young days。 And so on he gaed； wi' a kin' o' a personal commentary
on the haill psalm frae beginnin' to en'； and syne he jist fell back
into the auld croonin' sang； 'The birdies is flutterin'； the birdies
is flutterin'。' The licht deed oot o' his face； an' a' that I could
say could na' bring back the licht to his face； nor the sense to his
tongue。 He'll sune be in a better warl'。 Sae I was jist forced to
leave him。 But I promised his dochter； puir body； that I would ca'
again an' see him the morn's afternoon。 It's unco dowie wark for
her； for they hae scarce a neebor within reach o' them； in case o' a
change； an' there had hardly been a creatur' inside o' their door
for a week。〃
The following afternoon； David set out according to his promise。
Before his return； the wind； which had been threatening to wake all
day； had risen rapidly； and now blew a snowstorm of its own。 When
Hugh opened the door to take his usual walk to the cottage； just as
darkness was beginning to fall； the sight he saw made his young
strong heart dance with delight。 The snow that fell made but a
small part of the wild； confused turmoil and uproar of the ten…fold
storm。 For the wind； raving over the surface of the snow； which； as
I have already explained； lay nearly as loose as dry sand； swept it
in thick fierce clouds along with it； tearing it up and casting it
down again no one could tell wherefor the whole air was filled
with drift； as they call the snow when thus driven。 A few hours of
this would alter the face of the whole country； leaving some parts
bare； and others buried beneath heaps on heaps of snow； called here
snaw…wreaths。 For the word snow…wreaths does not mean the lovely
garlands hung upon every tree and bush in its feathery fall； but
awful mounds of drifted snow； that may be the smooth； soft； white
sepulchres of dead men； smothered in the lapping folds of the almost
solid wind。 Path or way was none before him。 He could see nothing
but the surface of a sea of froth and foam； as it appeared to him；
with the spray torn from it； whirled in all shapes and contortions；
and driven in every direction； but chiefly； in the main direction of
the wind； in long sloping spires of misty whiteness； swift as
arrows； and as keen upon the face of him who dared to oppose them。
Hugh plunged into it with a wild sense of life and joy。 In the
course of his short walk； however； if walk it could be called； which
was one chain of plungings and emergings； struggles with the snow；
and wrestles with the wind； he felt that it needed not a stout heart
only； but sound lungs and strong limbs as well； to battle with the
storm； even for such a distance。 When he reached the cottage； he
found Janet in considerable anxiety； not only about David； who had
not yet returned； but about Margaret as well； whom she had not seen
for some time； and who must be out somewhere in the storm〃the wull
hizzie。〃 Hugh suggested that she might have gone to meet her
father。
〃The Lord forbid！〃 ejaculated Janet。 〃The road lies ower the tap o'
the Halshach； as eerie and bare a place as ever was hill…moss； wi'
never a scoug or bield in't； frae the tae side to the tither。 The
win' there jist gangs clean wud a'thegither。 An' there's mony a
well…ee forbye； that gin ye fell intill't； ye wud never come at the
boddom o't。 The Lord preserve's！ I wis' Dawvid was hame。〃
〃How could you let him go； Janet？〃
〃Lat him gang； laddie！ It's a strang tow 'at wad haud or bin'
Dawvid； whan he considers he bud to gang； an' 'twere intill a deil's
byke。 But I'm no that feared aboot him。 I maist believe he's under
special protection； if ever man was or oucht to be； an' he's no more
feared at the storm； nor gin the snaw was angels' feathers
flauchterin' oot o' their wings a' aboot him。 But I'm no easy i' my
min' aboot Maggythe wull hizzie！ Gin she be meetin' her father；
an' chance to miss him； the Lord kens what may come o' her。〃
Hugh tried to comfort her； but all that could be done was to wait
David's return。 The storm seemed to increase rather than abate its
force。 The footprints Hugh had made； had all but vanished already
at the very door of the house； which stood quite in the shelter of
the fir…wood。 As they looked out； a dark figure appeared within a
yard or two of the house。
〃The Lord grant it be my bairn！〃 prayed poor Janet。 But it was
David； and alone。 Janet gave a shriek。
〃Dawvid； whaur's Maggie？〃
〃I haena seen the bairn；〃 replied David； in repressed perturbation。
〃She's no theroot； is she； the nicht？〃
〃She's no at hame； Dawvid； that's a' 'at I ken。〃
〃Whaur gaed she？〃
〃The Lord kens。 She's smoored i' the snaw by this time。〃
〃She's i' the Lord's han's； Janet； be she aneath a snaw…vraith。
Dinna forget that； wuman。 Hoo lang is't sin' ye missed her？〃
〃An hour an' mairI dinna ken hoo lang。 I'm clean doitit wi'
dreid。〃
〃I'll awa' an' leuk for her。 Just haud the hert in her till I come
back； Mr。 Sutherlan'。〃
〃I won't be left behind； David。 I'm going with you。〃
〃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 t