Once a Week (magazine)/Series 1/Volume 10/A night in a snowdrift

by Edward Duron (E. Round)

Jan-.

ONCE A WEEK.

186 J.]

2,

xtreme—

relieved, indeed, occasionally bymen who sneered at the

violent "quarrels with " sulky Britisher."

!

checked by one of the men desiring her, in a rough and peremptory manner, to change her SCB/G.

One

day, in the depth of as severe a winter as I ever experienced, I had to take a long then only a journey, the greater part by rail

—

At the wretched shed dignified " a somewhat curiwith the name of " station single line.

ous party attracted

my

attention.

They were four. An old and apparently

totally-paralysed gentleman, so swathed in shawls, comforters, fur cap, and buffalo robe, that only a small strip of his face was visible, and that was of a deathlike hue.

A

young lady, thickly veiled, apparently not for she seemed to the daughter of the invalid avoid looking at or approaching him, as he half

propped up by boxes and bags in

sat, half lay,

m*

J/

dragging along

the in-

manner

—and more

mm

snow, more

snow ,, „ The men, having refreshed themselves !

...

....

seve-

from a spirit-flask, took a bottle and a spoon, and prepared to feed the paralysed ral times

gentleman. I could not see what they gave him, or whether he ate for the men carefully placed themselves and the young lady between the sick man and me. I should here say that the young lady had absolutely refused to take any food whatever, though several times pressed by the men. They are bending over the invalid ; the

young

by

lady,

their direction, also

standing,

with her side face towards me.

With a quick and

men completed They were dressed in a much

sallow, evil-looking

number.

J/

Still

a corner of the one bench.

Two

53

her

veil,

and looks

silent

movement she raises

an instant with a ques-

for

tioning, agonised glance in

my

face.

to the others, but evidently had charge of both invalid and lady. I got into the same car with this strange

She must have seen honest pity there for, slightly leaning towards me, pallid as death, she formed a word with her lips but without

party anything a little out of the common being acceptable to me. Whether I should have done so could I have foreseen the tragic termination of our journey I cannot tell.

sounding it pointing to the men ; then lowered her veil again. Although the whole had taken place in a second or two, the men had observed some movement, and turned fiercely to her, looking like devils at both of us. I, however, was already sitting with folded arms, and eyes half shut, as if sleepy ; not so sleepy, though, but that I caught a moment's view of that strip of face I had seen at the station. That second look satisfied me of what I had doubted the v:ord dumbly spoken by the " young lady. The word was Murder /"

ferior

The snow was lying very deep on the ground and occasionally, where a drift had formed across the line, we had much ado to force our

way through

it.

I was the only occupant of the car besides the party I have described, and amused myself by speculating on the connecting links between such a strange quartette.

The lady was a lady evidently. Though I had not caught a glimpse of her face as she had not once lifted the heavy veil she wore

—

yet every fold of her dress, every her figure, showed refinement.

We

—

movement of

had been plodding on at a miserable rate the snow becoming thicker

for

many hours

and

thicker.

To look out of the windows was useless for the ground was snow, and the air seemed to be snow, so thickly was it falling. What could I do but watch my companions ?

I had forgotten to say that in the early part of the journey I had made some casual remark to the two men about the entirely hopeless state

of their charge but I received such a short answer, accompanied by such an evil look, that I resolved to hold my tongue for the remainder of the journey.

The young lady, when I spoke to the men, gave a quick sort of half-turn towards me, as if she would have spoken ; but was instantly

—

—

—

I sat

still

"Here

and thought

am

—

—

with a couple of murderers probably armed their victim apparently the father of that lovely girl. Yes this is the explanation of her shunning him at the station, and in lifting him into the cars. I have my revolver not loaded if it were I couldn't shoot these men down without more proof against them than a word only seen, not heard. It is of no use giving them up at the end of our journey for, of course, they will say that, half-dead when he started, he died of the cold in the cars. Cold Yes bitterly, piercingly cold and our stove does not seem to give the heat it should and there is no more fuel !" Although I could not see through the young lady's veil, she doubtless could see me through I

—

—

—

—

—

!

it.

I

nodded

—

slightly to her,

and fumbling in

the folds of my cloak, half exposed the barrel of my revolver.

The answer was a of the head.

scarcely perceptible shake [Jan.

be a

t

we are come

dee;

to

that

i

ire shall

i

be for

it

t

mi.

ha

the

wood

" said

!

ot

rned soon, and a have a sti

said

the engineer it

was

and that he

own

is

fire

up. irs

was

feat,

<

for

which we were formidable size and saw in

drift,

at once that, without digging, the engine could

not

ugh.

possil ineer,

asked

if

he wool

ifl

whom how

quest wa> .:

and

—

I

a log or

knew, and two but

useless the re-

>od. still

snowing

—no

fire,

i

D

a snowdrift, on a single line y from any house. Jit with a dead man and i

his ti or girl

How can she bear the cold ?

!

work vigorously to clear was yet fire enough and

•

hilst there

ry us through.

many

miles from our destina-

— but who can dig without a as

made

it

si

-

soon became

two

until !

boon

in

lowed

ti

us. I

ild

I

ax the I

sir

only

2,

1SG4. Jan.

2,

ONCE A WEEK.

1S64.]

" I went out and found him in should return what I knew would be his death-sleep crouched

—

!

completely under the fire-box of the engine. The engineer had left his now cold and useless machine, and sought shelter in the cars. I returned, and my lovely charge continued " I was often talked to by some of our old

" I fancied

my

and

in particular by She said he about this man.

dear old nurse, had come a few had obtained an

years ago, and in some way undue influence over her massa

— ordering

everything, and treating the slaves,

who had

never experienced anything but kindness from and uncle, with the greatest severity. " This villain persecuted me with his odious and one day I can't tell you attentions but I rushed to my uncle, who, when he heard, called him into the house, and in a

my father

—

furious passion said

"

—

—

'

Although you have by your devilish cunning obtained my promise of my niece as your wife, I will not tamely submit to see her Take that, you villain insulted filing a '

!

!

—

pistol full in his face.

"

Fortunately passion defeated itself, and uncle was not a murderer. " The overseer smiled an evil smile, and said " ' Never mind it was only a little misWe will settle affairs another da take " Not long after this, the fellow who is asleep there, and who is the overseer's brother, came and joined him. He is a doctor. My uncle became daily more and more miserable my old nurse saying it was remorse preying upon his mind, because he had appropriated

my

!

!

my

property.

"

to

A

fail

called,

few weeks ago,

my '

uncle's health began Doctor,' as he was

seriously; the constantly expressed his opinion that

paralysis

might be expected. I was awaked by

" Last Monday

my

old

nurse in a dreadful fright, to tell me that my uncle waa dying. I rose, and found the ' Doctor ' and the overseer with him.

" The

'

Doctor

'

said that, as he

had

pre-

uncle had had a paralytic attack, entirely lost the use of his limbs and speech, and that he probably would not be able to move for some time to come. He felt the responsibility too great for his brother and

dicted,

my

himself, and, consequently, should remove him to S , where he would be placed under the

care of the celebrated Dr.

" This was

W

.

said intentionally in the hearing of several of the servants, and passed for truth ;

although

I,

• n

common

with all, protested uncle in such a state.

against removing my "Knowing the evil eharacter of both men, I resolved that I would not part from

my

uncle, but would

accompany him to S

•.

I

saw a

remarked

"

'

on the

sinister smile

face of the overseer as I said this

but he only

Oh, certainly

no objection can be made

to that.'

" Yesterday we "

slaves,

55

My

1

Doctor

started.

suspicions were aroused and overseer refusing to

'

by let

the

me

my

uncle, either to dress him, or to into his carriage.

approach help him

" In spite of their caution, however, I obtained a glimpse of his face, and knew in an instant he was dead " I was too excited and horrified to faint !

!

" The overseer saw by my looks that I now knew all. " He at once said, in a brutal tone " Oh I You're guess you see it all now

'

!

!

a sensible girl, so a few words will suffice. There wasn't much love lost between you and your uncle, so you need not make a fuss. " ' The truth is, the Doctor there physicked him a leetle too strong, and it would not do to bury him here, for the job would have been

blown So we thought wo would take him where no one will be the wiser the poor old gentleman has died of cold and over-exertion, !

don't you see

"I

'

?

you what the wretch said to only that he said he had got all the old that he gentleman's plunder from the estate meant to marry me whether I would or not and that if I so much as spoke or looked at anyone on the journey, lie would kill me at

me

can't tell

once.

"

knew he would not

I

hesitate to

his threat, so dare not utter a word. " Oh how thankful I was to see !

cany out you enter

our e u I

felt a presentiment that you would in some way save me from these horrid men." Here the poor girl burst into tears. I don't know what I did or said, only that I comforted her, and vowed I would never

forsake her.

The time was now approaching when the There was a deathbroken only by the mournful tones of occasional gusts of wind, which, like evil spirits sporting round us, rushed to and fro through the ill-made cars, unseen, but painfully heard and felt. Everyone had huddled themselves in whatever they could find as a protection from the two-o'clock train was due.

like

silence,

biting cold.

Although hardy and strong, I began to feel exhausted and benumbed and probably should have fallen into a dangerous stupor but for my mind being racked with thought. How should I act 1

If I gave these two men up to justice (supposing the overseer survived), what proof was there that they had poisoned the "paralytic?"

I asked Alice—so we will now call her—whether the overseer had spoil with him or not.

She said he had admitted to her that he had gold, notes, and securities to a very large amount upon him.

I then searched the still sleeping "Doctor;" he was so motionless and deathlike that I began to fear lest the chloroform had had a fatal effect upon him.

I found nothing but a few dollars, and a revolver, which I took; and, with his own neckerchief, securely tied his hands behind him.

It was now snowing heavily again; but I sallied forth once more into the snow, and found the overseer still under the engine, frozen as hard as the iron which covered him, and doubtless quite dead.

With fingers almost as lifeless as his own, I searched him, and found, besides the expected loaded revolver and bowie-knife, a large canvas belt, fastened round his waist, containing the stolen money.

I hastened back with it to Alice, fearing she might be overcome with the cold, and fall asleep.

Just as I had my hand on the door of the car, I heard a well-known sound: there was no need to think twice—the driver of the expected train, blinded by the snow, had not seen the danger-signal! With criminal negligence they had not telegraphed our non-arrival from R———; the train was rushing on us!

I shouted loudly to the occupants of the cars to save themselves, and sprang into ours for Alice.

Even in the short time I had been absent she had nearly gone to sleep.

Mine

Whether the "Doctor" really died from the effects of cold and the chloroform I cannot

He also was a bruised and almost shapeless mass; both had died painless deaths.

The engineer and stoker of the train which ran into us had jumped into the snow, and were unhurt.

and do not like to think.

tell,

the

now

The passengers were very few, and, surprising to say, only one was killed.

We made great fires of the debris, and waited the morning, when help should come.

Amid all the horrors of the scene I felt a thrill of happiness in having Alice looking at me as her sole protector, and through the night laying her head on my shoulder, in sheer weariness and exhaustion, suffering my arms to support her.

I felt as if I had known her for years. Was the gentle girl who leaned unconsciously on me, whom I had met under such strange circumstances—was she soon to be severed from me? No! never! And with the thought I clasped her closer to my heart.

At last help came: about five o'clock in the morning an express came from R———, expecting to find a breakdown: they took us up, and we arrived at R——— about eight o'clock.

I asked Alice what she would wish to do.

In some confusion she said:

"I know not what to say!" But, putting her little hand in mine, she said "Will you, who have watched over me through that dreadful night, who have saved me from horrors of which I cannot think, see me safe back to my

,

•

fall

I

I seized

I

own home

indeed now it will be very lonely, no one to welcome me but the servants but it is my right place? I

had been absent .perienced

from

I

xcite-

«

i

-piiy^

Am

asking too hort timo I

much

?

"

—my own

Need I tell the reader my answer?

I offered myself, a poor surveyor, as her husband as well as protector.

She did not say no.

****

up the plantation; for I could not reconcile myself to owning slaves, although theirs was anything but bondage.

The railway accident was universally believed

I

ooHi.

our daily papers.

and the "Doctor;"

not finding Dr.

explaining

i,

W

town,

the

that a1

i

I

iy

in

ithoufc

shudd<

passed

!it.

in

I

Duron.

we