Dave looked at the little figure prostrate in the snow, and despair for

a time deprived him of all thought. Then the lifelong habit of being

practical asserted itself. Unconsciousness from long exposure to cold,

he knew, resembled death, but warmth and care would often revive the

fluttering spark. If there was a chance in a thousand, Dave was

prepared to fight the world for it.

He lifted Anna tenderly and started back for the shed where he had

fought Sanderson. Frail as she was, it seemed to him, as he plunged

through the drifts, that his strength would never hold out till they

reached their destination. Inch by inch he struggled for every step of

the way, and the sweat dripped from him as if it had been August. But

he was more than rewarded, for once. She opened her eyes--she was not

dead.

He found them all at the shed--the Squire, his mother, Kate, the

professor and Marthy. There was no time for questions or speeches.

Every one bent with a will toward the common object of restoring Anna.

The professor ran for the doctor, the women chafed the icy hands and

feet and the Squire built up a roaring fire. Their efforts were

finally rewarded and the big brown eyes opened and turned inquiringly

from one to another.

"What has happened? Why are you all here?" she asked faintly; then

remembering, she wailed: "Oh, why did you bring me back? I went to the

lake, but it was so cold I could not throw myself in; then I walked

about till almost sunrise, and I was so tired that I laid down by the

cedars to sleep--why did you wake me?"

"Anna," said the Squire, "we want you to forgive us and come back as

our daughter," and he slipped her cold little hand in David's. "This

boy has been looking for you all night, Anna. I thought maybe he had

been taken from us to punish me for my hardness. But, thank God, you

are both safe."

"You will, Anna, won't you? and father will give us his blessing." She

smiled her assent.

"I say, Squire, if you are giving out blessings, don't pass by Kate and

me."

In the general kissing and congratulation that followed, Hi Holler

appeared. "Here's the sleigh, I thought maybe you'd all be ready for

breakfast. Hallo, Anna, so he found you! The station agent told me

that Mr. Sanderson left on the first train for Boston this morning.

Says he ain't never coming back."




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