Year: 1867

ACNRIsTMAs STORY.


[Concluded.]


| shall not soon forget the look of de-
termination that came over her face as
she said, Mamma expects me mamma
will be unhappy; must 60 to her."
Bob and | looked at each other, but
neither face indicated a reasonable
method by which the feat of walking
three miles through such storm was
be performed by so young and tender a
pedestrian.


Il can walk" she said, "the land is
sheltered; know the road well. Can
you not go with me ?" she said to Bob
appealingly. Mamma will pay you
handsomely Tor your trouble" But
Bob, true to his post, shook his head,
with "Can't leave train and passengers,
Miss not for no money nor any other
consideration, Miss" he added, with 4
not ungraceful salute, as if to i'm
ply gallant desire to serve her
irrespective of the promised re-
ward. | had felt some hesitation in
offering myself as her escort, for l
feared to alarm the young girl by too
ready protfer of attention on the part
| of SO haphazard an acquaintance.
When at last l placed my humble SER
vices at her disposal, | saw her take
quiet survey of my face through her
veil, as if to read my character with
her shrewd wemahly glance. Then
turning to Bob, whose official position
gave him q great advantage over me:
"You said you knew this gentleman,
thiak, guard" she said, "may l trust
myself to his care ~ ''Lor' bless yOu,
Miss" said Bob, as though the question
was almost an insult. "know Ii IN! know
Master Arthur! Aye, from his cradle,
Miss aud if may say it," he added,
"without offense, we've been friends all
our llves-leastw wise, his life-for that
matter, Miss; and if you trust Master
Arthur, you trust Bob Martin; and if
Won trust Bob Martin, You trust Master
Arthur's father, the best master ever
servant had in all Northshire; by whose
| favor. in the manner of speaking, SAID
Bob holds his present responsible situa-
ton, Miss" This long speech seemed
to satisfy, as it certainly somewhat
amazed, the young lady; so, trusting
in the good faith of guard, passenger,
and passengers father, thus incorpora-
ted in my person, she began to prepare
herself for the walk, and we started
Just as the dull light of winters after
noon was being eNtinguished in dark
ness. Here and there | saw the snow
had been deposited in the lane in huge
drifts. and in one o. two places it was
all but impossible, so began to fear, as
the wind rose, aud the snow flakes fell
again, that while our retreat might be
cut off by one drift, our advance might
be stopped by another-the lane thus
| forming treacherous cal-de-Sdc into
which we were to be lured to destruc-
ton. | was grieved to alarm my COM
panion, but was obliged at last to point
out the possible danger of the road.


! Resting for q moment in sheltered
spot, we held council of war. We
would make one more grand attempt to
use the lane, but if that were no longer
safe. we must scale the bank and seek
| the church path that ran nearly paral-
lei with it. 1t would be fearfully rough
travelling upon those open fields, but as
| a sailor would far rather encounter the
| tempest out at sea than upon lee shore,
60 It would be far wiser for us to be buff
feted aud beaten rather than run the
risk of being buried alive. Our resolu-
ton had soon to be acted on. Just as
we approached one huge drift, and were
seeking to circumnavigate II, the snow
seemed to come down faster than ever,
and blast of wind catching heap that
had been hitherto stayed by some shrubs,
hurled it into the lane. Seizing my com
panion's arm, Lfairly 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
we'll above the level of the field, the
snow had left it tolerably 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 re-
doubled fury. More than once did |
doubt the possibility of my frail COM
panion holding out against it. Our


whole streagth could hardly prevent


us being driven OFF the narrow cause
way, while now and then fiercer whirl
would fairly spin us round, and all but
carry US of 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 on
steadfastly; rot demonstrative, gush-
ing maiden, made all for flowers and
sunshine, not one, perhaps, who would
attract notice in the crowded ball room
and be specially noticed for her beauty
or bearing, but one that would trudge
miles tosuccor o sick child, or it might


be one day, watch with peaceful, suffer
ing patience by a husbands couch OF
agony. / was well pleased, even amid
the real dangers of our position, that


Bob's sense of duty had kept him by the
train. This is the "lone elm, y she said
at last, rs We passed a solitary tree,


"'Tis 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 ad-
vaneing a step. The ''lone elm" swayed
to and fro fearfully, now bending al
: most to the earth, now rising like a
struggling giant wrestling with the
{ blast. Suddenly there came a fearful
, crash, and a huge limb, torn from the
/ trunk, fell net Q dozen yards behind US.
ipstipctiyely caught my companion in
my arms, and then, .pluhging forward,


almost ran till Che wind caught US
again and whirled us about ut its pleas


ure. Suddenly, however, light glim-