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〃Ye dinna ken what ye're sayin'； Mr。 Sutherlan'。 I wad sune hae twa
o' ye to seek in place o' ane。〃
〃Never heed me； I'm going on my own account； come what may。〃
〃Weel； weel； I downa bide to differ。 I'm gaein up the burn…side；
baud ye ower to the farm； and spier gin onybody's seen her； an' the
lads 'll be out to leuk for her in a jiffey。 My puir lassie！〃
The sigh that must have accompanied the last words； was lost in the
wind； as they vanished in the darkness。 Janet fell on her knees in
the kitchen； with the door wide open； and the wind drifting in the
powdery snow； and scattering it with the ashes from the hearth over
the floor。 A picture of more thorough desolation can hardly be
imagined。 She soon came to herself； however； and reflecting that；
if the lost child was found； there must be a warm bed to receive
her； else she might be a second time lost； she rose and shut the
door； and mended the fire。 It was as if the dumb attitude of her
prayer was answered； for though she had never spoken or even thought
a word； strength was restored to her distracted brain。 When she had
made every preparation she could think of； she went to the door
again； opened it； and looked out。 It was a region of howling
darkness； tossed about by pale snow…drifts； out of which it seemed
scarce more hopeful that welcome faces would emerge； than that they
should return to our eyes from the vast unknown in which they vanish
at last。 She closed the door once more； and knowing nothing else to
be done； sat down on a chair； with her hands on her knees； and her
eyes fixed on the door。 The clock went on with its slow swing；
tictac； tictac； an utterly inhuman time…measurer； but she heard
the sound of every second； through the midst of the uproar in the
fir…trees； which bent their tall heads hissing to the blast； and
swinging about in the agony of their strife。 The minutes went by；
till an hour was gone； and there was neither sound nor hearing； but
of the storm and the clock。 Still she sat and stared； her eyes
fixed on the door…latch。 Suddenly； without warning it was lifted；
and the door opened。 Her heart bounded and fluttered like a
startled bird； but alas！ the first words she heard were： 〃Is she no
come yet？〃 It was her husband； followed by several of the farm
servants。 He had made a circuit to the farm； and finding that Hugh
had never been there； hoped； though with trembling； that Margaret
had already returned home。 The question fell upon Janet's heart
like the sound of the earth on the coffin…lid； and her silent stare
was the only answer David received。
But at that very moment； like a dead man burst from the tomb；
entered from behind the party at the open door； silent and white；
with rigid features and fixed eyes； Hugh。 He stumbled in； leaning
forward with long strides； and dragging something behind him。 He
pushed and staggered through them as if he saw nothing before him；
and as they parted horror…stricken； they saw that it was Margaret；
or her dead body； that he dragged after him。 He dropped her at her
mother's feet； and fell himself on the floor； before they were able
to give him any support。 David； who was quite calm； got the whisky
bottle out； and tried to administer some to Margaret first； but her
teeth were firmly set； and to all appearance she was dead。 One of
the young men succeeded better with Hugh； whom at David's direction
they took into the study； while he and Janet got Margaret undressed
and put to bed； with hot bottles all about her； for in warmth lay
the only hope of restoring her。 After she had lain thus for a
while； she gave a sigh； and when they had succeeded in getting her
to swallow some warm milk； she began to breathe； and soon seemed to
be only fast asleep。 After half an hour's rest and warming； Hugh
was able to move and speak。 David would not allow him to say much；
however； but got him to bed； sending word to the house that he could
not go home that night。 He and Janet sat by the fireside all night；
listening to the storm that still raved without； and thanking God
for both of the lives。 Every few minutes a tip…toe excursion was
made to the bedside； and now and then to the other room。 Both the
patients slept quietly。 Towards morning Margaret opened her eyes；
and faintly called her mother； but soon fell asleep once more； and
did not awake again till nearly noon。 When sufficiently restored to
be able to speak； the account she gave was； that she had set out to
meet her father； but the storm increasing； she had thought it more
prudent to turn。 It grew in violence； however； so rapidly； and beat
so directly in her face； that she was soon exhausted with
struggling； and benumbed with the cold。 The last thing she
remembered was； dropping； as she thought； into a hole； and feeling
as if she were going to sleep in bed； yet knowing it was death； and
thinking how much sweeter it was than sleep。 Hugh's account was
very strange and defective； but he was never able to add anything to
it。 He said that； when he rushed out into the dark； the storm
seized him like a fury； beating him about the head and face with icy
wings； till he was almost stunned。 He took the road to the farm；
which lay through the fir…wood； but he soon became aware that he had
lost his way and might tramp about in the fir…wood till daylight； if
he lived as long。 Then； thinking of Margaret； he lost his presence
of mind； and rushed wildly along。 He thought he must have knocked
his head against the trunk of a tree； but he could not tell； for he
remembered nothing more but that he found himself dragging Margaret；
with his arms round her； through the snow； and nearing the light in
the cottage…window。 Where or how he had found her； or what the
light was that he was approaching； he had not the least idea。 He
had only a vague notion that he was rescuing Margaret from something
dreadful。 Margaret； for her part； had no recollection of reaching
the fir…wood； and as； long before morning； all traces were
obliterated； the facts remained a mystery。 Janet thought that David
had some wonderful persuasion about it； but he was never heard even
to speculate on the subject。 Certain it was； that Hugh had saved
Margaret's life。 He seemed quite well next day； for he was of a
very powerful and enduring frame for his years。 She recovered more
slowly； and perhaps never altogether overcame the effects of Death's
embrace that night。 From the moment when Margaret was brought home；
the storm gradually died away； and by the morning all was still； but
many starry and moonlit nights glimmered and passed； before that
snow was melted away from the earth； and many a night Janet awoke
from her sleep with a cry； thinking she heard her daughter moaning；
deep in the smooth ocean of snow； and could not find where she lay。
The occurrences of this dreadful night could not lessen the interest
his cottage friends felt in Hugh； and a long winter passed with
daily and lengthening communion both in study and in general
conversation。 I fear some of my younger readers will think my story
slow； and say： 〃What！ are they not going to fall in love with each
other yet？ We have been ex