guess We have something 10 con.
fess. too. It's n pretty short court. |
ship but-but Cupid has been fiIngIng