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Snowed Up

Snowed Up image
Parent Issue
Day
8
Month
March
Year
1878
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

"I believe 1 am the most unlucky fellow in the world," said Bertie Tyrrel half aloud, as he tied his white tiè. " Why so, my dear fellow T' inquired a cheery voioe at the door. Bertie turned, still holding his chef d'azuvre at his throat, and said, "Oh, Charley, is that you ? Come in; I shalí be ready in ñve minutes." Having arranged his tie to his satisfaction, he repeated, " Yes; J believe I am the most uníueky fellow in London, at any rato." "What's the matter?" inquired his friend. "Well, you see," replied Bertie, 'Tve just liad a letter f rom my sister saying that Miss Patterson is about to leave Marchmont and proceed to the South of France. (Mother's not well, I believe.) You know I intended to go down this week and put myself out of my pain. Charley, I love that girl, and, Charley, I must marry her !" "Well!" "But it is not ' well.' Charles Fletchor, you are a fish, a cold-blooded animal. How can you talk like that when I am really, truly and madly in love ? ' "My dear Bertie, I should wait till j the lady and party come to London, and tiien see her and ascertain your chance. " " They do not come to London, I believe; at least, not to stay; so I am coraplefcely upset." "It will all come right, uld feljow. Are you rendy ?" "Yes; it is time to be off. I do not ] feel at all inclined to go, though," said i Bertie, mournítilly. A dinner party was given by Mrs. 1 teman, in whose husband's office Bertie ] Tyrrel was, or flattered himself he was, i a shining light. Mr. Arteman and 1 tie's family had been friendly for yeara, i and the young man was rapidly making i his way to a junior partnership. He had the credit of being very trustworthy and quick at business - qualities which ] he took care to cultívate. Many people carne in the evening, 1 also, and, just before the carriages were i announced, Mr. Arteman entered the i room and gazed anxiously round. For some minutes he was unable to descry ! the object of his quest, but at last found him out, and, touching young Tyrrel on i the arm as he sat in a corner of the i room, beckoned him aside. i Hastily apologizing to his fair i panion, Bertie rejoined Mr. Arteman in the empty dining-room. i " Is there anything the matter, air?" he asked. "Yes, Bertie, I am af raid there is. Beadthat." i Mr. Arteman put a telegram into his 1 junior's hands as he spoke. 1 "This looks serious," said Bertie, as ] he returned the paper. "What do you 1 intend to do, sir ? How can we. restore ] confldence in the Manchester office ?" "By sending you down," replied his 1 chief, quietly. i "But to-morrow will be too late," said Bertie. "Therefore you must go to-night, i my lad." ] "To-night - go to Manchester night !" exclaimed Tyrrel. "Thething's i impossible !" "Oh ! dear, no," replied Mr. Arteman, ] coolly, "I have had your bag packed i ready. I took the liberty to send Collins 'to your lodgings for your morning i dress. I have a cab at the door. Here 1 are 10 in gold. Bun up stairs i and change - take a bit of supper first, I hough. The Pullman train from St. i Paneras starts at midnight." "And it is now 11," said Bertie, 1 mg at his watch. "What sort of a 1 night is it, Oollins?'1 l "Snows fast, sir," replied the man. ] " Snows, does it ?" exclaimed Bertie. ] ' ' Better fill up the flask then, and put a half-dozen cigars in my eoat-pocket - f and, I say, CoUins !" 1 "Yes, sir." 1 " Cut me a couple of ham sandwiches i while I dress." I In fifteen minutes Bertie had received ) his last instructions from -Mr. Arteman, ( and was bowling along the Euston road 1 to the Midland station. i That immense terminus looked warm and comfortable in comparison with the 1 wet and chilly night outside. The i man train was at the platform, ready to ] start. There were very few passen gers. 1 Bertie took a sleeping-car ticket, and, ■ without loss of time, tucked himself up : comfortably in his berth. The train ] soon started alter this, and Bertie i rel was rapidly whirled into the land of : dreams. Bat his dreams were pleasant dreams, and, if he had not been conscious of the i penetrating cold, he would have enjoyed a, good night's rest. He shivered and awoke. The lamp was burning dimly. The steady "whirr" of the fast-flying wheels told him that the train was rushing still on through the stormy night. Something feil on the lamp - there it was again. It came in through the lattice over his bed. It was snow ! " Pleasant night !" thought our traveler. " I'll have another nap." Easier said than done. No efforts of his could induce Somnus to pay him a secondvisit. The chili feeling he had before experienced compelled him to put on all his wraps. Then he got up, took a sip of brandy, and went out upon the platform of the carriage to smoke. As the train flew along the track, little snow storms came up from all the wheels in ciouds of powdered dust. Bertie was fascinated. Past sleeping towns and villages, past black chimneys rising into the murky sky from white, unsullied roofs ; past close-shut windows, 'neath who3e sashes the yielding but resistless snow wormed itself like herring-bones, and hung outside in slow-dissolving flakes for King Frost to weid closer ; past a huddling heap of humanity, beneath the shelter of the embankment, on which the merciless, though tender, falling sheet was surely wrapped. Past all these, and many more sights, did the Pullman carriage rush and scream, and yet no stopping for the train. But ten miles farther on the trap was laid. In a deep eutting the northern wind and drif ting cloud conspired to do battle with the boasted power of man. Lie closer still, O drift ! blow flercer still, O wind ! Ye wait the daring monster who boasts he can outstrip the wind, and rattle wüdly o'er the snow-clad flelds. A ronr through a tunnel - Bertie had onco again turned in - the train emerged ; it slackened speed ; a long deep whistle. The engine stoppeddead short, and pushed up a six-foot mound of snow, melting it for one brief halfminute ; the water dashed at its enemy, flre, and hissed its vengeanee in its burning ears. The fiery foe collapsed ; the mighty monster lay imbedded in the drift, harmless as a fettered giant, but still noisy in its protests. Clouds of steam anxious to bo free from that fatal cutting rushed upwards and disappeared, or, unable to escape, feil in warm teardrops on the virgin snow-white carpet. The engineer let the boiler run empty, and sent his firemen back to the last station for assistance. Man was powerless against the snow. The soft, the gentle snow ! The passenger awoke, and shivering carne one by one .out at the end platfornj of the train, asking questions and not waiting for replies. No need to aak what was the matter a second time. The helpless, lighted train glowed like a long lighthouse beneath the snow-olad embankment. A bank in front, a tunnel behind yawning darkly like an immense hole cut in white paper, a biting wind and driving snow told the tale all too olearly. Snowed up ! Not a doubt of it. When could assistaice arrive? Were there any ladies in the train ? No ladies ; only twenty-two travelers, and all men. But Bertie was due at his Manchester office at 9 o'clock that morning. It was now about a quarter to 4. He must get on, and he expressed his determination aloud to his fellow passengers. "I will accompany you. Where are we, guard ?" " Atween Ambergate and Matlock - but don't know where though, gentlemen, exactly. Ask Ben. " "Ben," the engine driver, informed them that they were about an hour and a quarter's run from Manchester, and added a word of caution. But Bertifi was determinad to puh o&, and, panied by two other passengere, he tnrted on his venturous expedition. Once out of the cutting they trusted be free. Surely the stoppage of the ine would be telegraphed by this time md, perhaps, a train in waiting to take ;hem on. So they stepped manf ully out, iinking deeply at every stop, but still naking progresa. The snow had ceased; the sky was :learing fast, and frosty-looking ntars peeped out to view the desolation. The vind was bitterly eold. Every now and hen the snow would be dashed in their ■aces, as by handfuls caught up by spirit fingers to obstruct their progress. For awhile they kept side by side. Struggling against the blast they pressed )n till, unknowingly, they mounted the ide of the cutting and wandered far iway across a level ñeld, and over the listant hedge, covered up with newlyrallen snow. The sudden ease with which they jtepped now had the opposite effect to vhat might reasonably have been expected. They knew they had strayed. Where was the railroad? They. must :egain it at any risk. But the two older ;ravelers determined to remain where ;hey were sheltered comparatively belind the hedge, in only a foot of snow, 11 daybreak. Bertie rashly made up lis niind to return in his tracks, which rere plainly discernible, and, against ;he advice of his comrades, he acted upm this resolution. His one idea was to reach Manchester, [f he did not succeed in averting the mpending crash there, all his prospects would be ruined. His hopes of }ver winning his lady love would be jompletely shattered, and what was life vithout love ? He must succeed, though ie perished in the attempt; he would lo his duty, whatever happened. So he manf ully struggled on - at times ip to his knees in snow; once completely juried in the drift; he feil down, down, mtü nothing but a small star was visiile overhead ! The snow kept closing n. He breathed hard upward toward ihe hole. (His hands were fastened to lis sides by pressure of the drift.) By Dreathing hard at the tiny hole it be:ame larger and larger. The snow nelted, and he got a hand free. At ength he got his head out, and after a levere struggle he feil forward, half inlensible from cold and nervoiis exhausion. He rolled over the harder snow 'or a space; down, down - it seemed as f he would never stop - a hard substance eceived him - a crash of glass, or ice, a noment afteiward feil upon his half-unonscious ears, and he lay insensible on ;he ground. A lightwas burning steadly over his head. The spirit remained in the body, but :he clay tenement refused to acknowl;dge the presence of the master. Sens3 ay wrapped within the brain and behind ;he sullenly closed lids. Speech was there, but somehow it could lot force its way through the stubborn Sps. The ears were open to catch the jlightest sound, and eagerly they drank it in; but the shaken neives refused to listen, or at best only grudgingly as yet. And thus Bertie lay in a trance - dead, jnd yet alive; ready to speak, dying to utter his thought, and yet dying because his speech was locked; the presare on the brain was not yet unloosed, md Bertie lay there almost as he feil, it 3eemed to him. But yet things were curiously mixed up aiound him. He could move his hands, and could feel he was lying upon soft cushions. Dull to his ears arose the sound of those horrible whirring carriage wheels. It seemed to him as if he were back again in the railway carriage, en route to Manchester. Still people were about him. Femininefingeis ministered to him - that gentle touch just now was very dinerent From the other finger-tips of some good 3amaritan, probably a doctor. The subtle odor of a lady's presence clung swcetly around Bertie as he lay sensible to what passed, but unable to form a word, or look his thanks, or even recognize the gentle care. Once he essayed to open his eyes, and, oh ! how the visión oL that one fair face he loved hung over his halfconscious brows, and was for a seeond photographed upon his brain ! No - it was gone - a moment more and the dull whirr of the revolving wheels, the even motion of the Pullman car, all seemed. to hold him in thrall as he lay supine on the soft cushions. But this could not last. By slow degrees the brain resumed its sway. He opened his eyes. Things were very dim to him, and the cold, chili hand of Death apparently was on him. He could not move his head, but as he gazéd with dull, half-open eyes, the visión of his love rose up to bid him welcome. Oh, lovely ! it came nearer and nearer - it would touch him ! yes, it bent down, and, breathing a soft petition for his recovery, then vanished. Whirr - whirr- whirr ! Did he dream still ? No; voices distinctly feil upon his ears. Where was he ? A shrill whistle broke the monotonous sound; the undulating movement of the car he had feit, or fancied, seemed to cease. "Hush!" some one spoke. Bertie opened his eyes. He was dreaming still. jje lay upon a cushioned berth in a Pullman palace car. The lamp burned very dimly overhead. Daylight penetrated the curtains around him. He feit very weak anc1 very cold, but he was not dreaming. How had he got there ? - what had hnppened ?- where was the snow ? He called out. A gentleman entered softly. " Where am I ? ïnquired Bertie, faintly. " Hush, hnsh ! quite safo; do not agítate yourself," replied the doctor, as Bertie fancied tlie new-coiner to be. " We liave got you round nieely." " But where ain I ?" persisted Bertie. "You are at Ambergate Junction." ' ' I must go to Manchester at once. Help me up, please." " My dearsir, it is quite impossi ble to move you. You have had a very severe fall, and must be kept quite quk-t. We have telegraphed particulars to Mr. Arteman. Youcannot be moved." This was deciüive, and the doctor left the berth. Yet, as soon as his back wns turned, Bertie made an effort to rise. With difficulty he repressed a scroam, the pain was acute. He at once perceived tiiat movement, even in bed, .was out of the question at present, so wisely he determined to await events. His thoughts naturally dwelt upon the happy visión he had seen, and he foolisbly accepted this as an omen favorable to his ultimate happinesa. At length he feil asleep. He awoke very hungry and sawthe doctor at his side. He put out his hand, which Bertie took and clasped warmly in his own. The kind doctor made a careful examination of his patiënt and then said: " You are muoli better this evening, I am glad to teil you, agd. as soon au the stiffness wears off you will be all right again. I may teil you now that we have had a telegra'm f rom Mr. Arteman. He is at Manchester, so your natural anxiety may be allayed." "Oh! thank you, thank you," exclaimed Bertie with fervor. "You have indeed put my mind at ease." "Iwas enabled to teil him there was no danger, so he went on this afternoon. He saw you while you were asleep." Bertie stared, as well he might. "Yes," oontinued the doctor, " you havo slept for thirteen hours." " Indeed !" was the patient's only reply. " But I say," he added, " how did I get here ? I remember being in the snow, and I think I feil - " "I should think you did," replied the doctor. "You came plump into this car - rolling in snow." "lam afraid I am still confused, doctor, for I do not understand you now." "You rolled down the embankment into the windows. We were snowed up in the great cutting onthe up-line. Another train, yours probably, was at the other end. You in your excursión tumbled into our -windows. It was very fortúnate for you that you didn't roll over the parapet into the river, my lad." "And very lucky," said Bertie, graciously, "that you happened to be in the train, doctor." "You have not to thank me so much as Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, sir; and they telegraphed to Mr. Arteman." "Mr. and Mrs. who?" exclaimed Bertie, sitting up quite regardless of bis bruises. " Patterson, did jou say ?" " Yes; do you know them ? They did not appear to recognize you." Yes - no - I know a Miss Patterson - j "Whew!" was all the dootor's answer. "What! Is there a Miss Patterson? Is she here? Is she - was she in the train ? Alice is her name." "That is the lady; shenursed you until I came. Her mother is an invalid rather. They were caught in the drift last night like yourself." "Where is she, doctor? Did she leave a message ?" The doctor's eyes twinkled, "Well, not exactly, but she gave me special directions to let her papa know how you were. This is the address." He took an envelope from his pocketbook and handed it to Bertie, who read, "Harvey Patterson, Esq., at Hotel, London, till Friday afternoon." "What's to-day?" inquired Bertie, hastily. "This is Thursday. It is 7 o'clock p. m." " Doctor," exclaimed Bertie, as he recalled the visión of the day before, while he lay half insensible, " I shall go to London to-morrow." The doctor smiled. "What, and leave Manchester business ! But, seriously, I think you scarcely fit to travel. Well, well; we shall see," he continued, as Beitie moved his head impatiently. "We shall see. Keep quiet now, and I dare say you will be well enough to go to London. Good night I" "Good-night." And then Bertie resigne ,1 himself to blissful thoughts and happy anticipations for the morrow. Two o'clock was striking at Westminster when Mr. Bertie Tyrrel's card was taken into a private sitting-room at the Hotel. There was only one occupant of the spacious room - a youag lady whose good, sensible, and bright face lighted up with a softer expression as she read the name of her visitor. " Show him in, please." she said calmly, yet the palpitation beneath the wellfitting traveling-dress to a woman's eye would have betrayed a secret. The waiter ushered Bertie in and quickly retired. The young man waited till the door was closed, andas Miss Patterson stood up with outstretched hand, he clasped it warmly. No word of greeting did he speak. He only gazed for one moment into those eyes of liquid blue- the eyes grew tender, and then the shading lashes trembled, but only for a second. But Bertie could read. Without a word he clasped Miss Patterson in his arms. " My darling !" was all he said. She struggled to free herself, strongly at first ; but, as he whispered something in the crimaon, shell-like ear close to his trembling lips, the pretty head sank upon his shoulder, and the silence that givessuch sweet consent told all the rest. When Mr. Patterson came half anhour afterward, he found a prospective sonin-law seated on the sofa holding his daughter's hand. Explanation ensued ; the upshot of it being that Bertie's health required a change to the South of France. He was married in the ensuing snmmer ; and he always considera that he owes his present, lianrnnp.KR to h&vinc been snowed ut).

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus