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THE SJrOWBLOCK#E#> L Iu the fall of 1884 I was at St. Paul. My friend, John Hall, conductor, had persuaded me to go with him over the Northern Pacific road to San Francisco. It vas late in the season, and I feared a ' blockade.' However, I provided myself with a basket of provisions, for use in cas'i my fears were realized, and started on my journey. "When I. reached the depot. 1 found a . gentleman and lady seated in my sleeper. I had scarcely time to take a good look at the latter?and in fact I could not make much out of my inspection, for she wa3 heavily veiled?when Hall entered, and passing me with a hasty "good-morn ing," went up to the lady's companion. I was bus}- storing away my numerous traps, and did not hear what was said, . until, as it was getting near the time to start, Hall observed that he must go and see all clear. Then I caught these words: "Look well after Mrs. Forsyth, Hall, and when you give up the train, speak to the next conductor about her." "I wiH do my best for the lady, sir," said Hall, who a moment after left the car. "You'll have the drawing-room to your self." continued Mrs. Forsyth's escort, "and need not l>e bothered with any one." My back was toward the speaker, and in a little side mirror between the windows I saw that he cast a suspicious and sig nificant glance in my direction as by spoke the last-words. In a moment more ho was gone, and * we were started on our long journey. My solitary companion retreated to her room, and I was left a, rather desolate master of the situation. With the help of newsapers, books and an occasional word with Hall as he passed through the car, the morning passed quickly enough. Wo were to cany a dining-car ih?; iirst day or day and a half?a fact that also added to my sense of general satisfaction. When the first call for dinner was made. 1 was not long in answering it, but quick as I was, many others had been before me, and I was fortunate in secur ing the bust table. Scarcely had 1 com fortably seated myself and settled on tho details of my dinner, when Hall entered, piloting the lady who had been spoken of as Mrs. Forsyth. Seeing that all the ta bles had one or more occupants, he brought her over to the one at which I sat. He introduced me, placed her op posite, and to say that I was charmed with her face would be to give only a a very faint indication of my feelings. She appealed to be about 23 or 24 years of age, and was dressed ni mourning, though not of a sufficiently distinctive character to tell whether or not she was a widow. I must confess, however, that even at the moment the question oc curred to me. I wished that it might be decided in the affimative. The meal passed off delightfully, at . least to me, and I managed to ascertain that I should have Mrs. Forsyth's com pany for the greater portion of the journey, her destination being Seattle. I took her back to our car, when she again withdrew into the drawing-room, and I resolved to smoke the soothing cigar. In search of company and a chat, I sought the smoker of the next car, which was occupied exclusively by men, who after a tune dropped one or two quiet hints about the enviableness of my position, and their desire to exchange berths. By-and-bye a little game of poker was proposed, and would have doubtless helped to pass a good deal of time, but a clergyman read us such a lecture on the sin of gambling that no one felt quite disposed to materialize as one of his "terrible examples." So, after a while, I went back to my own car and my books. At supper time, as Mrs. Forsyth's door was open. I ventured to ask her if I might have the pleasure of taking her to the tafle, and was rewarded with a gracious smile and a prompt acquiescence. Although I tried, without seeming to be inquisitive, to skirt round the subject. I did not succeed in gaining any information as to her matrimonial condition. Tho next day. however, I was fortunate; enough to discover that I had two or three times met Mrs. Forsyth's single sister, when she had been visiting some mutual acquaintances in San Fran cisco. This fact served as a far better { introduction than Hall's had been, and in the more intimate conversation that followed I at last learned with delight that Mrs. Forsyth was a widow of over a year's standing, and that sho was intend ing to make lier future home with her sister. We lost our dining-car. much to our re gret, on tho second day. The third day saw snow incessantly descending, and Mrs. Forsyth began to prophesy all kinds of disasters, and even suggested the ad visability of h?r lying over at the next station of any size. From following this ivu'rrsc she was, however, dissuaded by the joint eloquence of Hall and myself. Each hour that I spent in her society ad ded to the charm that was rapidly steal ing over me, by discovering new similar ities in tastes or ideas, and even by an occasional warmly contested argument on slight points of difference. When I awoke on the fourth morning the windows were thickly crusted with ice. and though 1 could not scrape a place through which to observe our rate of progress, I felt sure from the motion that we were making little headway. I began to feel a sensible yearning to reach the breakfast station, ami was medicat ing getting a cracker from my basket, when Hall came in, and expressed some surprise at seeing nie up and dressed. "I think it was hunger roused me out," I answed. "That supper last night was pretty queer. Ar.' we near the break fast station V" "The Forks are about fifteen miles ahead." "And how long will it take t.> get there':" "I don't think we'll get much further yet awhile." "Do you mean we're going to gut stuck:" "Guess so," replied Hall with a calm ness which under the-circmrastances^was,. a nttl?aggravatbjg'.* || |? ^ *# "Well if wijcalftgei ahead^canTt we go back?", J ? JJ J ^' S - "Afraid not. ?? Wer put ^on ^ extr* engine and a plow last night. There's no switch near, and the cuts have filled up behind us." "Then what are you going to do?" I asked,'a little hotly." "Stay till we're dug out. I've got tele graph instruments on board. When Wi do stick?won't be long now?I'll cut a wire and ask for a relief party." "What about food?" "Oh! they'll manage to send some from the Forks, by men on snow-shoes. They did last year." I silently thanked Providence for my well-stocked basket. "Don't say anything," whispered Hall, as be heard the door of the drawing room open. "Let me break it: I'm used to letting "em down gently." Then turn ing to Mrs. Forsyth, who by that time had come out, said, cheerily: "Good morning, ma'am; hope you didn't find it too cold to sleep ?" "Oh no, thank you," she replied; then, after saying "good-morning" to me, she again addressed Hall. "We seem to be going very slowly, and tho windows are so frosted I can't see how deep the snow is." "We're pushing ahead first rate," said the unmoved and unblushing conductor. . "You don't feel the motion because the 6now deadens the vibration." Hall looked at me with a certain trem ulousness about his left upper eyelid. "Shall we have breakfast soon?" was Mrs. Forsyth's next question. "Well, it may be some little time," an swered Hall. "Oh, dear!" she gasped, in the pret I tiest way imaginable, "and I feel quite j faint." I dived for my' brisket. "I liavo seme i things here. We might manage to make j a picnic breakfast." j "No, no; I won't trouble you. I'd I rather wait till I can get some tea." I "1 think you had better accept Mr. j Austin's offer," suggested Hall. "We J may be a little late getting to the iegu I lar breakfast station." I "Please let me be your host," I urged. "I can even give you tea or coffee. Here's a spirit-lamp and a little saucepan, and I have?let me see?cold beef, curried chicken, foie gras, ox tongue, anchovy paste, a pot of marmalade, lots of crack ers, sugar, condensed milk, and all the et-ca'terus." "Quite a larder, I declare." said Mrs. Forsyth, laughingly, as I finished check ing off the contents of my basket. "How stupid of me not to bring anything ex cept some fruit, and one can't five on fruit?out of Eden." "I'll fix up a table," observed Hall, los ing no time hi putting his intention into action. "The porter's tired out; we kept him up last night. Now you're all com fortable, I'll see how the others are get ting on." "What shall I open for you T I asked, as I stood, ean-opener in hand. "Oh, I don't know; anything you like." "I like them all. Suppose wo have a feast?" and I began to make a reckless assault on the curried chicken. "No, no!" she exclaimed: "one meat will be plenty." "Will you be kind enough to make the I tea ?" I asked, as I handed the necessary I implements and material, i "Certainly. What a dtar little lamp and sauce-pan! I am sure they'll make delicious tea!" "I have no doubt of it, with your help. I'm sorry to say I haven't any butter. Didn't think it would keep." "No matter; I like crackers soaked in my tea." Infatuated as I was, I could not ex press my agreemcn. with that essentially feminine predilection. I dished out the chicken as gracefully as I could, and we began our repast while the tea was draw ing. Presently Mrs. Forsyth looked at me and laughed. "This is funny, isn't it?" "Tthink it's very jolly."' "Oh! I don't mean the breakfast, but my sitting down as your guest, when, three days ago, I had never seen you." "I assure you," I said, "I'm an emi nently respectable and proper person? that is, for a lawyer. The conductor can vouch for me. Ho has known me for years." "Yes, he gave you a good character." "Then you inquired?" 1. asked eagerly. "Oh, no," she answered, with a shade of mischief in her tone; "he volunteered the information." "How good this tea is!" I observed, lasting some that she had handed me. "I never could have made it so well my self." "It certainly is nice, but it's not due to my skill, but to the quality of the tea." I, of course, dissented from this view, and took several cups?or at least glasses, for I had no cups?of that tea, which I was willing to swear was the most de licious beverage ever prepared. Wo were just finishing when Hall came hack and said, "(Had to see you getting on so comfortably." "Yes,* remarked Mrs. Forsyth; "the! road is so smooth we could eat without j any inconvenience." "You give the road too much credit, j ma'am. The fact is, wc haven't moved the last thirty minutes." "You don't mean to say we're at the station already?" "No, ma'am; we're stuck." "Stuck!" repeated Mrs. Forsyth. "Yes?in the snow. Can't budge an inch. I've telegraphed for relief." "Oh, dear me! When shall we get ? <ut?" "I hope- to-morrow." answered Hall, who assuredly disregarded truth in his | desire to make things as pleasant as pos- ! sible. "Can't you back down?" asked the j lady, after a brief pause, evidently spent in an inward struggle. "No, ma'am." "What shall we do?" "We can only wait, ma'am. They'll ( try to send up some provisions from the \ Forks by this evening.'" "And in the meantime there is my ; basket," I observed, in as cheerful a tone as I could command. I had been yearn- J tag &> tofter mq? sympathy ^during Hall's j explanation, Mit thought, it best not to" jjSteitere vriimha process which he called ' getting 'em, down easy." . , j V 'UI Vvas &o anxious to get quickly =$0 ! "Seattle!" "said Mrs. Forsyth. "I think I'll go and lie down for a littlo while. Perhaps I'll be able to get some sleep." "She took it better than I expected," observed Hall, as the door bidder from our sight. "She's a regular brick!" I exclaimed, with an amount of enthusiasm that would have done credit to a more fitting and tender designation. "For all that, she's gone to have a good cry. Best thing for her: will do her lots of good. Come and have a smoke." I thought Hall was an unfeeling brute, and I didn't consider I should be much better if I smoked while she was crying. Still, I went, and as I puffed at my cigar I regretted that Mrs. Forsyth could not know the consolation of tobacc& 11. In the afternoon Mrs. Forsyth'.resumed her usual cheerful dpmpnnnr ppd even ventured out for a few mj^es on the platform to look at the walls' of snow by which we were overshadowed. We had recourse to the friendljf basket: fijr din ner, and in the late afternoon'"are had some little excitement afcenft?ft on the arrival of the snow-shoe party, bringing up some cold meat and stale bread, which we considered vastly inferior to our tin ned supplies. The novelty of the situa tion and the discussion of tho chances of speedy extrication whiled away the day, which to me, at any rate, did not seem a long one. When I got up the next morn ing affairs did not seem to have changed. There was no sign of Mrs. Forsyth's stir ring, so I went forward to find Fall and hear is there was any news. Unfortu nately there was not, and after a brief talk I returned, and was agreeably sur prised to lind my fair fellow-passenger sitting in the car, with an expression on her face which I flattered myself indi cated wonder as to what had become of me. "Good-morning,. Mrs. Forsyth. Were you pondering as to what had become of me ?" "Not at all," she answered, coolly; UI am scarcely awake enough to think about anything." ""Well, now for breakfast," I said, en deavoring to hide my chagrin by wrest ling with the basket. "What is it to be this morning ??you know the menu." "But I can't go on living on your pro visions. Suppose we should have to stay here another day or two. Why, they would be all gone." "You have no choice, unless it is the tough salt beef and very stale bread the snow-shoers brought. The only things worth their bringing were the beer and whisky." "That's just like a man." "I wouldn't like to be like anything else. What do you say to some ox tongue? I'll open the tin while you make some tea." Then, as she gracefully be gan the necessary preparations, I ven tured to add: "Upon my word, it begins to seem quite natural having tjL>^ sty at my table and make my tea." "Docs it? Well, I sincerely hope 1 sha'n't have to do it much longer. What's tho prospect of our getting out?" "Not very brilliant. The snow is packed tight in the cut for two miles solid." "How awful! Wouldn't it bo possible to get to the next station over the snow ?" "Only on snow-shoes. There is frozen crust that will boar anything. Tho relief party had tho greatest trouble in getting there." "How stupid of me to venture at this time of the year! But Fanny urged me so ! She's been expecting me ever since I finally arranged my poor husband's af fairs." The widow's handkerchief went up to her eyes. I silently anathematized the deceased, and wished she wouldn't refer to him, especially at meal times. in. By the aid of cards, talk, a very little reading, and two more assaults on tho basket, we got through the second day of our imprisonment. Each passing hour saw my subjugation grow more and more complete, and I had to keep care ful guard over my tongue for fear I should prematurely betray my feelings, and perhaps, through my impetuosity, lose all hope. It was true that Mrs. Forsyth grew more friendly and confi dential, but she possessed a quiet though very effective way of checking any at tempts to digress into tenderness. The third morning agajn showed no apparent change in the outside situation. When Hall came in he, however, ap peared unusually cheerful. "You look as if we were going to get out." I remarked. "Not yet awhile. But that frost last night was splendid, I've got a message this morning that the Forks Snow-shoe club will come down early this afternoon, with extra snow-shoes, and that any. of tho men who think they can manage it may try to get to the Forks. 1 suppose you've been on shoes often?" "Yes; but to tell you the truth, I'm not particularly anxious to get away." Hall broke into a quiet laugh. "I thought I saw which way the wind was blowing." I did'nt quite relish his amusement, and was about to remonstrate and explain, when suddenly a brilliant idea struck me." "Hall," I exclaimed, "I want you to do something for mo, and I'll be grateful all my life." "What is it?" "When Mrs. Forsyth and I are at breakfast, I want you to?" At this mo ment the latch of her door clicked. I stopped, and pulling him along, said: "Come outside; I can tell you in a min ute or two, but she musn't hear." On the platform I confided to him my scheme. What it was. and how it worked, the reader will soon learn. On my return I lighted the lamp, put on the water, ami soon had the simple breakfast ready. Mrs. Forsyth did not keep me long waiting. When she came in she took her usual seat, ami did not make her customary protestations abotvt deplenishing my stock. I took this to be ? good sign, and my spirits m^o accord [ fnjjlj. She cast an amused, glance.at my prijparatioiis, and said? "Yd?Ve^etfihg: to be quite a domestic man. Suppose. I j hid b^ii slmt up here with disagreeable! ' |3ebplef and with scarcely anything mnoi sat. I really don't know what I should have done without you." "Don't you?" I cried; "pleasee say that again." "You mhsn't spoil your palate with too many sweet things. Any news tins morning". "Hall is expecting some ever)' moment. He was going to the wire when I left him." "T wish he could send us through by wire." "I am not in any hurry." "But I am. Think Of my sister. "I prefer to think of her sister." At this moment Hall came in. His preternaturally solemn expression caught Mrs. Forsyth's eyes, and I believe spared me a rebuke. ""Why, conductor, what a long face you wear this morning! Surely things can't be woro than yesterday." "I am afraid you won't like it, ma'am. The fact is, the difficulty of getting food here is so great, the company has or dered that all the single men among the passengers are to try to push through to tho Forks this afternoon." "I am gure," I exclaimed, "I could never manage it on those awkward show shoes." "Very sorry, sir," said Hall. witfi well assumed imperiousness. The full meaning now seemed to dawn on Mrs. Forsyth. She began to weep. "Do you mean to say," she expostu lated, "that I am to be left here all alone? It's an outrage!" "I shall be here, ma'am," said Hall, consolingly, "and there's an old clergy man in the next car." "I don't want any old clergymen," she exclaimed from behind her handker chief. I made a sign to Hall, and he disap peared. As tho door closed on him, Mrs. Forsyth took down her handkerchief and asked, "Has that brutal conductor gone." "Yes, dear Mrs. Forsyth. But it is really not his fault. He has no discre tion in the matter." "Oh, I suppose you're glad to get away." "Indeed no. I'd much rather stay." "Then stay." "They won't let me." "What is to become of me?" "Hall will take good care of you." "I don't want to be taken care of?at least not by him. Can't I go too?" "Impossible! It's even a great risk for me." "It's disgraceful!" she exclaimed, again having recourse to the handker chief. "They've no business to start trains in this weather. I know I shall die here, with nobody to care a bit." My time had come, and I made a head long plunge. "Dear Mrs. Forsyth, there is a way by which I might stay." "In Heaven's name, what is it?" jS^hag^y dare to tell you. That order applies only to single men,' or men with out their wives." "Well?" "If?if?you would only?well, it's no use, Kate?yes, I know your name?saw it on one of your books. Kate, I love you. Don't say anything, but hear me out. It is true I have only known you a few days?" Her face was hidden by tho wretched handkerchief, but from behind it she sobbed, "Only f-f-live." "Excuse me?nearly six; lmt we have seen so much of each other that it seems we have been acquainted for months? you said so yourself yesterday.'" "No; it was you who said so." "You didn't contradict me. And then I've met your sister." "Yes, that is true," she assented, as she again permitted her face to bo seen. "I know enough of you," I continued, "to feel sure of my love for you. Can- ' not you care for me a little ? There is a | clergyman on the train; he can marry us at once, and then I can remain with you, not only here, but all my life." "What!" she cried, in disma)*; j "be married all in a hurry, with out any warning, and to you, whom I? And then I have no trous sou. No, it's impossible! Leave me, and let me die." I don't know what form of consolation I should have tried as she sank hack J weeping, but at this juncture Hall came in. "Mr. Austin," said he, "you'd better be packing up the trifles you want to take with you." Then turning to her: "It's no use crying, ma'am; we have to make J the best of it." "Have you over been snowed up l>e fore ?*" "Yes. ma'am, last year?twenty-two days." And with that tremulous eyelid again noticeable, he went out. "Twenty-two days alone," ejaculated Mrs. Forsyth, "in a snowy tomb, with a conductor and an old clergyman !" "Kate, dear Kate, won't you listen to me? Together the time will not be half so long, for we will share it. Think, too, of what you may save me from. I am not used to show-shoes, and may perish on the way." "I would not keep you here for selfish reasons," she said, after a brief pause; "but to save your life, I might be tempted?" "Then you consent?" I cried. "Arn you very sure you love me?" "As certain as that I breathe." "Then, Robert?yes, I know your name ?that nice conductor told me?you?you may ask the clergyman if he will. But oh! it's awful to be married without a wedding dress." "You shall have the handsomest that is to be got when we reach th^ coast." "That won't be like being married in it. Remember, if you ever repent this, that 1 only marry you to save your life." "I shall never repent. I love you too much." I started toward the door to see the clergyman. 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