The Washington herald., 1922-02-05

"es pscominx keener auo more p<ne-
tratinE.. and this soon began TO tell
ssriousiy. The dogs. brave and hardy
fellows. pressed ahead with ali their
might but with sIackensc speed. oe-
easionaily one Of, them stumbled, and
Eric would then shout out . cheer
full Warning; but fear was lolutchinE
at his hesrt. The child lay In Heien's
arms not seeming to breathe. Indeed.
the mother did not know whether
Rachel was aiivs or dead. She her
self was becoming terribly cold. Hsr
limbs were dead to all feeling; even
her anxiety ana suspense. intense and
sharp an hour ago: were fast disap-
pearing, and In the reaction and re-
taxation she seemed to be losing her
hold on life. r
Howard Brewster had reached
Rock River the day before. on ths
nrst train that pushed through
from Lambert altar the biiEsard-
Despite the cold. he was pacing
back and fsrth sn the station plat-
form that DAY. his anxiety and mar
vsus strsss nanffsst In his fssA
HIS disnsss sas Ill the mere aeuts
bseauss - &c were aAds1 rsunsrss
sAd ssif-aceusatien- He had DE-
laysd his departure for home enc
day longer than was necessary. Had
he nor done 10. he would have
reached Imogsns. the day before the
storm. When It. came. he knew
onyi too well want Il meant and
he took the, nrst train hoping that
Z II he could not reach home, per-
haps by getting nearer he might
receive some tidings from homs.
That weeks, experience. a. ;hs train
plowed Its slow way to Rock River.
was the most illuminating OF his
life. He began TO see the vanity
and emptiness OF his struggles for
money. and the priceless worth Of
family and home. Some Of the
transactions which he had conduct
ed under stress OF anger. greed. or
for the sake Of defeating and dis
mean and most ignoble. And out OF
all these thoughts and meditations
grew, In some underlined way, .
resolution fer better and truer
manhood.
In the latter part of the after
noon he left the station and
->,rf.d a.. r,trS .nd hnA~ ga ,iek
At heart returned to his hotel to
wait and wait A terrible fear
and dread hung over him After
. little while . shout. followed by
the sound Of hurryinr feet came
up to him from the street Spring
ing to the window he saw some
men carrying the body OF . woman
into the hotel while others sup
ported . man who staggered after
the woman He could not see
their faces, but . sudden chill
struck his heart 1t was soon
gone and composed and peaceful
he walked down the stairs and
into the room where the woman
lay. The crowd saw him enter
and was at once hushed into sill
sncs. DR.. Young. who was bend
ing over the woman. noticed the
change. and turning saw his old
friend gazing steadily into the
deathly face. He mistook the look
for despair. and srsspinE Brew
ster's hand cried. Cheer UP. Brew
ster.-. Your wife is safe. She was
all but frozen and falling asleep
when that. young Dane realized it
and took her in hand and rubbed
and pounded her until he finally
reused her. But he wasn't paying
much. attention TO the dogs and
the sledgs upset here in front Of
she will come to in a little
while"
That night a railway president
was sitting in his elegant dining
room in ST. Paul. entertaining =
party Of gentlemen from the East.
stockholders OF the road. 'Telegrams
by the score kept pouring in upon
him. but one Of these sounded a
discordant note and caused him TO
beg the party to excuse him for
moment. The dispatch was:
Rock River, Feb. :.
MESSENGER just arrived her.
from 1meEene reports terrible
epidemic OF meningitis; chill
dren dying daily. No trains
through since the bli1zard. Only
one physician there. respect
fully urge that you cannot af-
ford to permit this line to be
longer blocked. Extraordinary
measures In the interest Of
humanity should he taken at
once. Howard Brewster,
Cashier. 1moEene Natl. Bank.
-Cannot AFFORD to permit this
line to be longer blocked, chr"
snesrsd Dick webb. s-welL / car
afford to do It II i, want to-" A..
. other dispatch confirmed Brswster'.
message. and 4 reporter called 10
see him about that. Imogene feve.
story" Then the. president whis-
tied softly to himself and said