Year: 1867

promised reward. | had felt some


hesitation in offering myself as her


escort, for feared to alarm the young


girl by ready proffer of attention


on the part of so hap-hazard an &C.


quaintance. When at last / placed


my humble services at her disposal,


saw her take quiet survey of my


face through her veil, as if to read


my character with her shrewd wo-


manly glance. Then turning to Bob,


whose official position gave him a
great advantage over me: "You


said you knew this gentleman, l think,
guard" she said "may | trust my
self to his care ?" "Lor' bless YOU,


miss" said Bob, as though the ques-


tion was almost an insult, "know


him? know Master Arthur? Ay, from


his cradle, miss; and if may say it,"
he added, without offence, we've


been friends all our lives,-leastwise,


has life,-for that matter, miss and


if you trust Master Arthur, you trust
Bob Martin and if you trust Bob


Martin, you trusts Master Arthur's
father, the very best master ever ser
want had in all Northshire; by whose
favor, in the manner of speaking, said


Bob holds his present responsible sit
uation, miss" This long speech SEEM
ed to satisfy,as it certainly somewhat
amazed, the young lady so, trusting
in the good faith of guard, passenger,
and passengers father, thus incorpo-
rated in my person, she began to
prepare herself for the walk, and
we started just as the dull light
of winters afternoon was being ex-
tinguished in darkness. Here and
there l saw the snow had been de-
posted in huge drifts, and in one or
two places it was all but impossible,
SO began to fear as the wind rose
and the snowhakes fell again, that,
whilst our retreat might be cut off
by one drift, our advance might be
stopped by another,-the lane thus
forming treacherous cuide-Sac into
which we were to be lured to de-
struction. | was grieved To alarm
my companion, but was obliged at
last to point out the possible danger
of the road.


Resting for moment in shelter
ed spot, we held a council of war
We would make one more attempt
ID use the lane, but if that were not
safe, we must scale the bank and
seek the church-pa that ran across
the fields nearly parallel with it. 1t
would be fearfully rough travelling
upon those open fields, but as a sail
or iwould far rather encounter the
tempest out at sea than upon a lee
shore, so it would be wiser for us to
be buffeted and beaten rather than
run the risk of being buried alive
Our resolution had soon to be acted
on. Just as we approached one huge
drift, and were seeking to circumnav-
igate it, the snow seemed to come
down faster than ever, and blast of
wind catching heap that had been
hitherto stayed by some shrubs, hurl-
ed it into the lane. Seizing my com
panion's arm, fairly dragged her up
the sloping bank, and pressed on,
knee-deep in snow, in the direction of
the path. We fortunately found it,
and as it ran well above the level of
the field, the snow had left it partial
ly clear, so that our walking was
less difficult than we had expected
But, as if to prevent our gaining any
advantage from this cause, the wind
and snow assailed us with redoubled
fury. More than once did | doubt
the possibility of my frail company
holding out against it. Our whole
strength could hardly prevent us be-
ing driven off the narrow causeway,
while now and then a fiercer whirl
would fairly spin US round, and all but
carry us off our feet. Way of escape
there was none, no shelter nearer
than our destination, no choice but
to battle it out with the binding
snow and furious wind, or sink down
and perish miserably. But it was a
brave girl who clung to my arm, and
for two mortal hours struggled so
steadfastly; not a demonstrative,
gushing maiden, made all for flowers
and Sunshine not one, perhaps, who
would attract notice in the crowded
ball roouI and be specially noticed
for her beauty or her bearing, but one
that would trudge miles to succor a
sick child, or it might be, one day,
watch with peaceful suffering pa
tience by husbands couch Of ago
ny. l was well pleased, even amidst
the real dangers Of our position, that
Bob's sense of duty had kept him by
the train. "This is the lone elm"
she said, at last, as we passed sol
itary tree otis not far now, and
then" but her voice was drowned
by hurricane that burst upon US,
and for some moments we had to
cling together without advancing a
step. The lone elm" swayed to and
fro fearfully, now bending almost to
the earth, now rising like a strug-
Cling giant wrestling with the blast.
Suddenly there came fearful crash,
and huge limb, torn from the trunk,
fell not a dozen yards behind us.
instinctively caught my companion
in my arms, and then, plunging for
ward, almost ran till the wind caught
us again and whirled US about at its
pleasure. Suddenly, however, light
glimmered from a window at little
distance. 90, see the light It is
home ! home |" my companion cried.
The sight gave us fresh courage, we
gained the gate, dashed up the drive,
without ceremony or warning open.
ed the door, and rushed into the hall |


From parlor came sounds of
pleasant voices. and odors of viands