Year: 1874

Colrn, IL Wotllu COI6Cllb W Will pOt1enCIN
80 long. 1 consentcd--would that + hac
not! All might have been--but no


there are no might have beens will
God"


Aunt Lora covered her face for .
moment, then she wcnton more steadily


81 remember all-every word and in
cident of that evening. We watched Will
drive away into tho grey twilight, and
then came back to the freside until the
dressing. bell rang, while my pet used
every loving vile to keep me from
dwelling too anxiously on Mccarthy
illness. We grew anxious, as the even.
ing wore on, for my servant; Willis
prolonged absence made me fear she
was seriously i'll. Now and then the
young wife shivered little rs tie fierce
blast, which now and then swept up the
valley, with one sudden gust r.lshed by
to die away among the higher hills.
It was the snow-wind, we knew it we'll,
and lOnged that our traveller we've safely
home. Mabel had ordered dinner in
her morning-room, from which there
was a view of the road along which he
would return; she thought, too, il
would be easier to brighten and warm
it than the large dining-room. We stood
for a long while at the window watching
the heavy woody clouds rolling them.
selves in the lvid sky; there had been
light fall of snow in the morning,
enough to whiten the trees and grass,
but we could distinguish the dark line
of the road us it wound round into the
valley. Again and again the wind
swept up with it's wild angry moan,
bending the trees in it's course, and
hiding them in thick clouds of snow
powder swept from their tossing
branches; then again the din would
hush and great stiffness would fall on
the outside world. We watched till I
saw my child was growing pale, and I
drew her into the warm room, bright
with fire, and candle-light, tho pretty
rose-colored room where the shining
silver and crystal of the dinner table
looked brighter still in contrast to the
outer gloom. I pretended to be hungry
that she might be forced to give up the
watch for a while. We sat down to
dinner, leaving the warmest seat fol
Will, and each tried to eat for the sake
Of the other, but at every gust the
sweet little face opposite me grew
winter, and dark line began to show
beneath the soft eyes as yet the worst
we feared for Will was a struggle with
the storm, while we sat at home wrap
ped from cold and all discomfort.


The evening wore on dinner was re-
moved; the snpper-table laid, covered
with every dainty the little wife could
suggest. She hunted up a fur-lined
dressing-gown, which he had when
stationed in Canada, and hung it before
the fire then she went back to herpost
beside the window, having warmed the
hearth and spread the table, all for Will
poor Will, who should never more en-
joy food or warmth in this world.


Lights were placed in every window
to guide him through the snow, which
was now falling blindingly, darkening
sight and hushing sound. Servants
were sent out with spades and lanterns :
but unhappily the butler was old and
feeble, and the only other man at our
disposal was Wills soldier-seryant, an
Englishman quite ignoranto of the neigh
borhood. They returned without hav-
ing been able to get farther than where
the road divided at the head of the val
ley.


Gas the small hours crept by, the
cold grew intense outside the circle
warmed by the fire. I tried to wrap
Mabel in a mantel, but she put away
my hand impatiently, and shook her
self free from the soft folds.


II will not be warm. Will is cold. "


And she turned to the window once
more with slight shudder, while her
weary eyes gazed on into the whirling
binding snowfall.


At two o'clock again tried to induce
her to lie down, telling herwhat I tried
to believe myself, hather husband had
stayed weatherbounda at Glenbawn; that
Brown Colleen, the mare he had taken,
could find her way home to her stables
on the darkest night; that-in short, I
used every means-coaxing, remon-
STRANGE, command, all in vain; words
she did not seem to hear. WhenI tried
to draw her away she pushed me gently
from her, and the white lips moved,
though no sound came from them.
At three o'clock the wind lulled, the
snowwhirl ceased. I was holding her
burning hand in mine, longing intense
ly for morning, turning with sick
shudder from the pictures which would
pass before my aching brain Of Will
sleeping his last sleep beneath the
drift, when suddenly she snatchel away
her hand and started up.


"He is coming hear him!" She
flew into the hall where an immense
fire was blazing on the hearth. "Throw
on the yule.lo she cried impatiently
to theservants who were standing about.
"Don't tell you he is coming-he If
here!"


signed to them to obey her, and the
great pine trunk which had been carted
home so merrily only one week ago,
which she and Will had garlanded 9
few hours since, was flung on. Iasked
softly whether they heard anything
but the men shook their heads, and in
deed the depth of the snow must have
hushed any sound. They said if thei,
master had waited in shelter at the
mountain foot till the storm subsided,
the horse might make his way beneath
the shadow of the rocks which overhune
the road, and which must have kept q
comparatively clear track.


Mabel had gone back to her window.
Now she rushed in, her face quiverine
and flashing with excitement.


"Auntie, he is here! I see him."


"She began tugging f,1riously at the
fastenings of the great door. Stronger
hands came to her aid in an instant il
was flung open, and before any one
could interfere she had rushed out, We
saw tue white flying figure fit over the
snow like wraith-snow-drift SO deer
and light that it seemed bird must
have sunk into it we saw the dog-cart
creeping slowly under the cliff at foot.
pace, Wills upright soldierly figure
showing dark and clear against the liv.
id background we saw her reach him
and spring up to him then there was
silence. I do not know why we all
looked on as at a scene in which we had
no part, until cry, low, anguished, ex.
ceeding bitter, laden with terror and
heart break, cut through the dead heavy
stiffness. I felt hands holding me back,
and saw dark figures struggling across
the white lawn; then something was
carried in and laid ON the soft furs be-
fore the blaze-something, not Will,
never Will any more. The kind strong
hands gave back no answering pressure
to the cold clasping fingers which chung
to them, the loving eyes had lost Their
light he lay beside her as he had lain
not twelve hours ago, on the same spot,
in his own hearth-glow; but it was Will
10 longer. He was dead.


Somct,,i ing crueler and fercer thar
the storm had been abroad that bitter
night. He had been tempted from home