Winston of the Prairie

d buildings on the crest of a long rise, but at first sight Winston scarcely noticed it. He was gazing abstractedly down the sinuous smear of trail which unrolled itself

times when Winston found Silverdale almost unendurable. He was, however, an obstinate man, and there was on the opposite side the gracious kindliness of the little gray-haired lady, who had from the beginning been his champion, and the friendship of Dane, and one or two of the older men. Winston had also proved his right to be

deprived Maud Barrington of part of hers. The girl's coldness stung him, but her unquestionable beauty and strength of character had not been without their effect, and the man winced as he remembered that she had no pity for anything false or mean. He had decided only upon two things, first that he would vindicate himse

r above the dully gleaming snow, while the moaning wind flung little clouds of icy dust about him. It was evident that the snow was not far away, and it was still two leagues to Silverdale, but Winston, who had been to Winnipeg, had business with the farmer, and

nking we have just got out in time," he said. "The market is but little stiffer yet, but t

check. "I'm glad I listened to you," he said. "It's unfortunate for him and his

derstand,"

on looked down on wheat jobbing, but money's tight at Silverdale, and when he saw what you were making, he commenced to think. Accordingly, he's going to sell, and, as he seems convinced

o had lost courage, were doing the same thing. That means a very small crop of

an, and after all, it's only your opinion. As you have see

farther than the crowd. Any way, I found the views of one or two men who ma

, you will have an opportun

have been. Why didn't you send her home? Th

r to stay, there is no use in attempting to persuade Miss Barrington to do anyt

d his greeting in a fashion which he fancied the presence of Mrs. Macdonald alone rendered d

re all night, Miss Barrington,"

de," said the girl. "I have several

ou home," said Winston. "Mine are the best horses at Si

ton's voice, but there was also a solicitude in his face which almost a

dy in ten minu

n took his place, as far as the dimensions of the vehicle permitted, apart from her. Once he fancied she noticed it with faint amusement, but

because unfortunately when I venture to recommend anything you usually set yourself

could find no fault with i

and go out of cultivation. Now, as you perhaps do not know, the laws which govern the markets are very si

der yourself an excep

, and the latest news from wheat-growing countries does not promise more than an average crop, while half the faint-hearted far

alone see this? Isn't

? I feel that I am right, and want you to dissuade your uncle. It would be even

iously. "I am a little perplexed

ason why I should be debarred the usual privilege

ot see that it is out of the question that

ce grew a trifle grim as he said, "From the poi

u for fancying I did. Of course I could trust you with--you have made me use the word--the dollar

many things you apparently find it difficult to forgive me--and we will let this one pass," he s

rrowing strip of snow. Then she could scarcely see the horses, and the muffled drumming of their hoofs was lost in a doleful wail of wind. It also seemed to her that the cold, which was already almost insupportable, suddenly increased, as it not infrequently does in that country before the snow. Then a white powder was whirled into her face, filling her eyes and searing the skin, while the hor

she was drawn in to his side, and felt her chilled blood respond to the warmth of his body. Indeed she grew suddenly hot to the neck, and felt that henceforward she could never forgive him or herself, but the mood passed almost as swiftly, for again the awful blast shrieked about them and she only remembered her companion's humanity, as the differences of s

hite embrace during a lull, the girl recovered he

Why don't you tel

er, and she was drawn closer to it again. "We needn't go into th

did not resent it. The man, it seemed, was fighting for her life as well as his own, and even brutal virility was necessary. After that, there w

will never make the Grange u

ere," he said, and if he added anything, it

ut it also passed and left her with the vague realization that he and she were actuated alike only by the desire to escape ext

out you while I lif

eep in the snow and the man shouting something she did not catch. Team and sleigh seemed to vanish, and she saw her

t of a lamp blinked out, and she saw that she was standing in a little log-walled room with bare floor and a few trusses of straw in a comer. There

the team?"

re," said the man. "I have never stopped here, and it wasn't astonishing they fanci

y slept occasionally on their long journey to the railroad, and as there was a birch bluff not far away, it was the

o?" she asked, with a

pare you my company. The stable has fallen in, and it would be death to stand outsi

feeling that she must commence at once, if she

and these billets require splitting. Still, if you have special obj

n lowered her eyes. "Of course I was wro

on with which the heavy blade cleft the billets. The ax, she knew, is by no means an easy tool to handle. At last the red flame crackled, and, though she

and stood looking at her gravely. "Yes," he said. "I want

fur robe about her shoulders and packed the end of it round her feet. Still, the

n is distasteful to you, it is not my fault," he said. "Still, I feel the responsib

ot know whether she was vexed or pleased at the gleam of compassion in the man's gray eyes. It was more eloquent than a

ce at the adjective. Half-dazed by the cold as she was, she could not

inner at noon," he said. "I brought some eatable

laid it with a little si

--and it is raw spirit

in when he opened the door, and it was only by a strenuous effort he closed it again, while when he came back panting with

silver cup upon the stove. "Can't we forget we are not exactly friends, just for to-n

ing draught, for she was very cold, b

t many crackers at on

y one would share my meal, I would have provided a better one. Still,

unfortunate?"

dryly. "I was unfortunat

spoken, but Maud Barrington appeared t

retty," she said. "Yo

rested on, but his face was expressionless. "Yes," he said. "It is

of her own, was sensible of a faint approval. "You are making slow progress," she said, with a

y can, and the girl, who understood why he did so, felt that it covered sever

ets left and shook his head. "I

logs seemed to tremble under the impact of the blast, w

on, with the little laugh she

as not unduly timorous, but the roar of that awful icy gale would have stricken dismay into the hearts of most men, and she found herself glancing with feverish impatience at a diminutive gold watch and wondering whether the cold had retarded its progress. Ten minutes passed very slowly, lengt

ggered in. He dropped them, strove to close the door and failed, then leaned against it, gasping, with a

did not know, but it was with a little

drawing him towards the stove held up the

wept it off the stove. "Oh, I know the silver was for me,"

p with a twinkle in his eyes, when with the faintest trace of color in her c

a little pleased to see me

ary?" asked Maud Barri

le I would like to know why you are so hard upon me, Miss Barrington, because I really have not done much harm to any one at Silverda

n. "At the beginning you prejudiced us when you told us you could only play c

ffer, and I wonder if you will believe me now, but I do

n, and again she was glad that he attempted no explanation. "I am q

your faith, but some day I may be able to ma

if that is connected with the explanation, but I

about it there was a drowsy heat, while presently the girl's eyes grew heavy. Finally, for there are few who can resist the desire for sleep in the cold of the Northwest, her head sank back, and Winston, rising very slowly, held his breath as he piled the furs about her. That done, he stooped and looked down upon her while the blood crept to his face. Maud Barrington lay very still, the long dark lashes resting on her cold tin

he glanced towards the stove, and immediately swung round again. When he next turned, Miss Barrington stood upright, a little flushed in face but otherwise very calm, and t

acket--and you let me sleep u

, when he remembered that it must have been evident to his companion t

ss Barrington, who did not believe him, felt grateful. "You see,"--and the inspiration was a trifle too evident--"I w

so deep, and I could not

ust stay here, but I will be back with Co

tion. "But you might not find the trail," she said

on slowly, "I am go

nt this man thought of everything, and she made no answer when Winston, w

d the fact that you will give me a chance of showing that t

d with flushed cheeks looking down