THE WILD NOR'EASTER
Jasper did not remain long in the bedroom. There was nothing there
that he could do and he would be only in the way. He found Mrs. Bean
in the kitchen putting some wood in the stove.
"Do you know who that sick man is?" he asked.
"No, I have not the least idea," was the reply. "He is a stranger to
me, but that makes no difference. The Bible bids us to entertain
strangers for they may be angels unawares. Isn't that so?"
"But the Bible doesn't say that they will all be good angels, does it?
Suppose the stranger you entertain should turn out to be your enemy,
for instance?"
"Why, what do you mean?" and the widow looked her surprise. "How could
an angel be one's enemy?"
"Doesn't the Bible speak about evil angels? If people were troubled
with them in olden days I guess affairs haven't changed much since.
Now, suppose the stranger you have entertained should be your enemy
unawares instead of your friend, what would you do?"
"It wouldn't make any difference in my care of him," Mrs. Bean
emphatically replied. "I should do just as the Scripture tells me, 'If
thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so
doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.' That is what I
should do."
"Well, I guess you'll feel like heaping on the coals, all right, when
you learn the name of your stranger. You had better get a shovelful
ready, for I am going to tell you."
Mrs. Bean was busy setting the table for she knew how the men would
appreciate a cup of hot tea and some of her fresh homemade bread after
their long cold drive. She paused with a plate in her hand and looked
keenly at Jasper as he stood with his back to the stove. When he had
mentioned evil angels she thought that he was joking. But now
something told her that he was in earnest. Suddenly there flashed into
her mind an idea which made her heart thump.
"There is only one person in the world who is my enemy, as far as I
know," she remarked.
"The man who is stealing your logs, eh?" Jasper queried.
"Yes. But surely he's not in there!"
"Get your coals ready, Mrs. Bean," Jasper bantered. "You can use them
right away if you want to."
Mrs. Bean paid no attention to these words. Her worn face grew a shade
paler and her hand shook as she laid the plate upon the table. Just
then the doctor entered the kitchen.
"We must have a trained nurse at once," he began. "That's a very sick
man in there, Mrs. Bean, and he must have the greatest of care."
"I shall do the best I can, sir," was the quiet reply. "No one shall
ever say of me that I didn't do my duty. I have tried to do it in the
past and shall try to do it still."
"I know you will do what you can, Mrs. Bean," and the doctor's voice
was more gentle than usual, "but you must have assistance. No one
could expect you to look after the house and take care of such a sick
man as that. We must send to the city for a nurse at once."
"What about Miss Sinclair?" Jasper asked. "She should be told of her
father's illness. I was planning to phone to her when we get hack to
Creekdale. She could arrange for a nurse to come by train, and I could
meet her at the station. This is Christmas Day and I'm afraid it will
be difficult to get a nurse to come on go short a notice. She would
have to come on the suburban this evening, though, as that will be the
only train she would be able to get."
"Do the best you can," the doctor replied. "I shall stay here to-day.
It would not do for me to leave now until some one comes to help Mrs.
Bean."
The sun was just rising above the far-off horizon as Jasper rode into
Creekdale. Not a breath of wind was astir, and the only signs of life
were the long wreathes of smoke circling up from numerous chimneys.
The village nestled on the side of a hill and thus met the sun's early
smile while the surrounding valleys were still draped in shadows. To
Jasper it seemed as if fairyland had burst suddenly upon his view after
his drive through the sombre forest. The snow sparkled like countless
diamonds and the white-robed trees stood bathed in glistening glory.
It was Nature's silent symphony in honour of the birthday of the great
Prince of Peace.
The telephone was at the store and it did not take Jasper long to
arouse Andy Forbes and acquaint him with the object of his early visit.
The storekeeper was greatly interested in the news of Peter Sinclair's
illness. He knew that in a short time various rumours would be
circulating throughout the parish. But he would have exact information
and would be able to impress all by his hints of superior and
first-hand knowledge.
It took Andy some time to get "Central" in the city, and longer still
to make connection with the Sinclair home, the number of which he had
found in the Telephone Directory. But at length his efforts were
rewarded and he handed the receiver to Jasper.
"Guess it's her, all right," was his comment. "Her voice seems mighty
shaky as if she's scared most out of her wits."
How far away seemed Lois' voice and how anxious the tone as before
Jasper had even time to explain she asked about her father. Then, as
briefly as possible, Jasper told what had happened to him, his illness,
and where he was.
"We need a nurse at once," he said, "and if you can get one, send her
out on the suburban. I will meet her at the station."
"She will be there," was the emphatic reply. "I know of one who will
go without fail. I thank you very much, Mr. Randall, for all your
kindness to my father."
Leaving the store Jasper made straight for the Haven where he received
a royal welcome. Early though it was they were all astir for a
wonderful Christmas tree had been prepared the day before, and there it
stood loaded with presents.
"We had it for Betty," Mrs. Peterson explained, though it was quite
evident that she and the captain as well as David were as much pleased
as the girl.
Besides the presents from one another there was something for each one
from Lois. As Jasper watched them unwrap their gifts and listened to
Betty's exclamations of delight, a slight feeling of jealousy stole
into his heart. He was the only one there beyond the orbit of Lois'
circle of remembrance. He was well aware that he had no reason to
expect anything, and yet how much any little token would have meant to
him, for it would have told him that she had not forgotten him.
"Wasn't it kind of Miss Lois to send these lovely presents," Betty
exclaimed, after she had examined everything most carefully. "And
there's something for you, too, Mr. Jasper," she added. "I kept it
till the last," and a merry twinkle shone in her eyes as she handed him
a neatly-tied package.
"Why, who sent me this?" Jasper asked in surprise.
"Miss Lois, of course. She knew that you would be here to-day, and she
asked me to give it to you when you came. This tree is her idea, you
see. We would never have thought about it but for her. Isn't she
great!"
Jasper took the package in his hands and held it there like a big
awkward school boy. He could not trust himself to speak lest he should
betray his feelings. He longed to be away in the quietness of his own
cabin that he might open his treasure and that no eyes but his might
look upon the gift. But Betty knew nothing of such thoughts.
"Open it, Mr. Jasper," she ordered, "I know you'll be surprised."
Slowly and carefully Jasper untied the red ribbon and opened out the
paper wrapping. As he did so there came forth a grey woollen
well-knitted muffler.
"Isn't it lovely!" Betty exclaimed as Jasper stood holding it in his
hands staring hard upon it. "And I saw Miss Lois begin it herself just
before she left for the city. She asked me what I thought you would
like for a Christmas present, and I told her that you should have a
muffler to keep your throat warm on cold days. She thought maybe you
would rather have a book, but when I told her that you could buy books,
but not a muffler like she could make, she said that perhaps I was
right. Let me see what it looks like on you, for I must write and tell
her all about it."
Before this torrent of words Jasper was as helpless as a child. He
allowed Betty to unfold the muffler and wrap it carefully about his
neck.
"There, isn't that fine, Mrs. Peterson?" she asked. "Mr. Jasper won't
get cold now in his throat, will he?"
"I have never worn such a thing in my life," Jasper managed to explain.
"What shall I do with it? I couldn't wear that in the woods."
"Oh, but you might need it, Mr. Jasper," Betty insisted. "Anyway, if
you don't wear it Miss Lois will be so disappointed. She knit every
bit of it with her own fingers, for she told me so. You should wear it
because of that if for no other reason."
Jasper made no reply, but taking off the muffler folded it up and laid
it upon the table. In fact, he hardly knew what he was doing so full
of happiness was his heart. It was fortunate that just then Mrs.
Peterson announced that breakfast was ready, for it changed the topic
of conversation and gave him time to think it all over.
What a day that was at the Haven! There were so many things to talk
about and such a number of questions to be asked and answered that the
time sped by all too quickly. David was in excellent spirits, for he
learned of the progress the men were making in the woods. Jasper
heard, as well, about Lois, and Betty showed him several letters she
had received from her. In every one she told of her longing for the
spring that she might return to Creekdale.
When Jasper left the Haven he noticed how the weather had changed. The
brightness of the day had passed and the sky was a mackerel grey. The
wind, drifting in from the northeast, hummed a weird prelude to the
coming storm upon the telephone wires stretched along the road.
The journey to the station was a pleasant one, for Pedro, after his
rest, swung along at a swift clip. The wind was in their backs and the
snow had not begun to fall. Jasper realised that the storm would not
hold off much longer, and he wondered how the nurse would mind facing
it for fifteen miles to Mrs. Bean's. The muffler that Lois had given
him he was wearing. Betty had put it there before he left the Haven
with the strict instruction to wear it, because if he didn't Miss Lois
would feel badly. Never had he received any present which he valued
more highly than this. And to think that Lois made it herself,
especially for him, and that it had been so often in her hands. He was
almost like a man beside himself as he thought of this, and several
times his lips pressed the muffler in the fervency of his emotion.
Reaching the station he had half an hour to spare before the train
would arrive. This gave him an opportunity to give Pedro a feed of
oats in a nearby stable, for he well knew that a severe battle was
ahead of him. Already the storm had set in, gentle at first but
increasing in intensity as the afternoon waned. It was snowing hard by
the time the train surged up to the station, and as Jasper waited for
the passengers to alight he wondered whether it would be advisable to
face the tempest on such a night and in the teeth of so furious a storm.
As the passengers came forth what was his surprise to see not a
stranger as he had expected but Lois Sinclair. Scarcely had she
stepped upon the platform ere Jasper hurried forward. Her face
brightened when she saw him and she reached out her gloved hand.
"How is my father?" was her first question. "I have been so uneasy
about him."
As they walked along the platform Jasper told her all he could about
the sick man, and how the doctor was staying with him, to assist Mrs.
Bean until the nurse arrived.
"I little expected to see you," he added, "I am afraid it will be a
terrible drive in the face of this storm. But if we wait until morning
the roads will be so blocked that we may not be able to get there for
several days."
"Let us go to-night," Lois replied. "I can stand the storm, but it is
a great pity to give you so much trouble. How far is it?"
"About fifteen miles. You get good and warm in the waiting-room while
I go for Pedro. Wrap yourself up well before we start."
In about a quarter of an hour they had left the station and Pedro was
speeding up the road with long swinging strides. So far but little
snow had fallen to interfere with the travelling, and they made
excellent progress. But after they had been on the way for about an
hour Pedro was forced to slow down and walk most of the time. Drifts
were forming across the road and the snow was blinding. At times they
obtained considerable shelter from stretches of woods they passed
through. But out in the open the tempest struck them with full force,
blotting out everything from view.
But notwithstanding the discomforts of the journey, Jasper was
supremely happy. For a few brief hours this beautiful woman by his
side was his, and he was her guide and protector. The unexpected had
happened and come what might he would always look back upon this drive
as one of the happiest times in his life.
Lois, too, enjoyed the drive. She was content to sit there and to feel
Jasper's strength by her side, as he guided Pedro through the night.
Owing to the storm there was very little conversation. But it was not
necessary. They were happy in each other's presence and words were not
needed.
The farther they went the heavier became the roads and the more violent
the storm. It was cold as well, and once a shiver shook Lois' body,
which Jasper was quick to notice.
"Are you cold?" he asked. "I have an extra rug. Let me wrap it around
you."
Carefully as if she had been a child, Jasper placed the rug about Lois'
shoulders and over her head. Then, taking off the precious muffler he
folded it about her body in such a way as to hold the rug in place and
thus form a complete shelter from the driving storm. This
accomplished, he reached over and drew the sleigh-robe around her body.
It was but natural that his arm should remain around her for a while
that the robe might be kept in place. Their heads, too, drew closer
together. Perhaps it was the storm which caused this movement, for it
was difficult to face the tempest. It was merely an incident in their
young lives, and yet it caused their hearts to beat faster and their
faces to flush, the memory of which they would ever cherish. How easy
then it would have been for Jasper to give voice to the promptings of
his heart. He felt that Lois cared for him and would respond to his
love. But just when he might have spoken Pedro plunged into the ditch,
and it took all of his master's attention to get him back on the road
without upsetting the sleigh.
"We nearly went over that time," Jasper remarked. Then they both
laughed. Why they did so they alone knew. But from that moment they
understood each other better than ever before.
It was a hard struggle Pedro put up that night as mile after mile he
crept onward. The froth flew from his champing mouth and the vapour
rose from his steaming body. The footing was uncertain, the snow deep,
and the driving storm almost blinded him. But never for an instant did
he hesitate or show the least sign of discouragement. He seemed to
realise how much depended upon his exertions this night, and he felt
bound to do his utmost. His master held the reins and in his judgment
he had perfect confidence, and for him he would have expended the last
ounce of his marvellous strength. Nevertheless, his eyes brightened
and his weary steps quickened when at length he saw the lights from
Mrs. Bean's house struggling faintly through the night. With a sudden
spurt he dashed through the gateway and surged proudly up to the door
like a hero who had fought a hard battle and had won.